Finding a court reporter for a seven-hour deposition isn't a problem. It's getting one to handle a 20-minute divorce proceeding in a far-flung suburb that can be hard, says Michael Thompson. His company, Thompson Court Reporters, plays middleman for self-employed court reporters, who are hired to document legal hearings, trials and depositions. The Chicago firm brings in about $3 million in revenue a year from the 800 court reporters in its nationwide network. For those reporters—independent contractors who charge by the page and pay their own expenses, such as mileage and equipment—certain jobs hold no appeal. "It's difficult for us to secure someone when it has less (earning) potential," Thompson says. He and others in the industry here say the labor market has tightened as.....MORE
