Court Reporters Court Reporting Nationwide: February 2009

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!

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.

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.

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:

Speak clearly
Speak slowly
Have a business card on hand
Write your position on the card either defendant, prosecution, etc.
Don't talk while someone else is talking
Don't let the witness answer until you finish you question
Don't let witness answer with uh-uh or uh-huh
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

Court Reporters Court Reporting Nationwide