A great many young shorthand writers hesitate to enter the field of law reporting, and even to accept an occasional case when offered them, for fear their lack of knowledge of law forms will prevent them from producing a transcription satisfactory in form, and they also sometimes hesitate because they fear they will not know how to proceed upon entering the court room.

The ranks of the court reporters are, therefore, because of this fear, mostly made up of young people who first assist an experienced law reporter, or they come from the army of young clerks who are employed in law offices as amanuenses or law students. This latter class become familiar with court proceedings through their office connections, and what is simple to them in legal proceedings is often a matter of a great deal of mystery to the ordinary aspirant for legal phonographic honors.

As the author of this work had to struggle against this fear, he has thought it worth while to explain away in this book all the supposed difficulties, so that a student of this book will know exactly, in his very first case, how to correctly proceed without ever having seen a court room or a legal form.

Prefatorily speaking, these things are all a matter of common sense - scarcely more - and there is just as much difference of opinion among lawyers in regard to style in transcription, and just as many degrees of ignorance among them as in any other vocation, from bricklaying up. Therefore, when an inexperienced stenographer is asked if he will report a case.the re is no need of his refusing, if he has the speed and the time at his disposal. If he can write 120 words a minute from new miscellaneous matter, he can report in full ninety-nine cases out of a hundred occuring in any court. The difficulties of court reporting are greatly magnified. It is very often easier than some office shorthand work.

With this necessary preparation, therefore, he can confidently accept the case, and, having ascertained date, hour and place where the trial is to be held, and the name of the case, he needs no more informa tion until the day set for the trial or hearing. On that date, unless he is to accompany the lawyer from the latter's office, he should be on hand a few minutes before the time set for calling the case. The court and counsel are seldom on time themselves, but the new reporter had better be, and the later the others are, the more time the new reporter will have to become accustomed to his surroundings.