State of Maryland

A Hearing Reporter Lead is the lead level of work taking and transcribing complete technical verbatim notes of formal or quasi-judicial hearings, conferences and other meetings for the Workers' Compensation Commission.  Employees in this classification assign, review and evaluate the work of and train lower-level Hearing Reporters.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Hearing Reporter Supervisor.  Employees in this classification are regularly required to travel to designated areas within the State and may be required to work overtime.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Hearing Reporter Lead is differentiated from the Hearing Reporter II in that the Hearing Reporter Lead assigns, reviews and evaluates the work of and trains lower-level Hearing Reporters while the Hearing Reporter II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Hearing Reporter Lead is differentiated from the Hearing Reporter Supervisor in that the Hearing Reporter Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Hearing Reporters.

Checks daily docket assignments and oversees placement of Hearing Reporters to ensure conformance to the schedule prepared by the Hearing Reporter Supervisor;

Distributes files to Hearing Reporters as needed;

Reviews Hearing Reporters' files and stenographic notes to ensure that they are kept in a neat and orderly fashion;

Assumes duties of Hearing Reporter Supervisor in Supervisor’s absence;

Records verbatim accounts of the proceedings of Workers' Compensation Commission hearings, special conferences and meetings using recognized stenographic recording equipment and properly identifying multiple participants and interpreting technical information, including medical terminology;

Reads back testimony accurately and promptly upon request during a proceeding;

Transcribes notes and produces complete transcripts of evidence and testimony of proceedings within a specified time period for use in court as needed;

Assembles transcripts, reports and exhibits for appealed cases;

Internally orders supplies and maintains the Hearing Reporters' Supply Room;

May travel throughout the State to record verbatim accounts and to oversee the work of lower-level Hearing Reporters;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of reporting requirements for formal, legal and quasi-judicial proceedings;

Knowledge of spelling, punctuation, grammar and legal and medical terminology sufficient for review and production of accurate transcripts;

Skill in recording verbatim testimony at a minimum net speed of 225 words per minute;

Skill in producing accurate, complete and timely transcripts in the format required for appeals or other demands for record;

Skill in reading back testimony accurately and promptly upon request;

Ability to understand and follow directions;

Ability to assign and review the work of lower-level Hearing Reporters;

Ability to give technical guidance and instructions to lower-level Hearing Reporters;

Ability to maintain file records and stenographic notes in a neat and orderly fashion;

Ability to communicate effectively with staff, supervisors, attorneys and the general public;

Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with staff, attorneys and the general public.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Two years of experience recording verbatim testimony using recognized stenographic recording equipment in a courtroom or deposition setting.

Notes:

1. Applicants may substitute certification as a Certified Court Reporter by the Maryland Court Reporters Association or other recognized state court reporting association for six months of the required experience. 

   OR    

Applicants may substitute possession of a Certificate of Proficiency, Certified Court Reporter Certificate or certification as a Registered Professional Reporter from the National Court Reporters Association for one year of the required experience. 

OR

Applicants may substitute possession of a Certificate of Merit from the National Court Reporters Association for all of the required experience.*

*Only one of the above substitutions can be used for the required experience

2. Applicants may substitute experience in taking verbatim notes using recognized stenographic recording equipment in formal or informal hearings and meetings on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in legal services court reporter classification or legal services court reporter specialty codes in the coding field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Applicants for this classification must demonstrate the ability to record verbatim notes at a minimum net speed of 225 words per minute. Certification of the applicant's speed by the Maryland Court Reporters Association or other recognized state court reporting association or the National Court Reporters Association may be substituted for the above demonstration of ability.

2. Employees in this classification may be required to provide their own transportation to various work sites throughout the State on a regular basis and will receive mileage reimbursement.

3. Employees in this classification may be required to provide their own stenographic recording and transcript production equipment.

4. Employees in this classification may receive additional compensation from interested parties who request copies of transcribed records.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit as indicated by the designation of S (supervisor), M (manager), T (agency head), U (Board or Commission member), W (student), X (excluded by executive order),  or Z (confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.