Hey there! Today, I want to share an insightful interview with Linda from Internet Scoping School. She’s going to explain how you can become a scopist, which might be a great new job or side hustle for you.
Linda has been in the scoping business for over 35 years and has been teaching it online for nearly 20 years. She lives in Montana with her family, including her husband, kids, grandkids, dogs, and a chatty parrot. Linda loves her career and enjoys sharing her knowledge with others.
If you’re curious about a new career or side gig, scoping might be worth looking into. Linda even offers a free course to introduce you to the basics of scoping so you can decide if it’s right for you.
So, what exactly is a scopist? A scopist edits legal documents for court reporters. Unlike proofreading, which deals with nearly finished documents, scoping involves working with the initial draft. The term “scopist” likely comes from the old diode scopes on early computers.
Back in the day, the technology for translating steno notes into English was extremely expensive, so scopists worked in-house for court reporting firms. But today, thanks to modern technology, Linda works from home on a much more affordable computer with a high-speed internet connection, allowing her to work for court reporters anywhere in the world.
Scoping is a fantastic work-from-home job that supports the justice system. Linda enjoys being part of this process and appreciates the flexibility and variety it offers. With today’s tech, she can edit transcripts from anywhere and deliver them quickly to attorneys.
A scopist’s job involves translating steno notes into readable English, researching spellings, punctuating, and ensuring the transcript is clear and understandable. If you love working with words, this might be the perfect job for you.
Internet Scoping School (ISS) teaches everything you need to know to become a successful scopist. The training includes word usage, punctuation, reading steno notes, assembling transcripts, understanding medical terminology, using specialized software, and marketing yourself to get clients.
Scopist salaries vary based on experience, speed, the quality of the reporter’s notes, and the complexity of the subject matter. An average scopist working full-time can make between $30,000 and $45,000 a year. Even on the low end, you can expect to make around $20 an hour. More experienced scopists can earn up to $45 an hour, and those in high-pressure markets can make even more.
Linda loves her job because it fits her natural skills and allows her to work from home. She enjoys the flexibility, being her own boss, and spending time with her dogs. However, the job can sometimes be overwhelming when multiple reporters send pages at once. Fortunately, she has a support network of fellow graduates to help out when needed.
If you’re interested in learning more about scoping, Linda offers a free course that covers what scoping is, how to find clients, the earning potential, and what you need to get started.
Are you ready to explore a career as a scopist?