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Keeping the record: Local court reporting firm rises to industry challenges D igital technologies may be able to record and play back what we say with increasing accuracy. But they lack the human touch that is essential in high-stakes settings like courtrooms. at's why, even after more than four decades in the court reporting business, Robert Miller is bullish about the industry's future. Artificial intelligence can enhance the capabilities of human court reporters, who are tasked with taking verbatim notes of courtroom proceedings, legal depositions and other matters. But it will not replace them, said Miller, a longtime court reporter and the founder of Robert Miller Reporting Services in West Hartford. "We are the gold standard," he said. Miller should know. He has worked in court reporting for more than four decades, a career he pursued with vigor following a suggestion from his mother. After about a dozen years, he started his first company with a partner and grew it to more than 30 court reporters. After his partner retired, Miller started Robert Miller Reporting Service and has no plans to slow down. "I enjoy the work; I enjoy meeting people; I enjoy the challenge," he said. e industry faces no shortage of challenges. Technological advances like digital recording and voice-to-text software have disrupted the traditional stenography model. National competitors also have been cropping up. Meanwhile, an aging workforce and lack of new entrants threaten to exacerbate an existing labor shortage. e U.S. Department of Labor forecasts a 7% increase in the need for court reporters by 2029 Miller has responded by diversifying the business, incorporating technology, stressing the benefits of using reliable and experienced local providers, and encouraging young people to take up the profession. Court reporting is not limited to taking depositions or transcribing court sessions. ADDRESS: 1000 FARMINGTON AVE., SUITE 103; WEST HARTFORD, CT 06107 PHONE: (860) 269-9191 WEBSITE: MILLERREPORTING.COM TOP EXECUTIVE: ROBERT MILLER It can also include captioning ser- vices for high-profile events like the Super Bowl and working with schools to provide services for stu- dents who are hard of hearing. Even as it diversifies, the compa- ny's core clients remain law firms and courts, where competition with national providers is acute. But while larger firms may appear to offer lower costs, the reality is more complicated, Miller said. ey often tack on additional fees and use local reporters who they may or may not know. Robert Miller Reporting taps into a net- work of familiar, seasoned inde- pendent court reporters with skills that match each assignment. e approach is particularly crucial in specialized areas like medical malpractice, where familiarity with complex vocabulary is key. "If you get someone who is not really sav v y on that terminology, you're going to have a problem," said Miller. To cultivate the next genera- tion of court reporters, the firm is actively engaged on several fronts. Robert Miller Reporting is working to establish a scholarship fund for students who are interested in the industry. e firm also is in partnership with GEAR UP CT to raise awareness about the profes- sion with local high schools and community colleges, highlighting the industry's earning potential and flexibility. Miller has traveled to take depositions in the Domin- ican Republic, Puerto Rico and the South of France, among other destinations. "e sky is really the limit as far as this profession is concerned," Miller said. 26 HARTFORD BUSINE SS JOURNAL | 2025 BUSINE SS PROFILE S