Court Reporter Mentor & Resource Center

Empowering Court Reporters Through Expert Mentorship and Resources

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Launch your Court Reporting Career with Expert Email Mentoring

Resource Library

The Resource Library is a growing collection of practical, real-world tools created to help new and aspiring court reporters build confidence, stay organized, and develop efficient habits from day one. Instead of starting from scratch or wondering if you're overlooking something important, you'll have proven templates, checklists, and guides developed from actual experience in the field readily available whenever you need them.

Expert Advice

Get practical, real-world guidance on the skills that aren't always taught in school. Learn proven workflows for transcript production, billing, job management, and everyday professional practices from an experienced working court reporter. Gain the insight, organization, and confidence that come from understanding not just how to produce transcripts, but how to build efficient habits and navigate the profession successfully.

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Meet our Court Reporting Mentor

Hello! I'm Shawna Manning, a professional court reporter with two decades of experience in both official court reporting and deposition work.

As both a stenographer and a voice writer, I understand the unique challenges—and rewards—that come with building a successful career in this profession.

Throughout my career, I've developed a passion not only for court reporting, but also for helping others succeed.

Building a successful career as a court reporter is easier when you have experienced guidance along the way.

One of the most fulfilling parts of my career has been mentoring fellow reporters. I genuinely enjoy

  • sharing time-saving techniques

  • creating practical resources

  • helping someone go from feeling overwhelmed to feeling confident

Watching that transformation is incredibly rewarding, and it's what inspired me to create the Court Reporter Mentor and Resource Center.

Qualifications

I'm a Certified Eclipse CAT Software Trainer with extensive experience in transcript production, CAT software, workflow organization, troubleshooting, and the day-to-day realities of working as a court reporter.

I'm committed to providing practical guidance, encouragement, and real-world resources to help you build a successful and rewarding career.

I can’t wait to work with you!

Court Reporting Resources & Training

Real-world tools, hands-on practice, and expert software setup & training available as standalone options to boost your workflow.

Mentor Packages include full access to the Resource Library!

  • Practical tools designed to help new and aspiring court reporters work more efficiently, stay organized, and produce high-quality transcripts with confidence.

  • Hands-on practice producing complete transcripts from dictation audio with sample cover pages, reporter certificates, and indexes. The Transcript Production Lab provides practical experience that bridges the gap between classroom learning and professional transcript production.

  • Personalized, one-on-one training with a Certified Eclipse Trainer to master dictionaries, block files and custom workflows.

  • A customized, done-for-you Eclipse Auto-Index (Witness, Exhibit, Appearance) tailored to your exact formatting preferences

Mentor Guidance Pricing

Ask a Mentor Email Session

Ask a Mentor: One-time Email

$50

Have a question but don't need a full mentoring program?

Ask a Mentor is designed for reporters who need guidance on a specific topic or situation whether you're working through a transcript production question, trying to establish a more efficient workflow, or navigating a professional challenge.

  • One personalized email consultation

  • Guidance on one topic or issue

  • Up to three related follow-up email exchanges within seven days, if clarification is needed

If you enroll in a 30-Day or 90-Day Mentor Guidance program within 14 days of your consultation, your $49 investment will be applied toward your Mentor Guidance enrollment.

Ask a Question

Mentor Package

30-Day Mentor Guidance

$349

Ideal for new reporters who want focused support while getting started or working through a specific challenge

  • Personalized guidance via email

  • Full access to the Court Reporter Resource Library

  • Assistance with transcript production questions via email

  • Professional expectations and best practices

  • Real-world advice from an experienced working court reporter

Enroll Now

Mentor Package

90-Day Mentor Guidance

$595

Designed for reporters who want continued guidance as they gain experience, develop confidence, and establish efficient habits during their first months on the job.

  • Personalized guidance via email

  • Full access to the Court Reporter Resource Library

  • Assistance with transcript production questions via email

  • Professional expectations and best practices

  • Real-world advice from an experienced working court reporter

Enroll Now

Resource Pricing

Resource Package - Included in Mentor Packages!

Court Reporter Resouce Library

$199

The Resource Library is a collection of practical tools designed to help new and aspiring court reporters work more efficiently, stay organized, and produce high-quality transcripts with confidence.

You'll have access to downloadable resources you can use again and again.

The library includes resources such as:

  • Checklists and workflow guides

  • Spreadsheets and tracking tools

  • Transcript production guidelines

  • Billing and financial worksheets

  • Job preparation and organization guides

  • Invoice and estimate templates

Access the Library

Resource Package

Transcript Production Lab Launching Soon

The Transcript Production Lab is a hands-on learning experience that allows participants to practice producing professional transcripts.

Each lab includes dictation audio that participants will take down and produce into a completed transcript. Using professionally prepared sample materials—including cover pages, indexes, reporter certificates, and other transcript components—participants will format and assemble their transcript to match professional standards.

After completing the assignment, participants can compare their work to my finished transcript of the same dictation to identify formatting differences, improve production techniques, and gain confidence in creating polished, client-ready transcripts.

Each lab is designed to strengthen the skills that aren't always taught in school but are essential in the real world, including:

  • Transcript formatting and assembly

  • Cover pages and title pages

  • Index preparation

  • Reporter certificates

  • Transcript organization

  • Professional presentation and consistency

  • Transcript production workflows

The Transcript Production Lab provides practical experience that bridges the gap between classroom learning and professional transcript production.

Join the Interest List

Resource Package

Resource Library & Transcript Production Bundle

$399

Everything you need to build confidence, and produce professional transcripts from start to finish.

The Complete Transcript Production Bundle combines the Resource Library and Transcript Production Lab into one comprehensive package, giving you both the tools and the hands-on experience to strengthen your transcript production skills.

Put those resources into practice by producing complete transcripts from dictation audio.

  • Save when purchasing both modules together.

  • Learn not only what to use, but how to use it.

  • Build practical, real-world transcript production skills.

  • Gain confidence through guided practice.

Get the Bundle

Eclipse CAT Services & Pricing

Auto Index Setup

Automatic Index Setup
Custom Auto-Index Setup

$150

Save Time with Professional Auto-Index Creation

Creating a reliable automatic index can save hours on every transcript but setting it up correctly takes experience.

I'll create a customized Auto-Index designed specifically for your transcript format and preferences.

Your Custom Setup Includes

  • Appearance Index

  • Exhibit Index

  • Witness Index

  • Automatic formatting

  • Customized block files

  • Testing and troubleshooting

  • Installation assistance

  • Instructions for future use

Whether you're starting from scratch or improving an existing setup, I'll make sure your indexes generate accurately and consistently.

And more....

Eclipse Cat Software One-on-One Training

Master Eclipse CAT with Confidence
One-on-One Eclipse CAT Training

$65 an hour

Whether you're new to Eclipse or simply want to work faster and more efficiently, I offer personalized one-on-one training tailored to your experience level and workflow.

As a certified Advantage Eclipse trainer with 18 years of court reporting experience, I provide practical instruction that you can immediately apply to your everyday work.

Training Topics Include

  • Getting started with Eclipse

  • Transcript production workflow

  • Dictionary management

  • Creating block files

  • Page formatting

  • Backup procedures and file management

  • Customized training based on your needs

Each session is designed around the questions and challenges you're currently facing.

Testimonials

  • "Shawna went above and beyond"

    Shawna went above and beyond and completely exceeded my expectations when it came to helping me get set up with auto indexing. I really enjoyed how collaborative it was working on this task with her. We went back and forth perfecting my block files, and they've been working flawlessly. Any time I have a question or need to troubleshoot any issues, she is always willing to help me out and take a look at my files to see if something is out of place. She is an excellent communicator and quick to respond. Not only did I learn about auto indexing, but she also taught me some tips and tricks about my software that I still use to this day. Thank you, Shawna, for all of your help! I cannot recommend her enough! 

    ~Kaela T.

  • "Working with Shawna Manning was an absolute game-changer"

    As a recent graduate ready to step into the profession, working with Shawna Manning was an absolute game-changer.  She patiently answered every question on my list while empowering me to navigate the eclipse settings myself.  Doing it this way, I know I can confidently apply those skills in the future. I am incredibly grateful for her guidance and will definitely reach out to her again whenever I need further support.

    ~Isabella R.

  • "Her experience in the field makes her a valuable asset to the court reporting profession."

    I enlisted Shawna to set up automatic indexing for me. She was professional, friendly, and very knowledgeable about Eclipse software. Her experience in the field makes her a valuable asset to the court reporting profession.

    ~Beth I.

  • "I recommend her as a trainer for beginners as well as advanced users in all areas of this software.."

    I received training with Shawna through my job. I was new to Eclipse software and starting from scratch. She taught me how to create templates that make my job so much easier. She was very patient and went the extra mile, even giving her own time aside from our training time, to answer questions or help resolve a problem I was having. She really knows this software, and if there is something she couldn’t resolve or answer she would research and find it. I recommend her as a trainer for beginners as well as advanced users in all areas of this software. Thank you, Shawna

    ~ Sonya M.

  • "You're a great teacher."

    As far as not knowing the first step after downloading Eclipse, you definitely taught me how to navigate the basics. I also found out the issue to why my audio wasn't working - the volume in the audio recording section was just turned down. I hear everything clearly now!

    For a newbie, I liked how you went over each section in the user settings and showed me what they were for. I feel like I can tinker around and find what I'm looking for, when I was completely lost before. The pace was perfect and the explanations were clear, I was able to follow along just fine. I could've spent a whole day learning from you but with the time we had, I feel pretty confident in creating a job and dictating. I do wish we would've went over production of a transcript, but I didn't have any jobs on Eclipse, so maybe next time!

    I know you said you don't want to learn Speechmatics, but I would love to learn it from you! You're a great teacher.

    Thanks again for the help and the handouts in the other emails!

    ~Halee R.

  • Her experience will be a tremendous help to others.

    I was referred to Shawna by a friend who had wonderful things to say about her, and after having the opportunity to work with her, I was so glad we connected.

    I was still fairly new to Eclipse and felt lost at times, especially when it came to auto-indexing. Shawna was always patient, prepared, and responsive. She was always early to our Zoom sessions and very responsive by email, taking the time to answer all of my questions and explain things clearly until I understood.

    She helped me build my auto-indexes, but more importantly, she explained how they actually work. That understanding has already saved me so much time, especially when working with large exhibits.

    Beyond the technical questions, we also went over proceedings, transcript questions, and other situations I wasn't sure how to handle. With her experience, she was able to answer my questions and give me a better understanding of how to approach them.

    Knowing that Shawna is also an authorized Eclipse trainer gives me even more confidence in her guidance. I truly appreciate having someone I can turn to when I need help, and  I know her knowledge, patience, and willingness to share her experience will be a tremendous help to others who are learning and navigating their way through this profession.

    Joanne K.

Connect with Our Expert Court Reporting Mentor

Reach out today to explore tailored mentorship opportunities designed to advance your professional skills in legal reporting.