About the Stenographic Institute of Western New York
More Than Fifty Years of Training Court Reporters
The Stenographic Institute of Western New York was founded in 1971 and is a registered private business school that specializes in every phase of court reporting using a stenotype writer and computer aided transcription (CAT). From our campus at 4525 Main St. in Buffalo, we have trained generations of reporters who now work in courtrooms, law offices, and broadcast booths across the region and the country.
We are a small, focused school. Evening classes meet Monday through Thursday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, which means you can train for a new profession while you keep your current job. Students typically add two to three hours of practice at home each day, so the program rewards steady, daily effort more than any single talent.
What Court Reporting Is
A stenographer, or court reporter, transcribes speech using machine shorthand in order to provide an accurate, verbatim transcript for future review. Court reporters make that record in two main areas: official and freelance. Official reporters work within the state court system, capturing testimony, rulings, and proceedings word for word. Freelance reporters work with agencies on depositions, examinations before trial, and public hearings.
Where Our Graduates Work
Our diploma program leads to careers in several directions, and many reporters move between them over a career:
- Official court reporting: the verbatim record inside New York's court system.
- Freelance and deposition reporting: depositions, examinations before trial, and arbitrations for reporting agencies.
- Hearing and convention reporting: administrative hearings, public meetings, and conventions.
- Realtime closed captioning and CART: translating speech into text the instant it is spoken for broadcasts, classrooms, and live events.
The Technology We Teach
Students learn to translate their shorthand notes by means of personal computers and CAT software. That translation can happen in realtime or through wireless and internet connections, which is the same workflow professional reporters and captioners use every day.
Instructors Who Report for a Living
The Institute is owned and directed by Maria Stoelting, who attended the school herself, became an instructor in 1990, and holds a B.S. in Accounting and a Juris Doctorate from the University at Buffalo. Our instructors are practicing and retired reporters whose day jobs include the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, the Erie County District Attorney's Office, and the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. You learn the profession from people who live it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Stenographic Institute of WNY is a registered private business school, founded in 1971, that specializes in court reporting using a stenotype writer and computer aided transcription.
No prior experience is needed. Students begin with machine shorthand theory and build speed step by step. You need a high school diploma or equivalency and proof of being at least 18 years of age.
Classes are taught by working and retired court reporters, including reporters from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, the Erie County District Attorney's Office, and the New York State Workers' Compensation Board.