Thursday, October 22, 2009

Your transcripts, securely stored online and only a click away

Realtime service is a major key in the world of court reporting and in the age of electronic information, it seems obvious that you should have electronic transcripts delivered to your inbox whenever you need them, with 100% accurate pagination.

When working with a deposition and litigation services, you need to make sure that your case-specific transcripts, hyper-linked exhibits and other documents are stored in a secure, online document repository.

Having your information stored in online in a searchable and downloadable database gives you easy accesses to your material form anywhere in the world. You can also share accesses to your valuable information with other attorneys and support staff that can make any annotation to be later shared with others working on the case.

And when it is time to go and win that trial, you can download all the docs and exhibits you need and take them along.

Veritext.com provides a highly secure online transcript repository as well as court reporting services, videography and transcription services in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Professional Court Videography takes more than just a camcorder

Court Videography, also known as video court reporting, is not only limited to courtrooms. The professional videographer is responsible for the process of recording video and images with advanced multimedia equipment that is later used for legal matters and court cases.

Documenting crime scene evidence, proof of damages, enhancing and cropping images, validating material, video synchronization and recording of court sessions – these are all the responsibilities of a professional court videographer.

Videographers also provide day-in-the-life movies and evidence of frauds, wills and pre-nuptial agreements.

Many videographers are not fully qualified and authorized – they are merely people with a camcorder. So if you are looking for a videographer you have to find a reliable professional that knows how to utilize the most innovative technologies.

For qualified court reporters and videographers visit www.veritext.com. Veritext.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. The court reporters of Veritext are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Why The Electronic Deposition Transcript is Crucial After The Deposition



For the past two weeks we've been talking about electronic transcripts. To end our discussion we wanted to focus on the most important reason electronic tanscripts exist. No matter if you are traditional or just don't see the need for a electronic deposition transcript, making the switch to an electronic depositions can be tough for any lawyer. But, you can't make a decision on rather or not to use electronic transcripts based on you experiences before or during a deposition. The real benefits come after the deposition:


1. Import and Export Do you have supporting documents that go with a particular deposition transcript? Forget stapling, filing or paper clipping the associated information to the transcript, try importing and exporting. Have those important documents already linked to the right deposition transcript.


2. No More Sticky Notes Sticky notes and deposition transcripts...Should we say more? It's just not an effective way to keep up with notes that were taken during, before, or after the deposition. We think Post It Notes were a great invention but productivity and time saving procedures like digitally attaching notes and files to your annotations is just priceless.


3. Summaries A summarized deposition is very handy, but it leads to more paperwork being added to your desk. Electronic deposition transcripts get rid of that extra paper work by allowing you to create and print reports and transcripts easily.


4. Keywords and Tags The bottom line? Stop digging through paper and highlighting words to stand out so you'll get back to them easier... keyword search through tagging is a luxury. Take advantage of it and focus on the more important things.


5. Collaborations You have notes, your colleagues has notes, the court reporter has notes, your boss has notes, the judge has notes.... we could go on. With electronic transcripts everyone can add their 2 cents in real time.


Why did you become a lawyer in the first place? Was it for mounds of paper work or was it because you loved the legal system? Did you want to make a difference in today's society? Or maybe legal careers were prevalent in your family and you wanted to carry out the tradition? No matter what the reason get over paperwork burnout and start using a court reporting agency that can provide you with real solutions so you can focus on what you really came to do.

For qualified court reporters and videographers visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Lawyers...Meet The Electronic Transcript

In law school, they should have had a class on how to handle paperwork, how to get rid of paperwork, how to deal with paperwork... we could go on and on. Paperwork is already overwhelming in the legal profession so adding paper deposition transcripts on top of everything else can leave a lawyer staring at a wall of deposition transcripts and trying to figure out how in the world will they find a certain key testimony. And then there are the deposition summaries, though handy, they can still be an annoyance.

Welcome to 2009, the age where electronic deposition transcripts are an option that any credible court reporting agency should offer. If you choose the right agency you can have a edited deposition sent directly to your inbox which is not only indexed, but also key word searchable. No more digging through paper work, just search for what you are looking for and voila!


For example, do you want to know exactly where a witness talked about crossing the street and seeing a red truck run the red light trying to flee the crime scene? Just type in "red truck" or "red truck red light" and find it instantly as well as print out that specific part of the testimony.

So electronic transcripts can come in handy... but how do they work? It's actually not as difficult as you may have imagined. Next week we'll cover the subject in detail.

For qualified court reporters and videographers visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Two Great Books for Effective Depositions

Effective depositions are a very important part of a lawyer’s career. Even though a great court reporting agency is an important part of a successful depositions there are many other factors including:
  • Deposition Scheduling
  • Deposition Timing
  • Witness Attendance
  • Document Accountability
  • Testimony Preservation
  • Following laws and rules
  • And much more..

Here are a two great books to help lawyers get ready for a great deposition:


Nolo's Deposition Handbook


"Court cases are never as quick and tidy as television dramas would have us believe. In fact, most civil disputes are settled long before a judge has a chance to pound a gavel. That's why pretrial fact-finding procedures such as depositions play an increasingly important role in legal quarrels. In fact, it's not uncommon for a deposition to be the only testimony given. All of this explains why Nolo's Deposition Handbook can be such a useful resource" -Amazon.com


The Effective Deposition

"NITA programs and law schools nationwide have used the first and second editions of The Effective Deposition so that attorneys and soon to be attorneys have all the essential know-how in taking a deposition the most critical step in discovery. Now in a revised third edition, the authors apply their expertise as attorneys and educators to bring the reader critical information on new rules, information on the impact of technological developments including e-discovery and digital transcription, along with new deposition techniques." -Amazon.com

For qualified court reporters and videographers visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Monday, March 9, 2009

How To Prepare Your Witness for Video Depositions

With technology becoming more prevalent in today's court systems it's vital that lawyers change their strategy when preparing a witness for a video deposition.

When preparing make sure that your witness understands that in some states a video deposition can be used as an alternative of live testimony; as a result, you need to prepare him or her as if they were in front of a jury. One of the most imperative tips is to educate your witness to dispose of any distracting behaviors such as throat clearing, fidgeting, hair twirling, nail biting, tapping, etc. Why? It’s important because each unnecessary action is exaggerated on camera; especially when the ability to rewind, slowdown and fast forward will be used to make decisions. Making sure your witness remains composed at all times is imperative for a realistic testimony.


Other guidelines include practicing on camera so you can point out the good and bad to your witness, make sure your witness answers the questions instantaneously without pausing and that they are clothed conservatively.


Once your witness is prepped it's time to make certain that your video deposition goes smoothly. You can do this by choosing a reputable court reporting agency to provide your videographer. At CourtReporterNet.com we make sure that the background is simple by encouraging lawyers to choose a plain wall, drapery, or a bookshelf for a background so that the view is not distracting. Our professional videographers also make sure that lighting is ideal and that there are no shadows that could distract from the witness. We also plan ahead for technical issues by having separate microphones for the attorney and the deponent as well as monitoring all audio and video content to ensure the best deposition possible.



For qualified court reporters and videographers visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Fast and Easy Court Reporter Deposition Scheduling

At CourtReporterNet.com we are happy to launch our new online court reporter scheduling application to provide lawyers access to instant rates, instant confirmation, and the convenience of online scheduling for your next deposition. Scheduling a court reporter for your next deposition has never been so easy:


Step 1: Insert your deposition place and time to reserve your date now.


Step 2: Get an instant rate!




Step 3: Insert the information about yourself and the deposition so we can contact you. Need additional services? No problem, just enter them during step 3...

Step 4: Insert your billing information so to reserve your deposition date in our system so we can schedule your court reporter as soon as possible.


Step 5 & 6: Press confirm to finalize...



It's that easy! Lawyers, you have enough to worry about and getting a qualified court reporter for your next deposition shouldn't be one of them. At CourtReporter.net our court reporters are prepared for any type of deposition regardless if by phone, video or in a traditional courtroom setting. We are prepared to provide quality service no matter what the situation. For qualified court reporters visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Monday, March 2, 2009

The Pros and Cons of a Telephone Deposition

The telephone deposition is something you want to get right the first time! Not being able to see the parties involved can be tricky... a court reporter has to listen closely for any voice changes as well as catch mistakes as quickly as possible. Lawyers have to make sure that a great connection is established and that all legal issues pertaining to a telephone deposition has been strategically taken care of.

However, sometimes a telephone deposition just can't be avoided. More than likely a lawyer and court reporter will be faced with one during the course of their careers. One of the most common reason for telephone depositions or testimonies is because witnesses are not able to travel due to a physical illness or limitations. Regardless, it's important that court reporters and lawyers understand the pros and cons of telephone depositions just in case you are ever put in that situation.

The bad side of telephone depositions are many. The first is the possibility of a lost connection, equipment failure, or a malfunction. Malfunctions can include static, the inability of hearing the person talking or even a disconnection. To prevent this from happening the connection should be tested and all parties should attempt to be online at least 10 minutes before the call starts to make sure that everything is working properly.

Other problems with telephone depositions include the possibility of court reporters making mistakes because they can't hear or the witness making mistakes because they can't hear either. Lastly, and most obviously, is the fact that not being able to see body language is actually a huge disadvantage, especially when attempting to portray as much information on the transcript as possible... and also for lawyers to be able to change a question based on something the witness does.

Although there are certainly some precautions to consider when organizing a telephone deposition, there are some benefits as well. Some of these benefits include the ability for lawyers to get a great testimony form the witnesses because opposing counsel cannot harass them.

Lastly, it reduces the cost of travel for everyone involved and allows lawyers to control witnesses.

At CourtReporter.net our court reporters are prepared for any type of deposition regardless if by phone, video or in a traditional courtroom setting. We are prepared to provide quality service no matter what the situation. For qualified court reporters visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Lawyers and Court Reporters Join Forces in Support

On January of this year lawyers and court reporters were definitely concerned about the future of deposition, court reporters, transcripts and technology in the legal system. Why? Well the Supreme Court first decided to discontinue the use of per diem court reporters during civil trials and replace them with a tape-recording system. By late January the ruling had changed to using digital recorders in the court but still using per diem court reporters to create transcripts... a true case of Man vs. Machine.

But why the change and why know? Well the other 6 trial court departments already use digital recording systems, they figured the transcripts would be produced faster, and bottom line... they wanted to save money. But the surprising part is that lawyers and court reporters were very disappointed about this ruling which proves that lawyers and court reporters are fully aware how important court reporters are to the legal system; not only during the deposition process, but also to provide checks and balances.

Lawyer and court reporter relationships an integral part of depositions and legal proceedings, that’s why it’s so important to find a reputable court reporting agency to make sure transcripts, dictation, etc. is done right the first time. Mistakes in the legal system can not only cause lots of money but can also affect many lives whether it’s someone’s job or a court ruling.

For qualified court reporters visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Lawyer Transcript Options: ASCII versus E-Transcript

When it comes to receiving your deposition transcript at the end of a deposition, there are a number of formats that you can receive your transcript in. Hopefully you are aware that court reporting services can electronically send your transcript.

If your court reporting agency is up to date in technology they should be able to tell what is the best option for your transcript to be sent electronically based on your budget as well as your needs. Today, electronically sending transcripts have become a lot easier. Until recently, court reporting agencies had to create an ASCII file of the transcript and then send it through email.
Unfortunately with the ASCII conversions page and line integrity will be loss, 3rd party programs are used for functionality, no password protection is incorporated, it is open to attacks when sent through email, there was no encryptions, and the file could only be opened as a read-only file .

Fortunately, today there are newer ways to send a transcript electronically; it’s called an e-transcript. The major benefits of using an e-transcript include having a standard format, keeping line and page integrity, incorporating encryption and password protection, instant search, hyperlinked word indexes, and the ability search, open, and print using the same software.

It's important to be fully informed on the services your court reporting services offer so that you can save money and conduct better depositions. It will pay off in the long run!

For qualified court reporters visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Digital Depositions: Getting the most out of your court reporter


Should you use digital recordings during depositions and proceedings? Even though some professionals object to the use digital technology during depositions, there are many benefits.
Some court reporters, who have worked for years in the industry, still can mishear what is said. Video can help you back up a transcript and can help the court reporter create an accurate transcript of proceedings.


Another great way video can help is the problem of multiple people speaking at the same times. Sometimes, this can be hard to transcribe and video can help you, as the lawyer, as well as the court reporter accurately record each speaker’s word to ensure the transcript is perfect.
Lastly, being able hear how something was said is invaluable. Just saying the words, "I don't think so" in different tones can have plenty of different meanings.


There are many benefits to using digital technology during your next deposition, however there one set back that you should become aware of. Just because digital technology is used doesn't mean that a court reporter isn't needed especially when someone is gesturing and the video couldn't get to them in enough time.


For qualified court reporters visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Lawyer, court reporter and interpreter collaborations



You all ready have the deposition planned and scheduled, you already understand that a key witness speaks a foreign language, and you already know that you'll need a court reporter. However, your main concern as a lawyer is to make sure that the court reporter and interpreter work hand in hand and the transcription is perfectly executed.


In order to ensure a seamless collaboration between both parties…communication is imperative. Make sure that your court reporting service has qualified court reporter that have been trained to approach the interpreter about providing names of people and places in the foreign languages so that it can be put into place during the transcription process.


Tell your interpreter to tell the witness not to gesture or nod or say words liek "uh huh". This way your court reporter will have a clear record. Also, make sure your interpreter sits between your court reporter and your witness. Lastly, swearing in the interpreter first and then the witness with the interpreter helps in the long run.


Your court reporter should already know what to expect when faced with an interpreter. He or she has the option of requesting that the interpreter use equipment to speed up the interpretation process.


For qualified court reporters visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Highly Technical Depositions and Your Court Reporter


One of the most difficult lawyer and court reporter jobs is when a deposition is highly "technical" meaning an expert witness or lawyer has to say medical terms (or similar words) repeatedly throughout the deposition. Even though a number of court reporters have been trained to handle technical words, even a seasoned veteran can get things wrong. This can definitely be an issue if actions aren't taken immediately to correct the problem.


From the lawyers point of view, if the transcript is already completed and you notice errors in the way your deposition questions or witness answers are transcribed it's important to send a letter to the opposing counsel immediately to consent to having the court reporter to fix the errors. The opposing counsel should agree, because if not most likely a case would be made to start the entire deposition over and that can be a waste of money.


However, this can be avoided if both court reporters and lawyers make an effort to ensure that highly technical words are taken down effectively. As a lawyer, after deposing a doctor or a similar profession, go over the technical jargon with the court reporter to make sure he or she understood. Another great tip is to give your court reporter a dictionary with the medical words to use when creating the final transcription copy.


As far as court reporters, we try to ensure that our court reporters get it right the first time by encouraging them to flag all spellings of technical words that may have been misheard and then go up to the lawyer and doctor to review the words and get the correct spelling. Anther tip for counsel is to have exhibits that have the details written down or in chart form to help court reporters get the right words the first time.


For more information on where you can find a court reporting service that follows these guidelines to visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

What to expect from a court reporting service


When choosing a court reporter service for your next deposition, remember that dependability, experience, and quality do matter. Your court reporting service should have well trained court reporters and staff that are available to answer any question are served any need you may have.
So what can you expect when you hire a hire a four court reporting service?

Well the first thing that you should expect is instant, expedited, and fast transcript delivery after a deposition. Immediately after a deposition, your court reporter should give the transcript back to you in a record amount of time. It should be accurate, it should be free of errors, and it should take less than 24 hours.

The second thing you should expect from the court reporting service is the availability of nationwide conference rooms. These allow you to be able to meet in a professional, quiet, and organized setting.

The third thing you should expect from the court reporting service is the ability to receive a transcript in many formats. These formats should include electronic delivery, as well as traditional mail delivery of the original transcript. In this technologically advanced age, electronic delivery of transcripts is not only convenient but a necessity. Other technologies offered should include real-time Internet feeds, Internet scheduling, and LiveNote.

The fourth thing you should expect from your court reporting service is a storage area for your transcripts. If something happens after a deposition, to your files, or to your office, you should have the ability to call your court reporter and retrieve your transcript. This service should be standard in all court reporting agencies.

These four things are very important when looking for a court reporting service. Other services include, but are not limited to, mini or condensed transcripts, keyword indexing, daily video grapher, toll free telephone support, and video and audio transcription.

For more information on where you can find a court reporting service that follows these guidelines to visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Monday, February 2, 2009

8 ways lawyers can get the best out of court reporting services


So you found a court reporting service and got assigned a court reporter; then it happened, the transcript was missing a few things, a name was missing, etc. It's the common mistake most lawyers make when hiring a court reporting service... not understanding how to get the best out of your court reporter.

At courtreporternet.com we want you to enjoy your experience with us and get the most out of your court reporter. You can do this by following a few guidelines during a deposition:

  1. Speak clearly
  2. Speak slowly
  3. Have a business card on hand
  4. Write your position on the card either defendant, prosecution, etc.
  5. Don't talk while someone else is talking
  6. Don't let the witness answer until you finish you question
  7. Don't let witness answer with uh-uh or uh-huh
  8. State from the beginning who is in the room to avoid disputes in the future
We know lawyers and we know court reporters! For more information visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Via Illinois Bar Journal

Friday, January 30, 2009

What Your Court Reporter Should Be Doing After The Deposition

After the deposition is over, lawyers seem to face their biggest problem when dealing with court reporters. You don't follow up on lots of little details that every court reporter should participate in after the deposition.

The end of the deposition does not mean the end of a court reporters job. There are plenty of tasks that should be completed in a timely matter.

Review and Edit
After the deposition a court reporter should download all the information gathered during the deposition on to a computer and get to editing. Just because your court reporter types everything during the deposition, doesn't mean an instant final copy is ready. Court reporters should go back through audio tapes and fill in any gaps missing in the transcript; then someone should look over the first draft by proofreading and making any corrections.

Final Draft and Formatting
Next, the proofreader should send all the corrections back to the court reporter to prepare for the final draft. The final draft should not only be free of grammatical errors and misspellings, it should also be formatted with page numbers, indexes, and a condensed transcript for quick reading.

Delivery
Next, the court reporter sends the transcript to you, but before that the court reporter should have made a copy of the transcript and exhibits and filed it appropriately. Additionally, you should receive two copies; one original in the mail and one electronic copy.

The Court Copy
Lastly, after you have looked over the entire document and are satisfied, you sign it and send the original back to the court reporter to be filed with the court.

For court reporters for your next deposition, plus a WHOLE lot more, visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Origins of Court Reporting Shorthand

With our society at the most litigious time during any point in its history, court reporters are more in demand than ever. Court reporters provide a valuable service to the legal community, creating an official written record of everything that is spoken during trials, motions and depositions.

But where did the court reporting industry start? And more importantly, what are the origins of the equipment and shorthand systems used today around the world?

In order to track down the first official court reporter, one must go back to ancient time – 63 B.C. to be exact. It was in this year that a slave named Marcus Tullius Tiro, the property of the great Cicero became the world’s first shorthand reporter. Tiro first known transcription was of a speech by Cato. To help him copy every word of the speech accurately, Tiro used a series of shorthand notes and symbols. Tiro’s system was simple but groundbreaking. He used single symbols to represents full sentences, and did not record smaller, common words that he knew could be entered into the official record at a later time.

As a result of Tiro’s work, the art and science of stenography was born, and although most of the symbols he used are no longer with us, the ampersand (&) still exists and is a part of hundreds of languages around the world.

The John of Tilbury, a monk, developed the first English shorthand sometime around the year 1180. His system remained the standard in England until the 16th century when a doctor named Timothie Bright created a 500 character shorthand symbol system that would replace it.

Dr. Bright’s system was accepted throughout England until the year 1772 when it was replaced by a new shorthand system developed Thomas Gurney. Gurney worked for the government and his new, easy-to-use system of transcription and note-taking became the official shorthand of Parliament. The final switch in England’s shorthand system came in 1837 when Isaac Pittman developed a phonetics-based shorthand system that is still in use by many British court reporters today.

Across the pond, Gregg’s system was used in the courts of the United States until the invention of the shorthand machine later in the century. In 1879, a man by the name of Miles Bartholomew, who was part of what was already a growing number of professional court reports working in the American legal system, received a patent for what would become the modern typewriter. It had a single keystroke for each letter and would become a major tool of business in the decades that followed.

But for the purposes of modern court reporting, things needed to work more quickly. During the post-war era of the 1950’s the United States Military and IBM developed groundbreaking machines and software that would translate foreign languages directly into English. After this project was complete, the same team of engineers used this technology to create shorthand translation machines.

It was out of this technology that the modern shorthand machine, used today by tens of thousands of court reporters was born.

How to Hire a Court Reporter for your Next Deposition

In the course of a busy day, it is easy to forget that you need a court reporter for your upcoming deposition. With that in mind, we offer the following helpful tips for making sure that you get an accurate written record of everything that transpires during the proceedings.

1. Confirm the dates of your deposition. If the actual date of your deposition is still up in the air, then you are not quite ready to hire a court reporter. In order to avoid cancellation fees, or inconvenience the reporter herself, it is best to get the time and date set in stone before placing a call.

2. Reserve your conference room. Inside many law firms the biggest fight isn’t over who will be made partner, but rather over valuable conference room space. Make sure that you’ve got one reserved for the specific date and time of the scheduled deposition.

3. Ask for recommendations. If you are unsure about who to call to get a court reporter to work your deposition, ask other attorneys for a recommendation.

4. Determine if your deposition will take place over more than one day. In order to insure that a qualified court reporter is available for the entire deposition, be sure to determine beforehand whether or not the deposition will conclude in the span of a single day.

5. Ask about bi-lingual court reporters. If there will be languages other than English spoken at the deposition, ask the court reporter (or their service) about the availability of bi-lingual court reporters. If a bilingual reporter is not available for the deposition, you can also hire a translator after the fact to convert the record into another language.

6. Contact a court reporting service. The beauty of a court reporting service is that it takes all the guesswork out of hiring someone to transcribe your deposition. The process couldn’t be easier. Simply contact the service online or over the phone and let them know the details of your upcoming deposition. They will let you know who is available, what their experience level is and what you fee will be.

7. Be mindful of the court reporter’s time. Try not to keep the court reporter waiting around for long stretches of time before or after the deposition. Just like you, their time is valuable and always needs to be accounted for.
With these tips in mind, the scheduling and execution of your next deposition should go smoothly. Remember that although most court reporting services can send someone to you on short notice, it is always better to book ahead whenever possible.

For court reporters for your next deposition, plus a WHOLE lot more, visit http://www.courtreporternet.com/. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Monday, January 26, 2009

The Best California Court Reporting Firm


Court Reporter Net in California is the best court reporting service in the state, hands down. Here are a few reasons why:
  • We know how important it is for court reporting cases to be transcribed with complete accuracy, precision and clarity.
  • We are aware that every situation has different needs.
  • We are a fully qualified transcription service ready to handle court reporting in California.
  • We promise to be at assignments on time
  • We make sure that our California court reporters bring skill to their transcription, court reporting and videography assignments.
  • They worked with some of the most prestigious law firms throughout the country
  • We offer services for depositions, arbitrations, conferences, hearings, conventions or meetings
  • We employ cutting-edge legal court reporters and videographers along with the most experienced certified specialists in the California area.
For court reporters, plus a WHOLE lot more, visit www.CourtReporterNet.com. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Tips for working with court reporters during a deposition



When working with Court Reporters during a deposition it's important to follow a few key tips to help get the most out of your court reporter and your time.

Before the deposition
First, make sure that the deposition is scheduled in advance and that if it is canceled contact the court reporter as soon as possible. Also, during the scheduling process get enough information as possible and relay it to your court reporter. They need just as much information as a lawyer including the deponents, case caption, names, subject matter, etc.

During The Deposition
During the deposition your court reporter will need your business card, names of everyone present, and at least 15 to 30 minutes to set up. Also, make sure the court reporter is sitting close to the desponent so that she can clear hear what he or she has to say. Lastly, make sure all devices are cut off so that nothing will interfere with the court reporter's equipment.

Attorneys looking for court reporters shouldn't don't settle for less! For court reporters, plus a WHOLE lot more, visit www.CourtReporterNet.com. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Court Reporters and Deposition Services

Although most people believe that court reporters spend all their time in a court room, the bulk of their professional activity is much more likely to take place in a conference room at a law firm. That’s because deposition services, and not in-trial proceedings is the leading reason why court reporters are in such constant demand.


http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/The-Deposition-the-office-409523_1555_1039.jpg

How a Court Reporter aids in a Deposition

· By providing a written record of testimony. Every deposition is valuable to the advance of that given court case, and since witnesses cannot be brought in again and again to repeat what they have said, the written record created by the court reporter must speak for them.

· By preparing a record to be used in court. If the witness being deposed is unable to appear in court, the transcript created by the court reporter will be used instead. These documents are also use to corroborate testimony during a trial. Say for example a witness is brought before the judge. They make statements that differ from those given during the deposition. Counsel is able to point out the discrepancies thanks to the written record.

· To certify any document presented as evidence during a deposition. Many court reporters are also notaries, meaning they can make any deposition-related documentation official in the eyes of the court. This may include evidence, statements and even the transcript of the deposition itself. (NOTE: Ask you court reporting services beforehand if the court reporter they are sending out is currently a notary public.)

Other Deposition-Related Court Reporting Services

One of the fastest growing legal services is Videography, and it comes into play often with depositions. More and more attorneys are choosing to videotape their depositions for the record, or use later in court. Sensing a shift in demand, court reporting services have brought in expert video camera operators to shoot and edit these depositions.

Translation and interpreter services are also offered by many court reporting services and can provide benefits for those who need to depose individuals who may not speak English as their first language (or at all). The same accuracy and speed is required of bi-lingual court reports as they must not only comprehend the second language being spoken, but create a transcript of it as well.

Millions of depositions take place in the United States each year, and for each one there is likely to be a court reporter present to create a flawless record of what is said. It is just one of the myriad ways that a court reporter provides the backbone of the legal record.

For court reporters, plus a WHOLE lot more, visit www.CourtReporterNet.com. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Technological advances in the court reporting industry


Some lawyers are pleasantly surprised when they realize exactly how much the court reporting industry has changed. Even though stenographs are still used, lots of other technologies have come into existence that can allow a court reporter to provide services above and beyond the call of duty.

Here are some of the latest advancements that could benefit you or firm in making the decision on which court reporter would be right for you:

Laptop Computers
This is the most obvious advancement and it is slowly, but surely, taking the place of the stenograph machine. The laptop computer is allowing court reporters to increase their workload and speed daily.

Video and Transcript Comparison Software
These software options allow a videotaped deposition to be synced and viewed side by side with transcripts. It can even transcribe a court reporter’s words spoken into a mouthpiece.

Interactive Scanning
Documents and photos can not only be scanned, but can be made electronic with clickable links and instant filing. This allows paper to be saved and organization to be a click away.

There are many more technological advances in the field and when looking for a court reporter, this should definitely be examined further.

For court reporters, plus a WHOLE lot more, visit www.CourtReporterNet.com. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Court reporter and lawyer relationships are key to litigation success


The relationship between a lawyer and a court reporter is the key to success in the litigation field for both parties. According to Wayne Cohen, who wrote on the subject in the July-August 2006 Journal For Reporting and Captioning Profession:

"Many more seasoned attorneys still haven't the slightest clue what court reporters actually do. We don't understand how court reporting equipment or software works. We have no idea how court reporters use the key strokes or how the transcripts go from the court reporter's computer to production."

That's why at CourtReporterNet.com we train our court reporters to take that extra step to ensure that clients are happy and comfortable with our court reporters. In order to make that happen, we encourage our court reporters to follow a few guidelines:

1. Always put your best foot forward by arriving to everything on time or early, especially depositions.

2. Try to have conversations on topics other than work every now and then.

3. Be prepared to listen to what everyone is talking about. Asking "How was your day?"or "Did you enjoy lunch?" can go a long way.

4. Also, smiling and being cheerful can help a court reporter stand out from the crowd. Litigation is a very serious matter, but lightening the mood a little can help put everyone at ease before and after a case.

5. Having a great attitude is self explanatory, never has anyone wanted to be around someone who never smiles and always has something wrong.

For a court reporter that can really add value, and for a WHOLE lot more, visit www.CourtReporterNet.com. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Monday, January 12, 2009

What To Look For In A Court Reporter


Everyday hundreds of legal professionals hire court reporter firms without understanding exactly what they are looking for. A good court reporter is hard to find that’s why it's important to understand what a quality court reporter is. A quality court reporter should be:

Attentive
Outside distractions, interest in the story line, even day to day thoughts can stop a court reporter from hearing proceedings and recording them precisely. An attentive court reporter is ideal because they concentrate on every detail of the legal proceeding without falling prey to inaccurate court reporting.

Prepared
How many times has a great employee fell short because of un-organization? We've heard the story many times in today's courtrooms and unfortunately, a bad court reporter can fall into this category. Organization is key in order for a court reporter to use a stenotype machine, file documents, organize workspaces, and keep careful record of legal proceedings. Without these characteristics legal issues will turn up.

Flexible
From the long hours, to mounds of paper work, canceled proceedings, and moved meetings; flexibility is a key attribute every court reporter should have. This comes into play especially when proceedings continue past the scheduled time.

Established
An established court reporter is a mature court reporter. He or she has experience on the job and knows the importance and severity of her role in today's legal proceedings. Even when the subject matter may past a "normal" level, court reporters should not only keep their bearings but also behave in the most professional way possible.

Punctual
Lastly, and most importantly, court reporters should be punctual because in this business nothing can be overlooked or missed when it comes to people's lives. It's such an important characteristic because courtrooms will refuse to start or continue until the court reporter shows up.

Court reporting services should offer you a court reporter with combination of all these characteristics and more. For court reporters, plus a WHOLE lot more, visit www.CourtReporterNet.com. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.
 
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