Court Reporters, Court Reporting, Stenographers

There are a number of qualities which make for the perfect court reporter.  Professionalism and accuracy are among the most important of these qualities – and should be expected above all else when you hire a reporter to work on trial, deposition or other business matter.  The following represent those things which you should NOT expect from your court reporter.   Bear these qualities in mind the next time to hop online on pick up the phone to contact a court reporting service in your area.

What NOT to expect from a qualified court reporter

Don’t expect them to be late

A good court reporter understands that at a deposition or trial-related proceeding, time is money!  That’s why the best court reporters are always onsite at the pre-agreed time without fail.

Don’t expect them to be slow

Great court reporters are built for speed.  No matter how fast the conversation is, you can count on them to keep up and provide a full transcript of everything that is said.  Professional court reporters practice their craft at the highest speeds so that their ear and hand are trained to maintain a fast pace.

Don’t expect them to make mistakes

The beauty of great court reporting is that it combines elements of speed and accuracy.  Your court reporter is simply not going to make many mistakes in their pursuit of creating the perfect transcript.  Depositions, hearings, business meetings or other important functions will all be captured without a flaw – befitting the document’s place as an official record of the court.

Don’t expect them to just work at a trial

One of the least-known facts about the court reporting industry is that reporters do not spend the majority of their time within the walls of a court house.  Instead, their valuable skills are used to help provide official records of depositions, arbitration hearings and other key legal proceedings outside of the halls of justice.  You are much more likely to find a court reporter in a law office than in front of a judge.

Don’t expect to a great court reporter to be hard to find

In the past, when an attorney or a law firm found a court reporter that they liked working with, they stuck to them like glue because they were so hard to replace.  Now, although the position is still in constant demand, court reporting services have made it easier than ever to find a qualified court reporter.  The great thing about these services is that the candidates are generally pre-screened, meaning that attorneys do not need to worry about the level of expertise of the individual they are bringing on for the job.

Don’t expect to NOT find a court reporter on short notice

The above mentioned court reporting duties are all available on even short notice.  Court reporting services staff a number of reporters in all their targeted areas, which increases the likelihood that they will be available when needed most.  (Note:  some court reporting services attach a small premium on last minute requests.)

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.

A deposition is an integral part of most criminal and civil legal cases (but for the purposes of this article we will focus primarily on civil cases).  During a deposition, an attorney will take testimony from a party involved in the case.  This could be one of the litigants in the case, or a witness who is crucial to the case.

Evidence can also be a part of the deposition.  The individual being deposed may bring papers or other documents and evidence with them to the deposition.  The attorney may then ask the individual questions about this evidence – which is also entered into the record during the deposition.

There are two primary purposes for a deposition:

1)      The deposed individual is giving the testimony because it is not required that they appear in court, or they will be unable to appear.

2)      The attorneys are using the deposition as a discovery in order to obtain more information that will be used in their case.  In this instance, the individual may be called to testify during the trial, at which time their live testimony will be checked against the statements they made during the deposition.

Juries and judges are not present during a deposition, but in a small number of cases, judges or other members of the court can be called into to help settle disputes or clarify the rule of law.  The adversarial parties may also attend the deposition in order to gather information about the case or confirm that everything is being handled in proper legal order.

Individuals who appear at a deposition have the right to have an attorney present with them during the proceeding.  The attorney can provide to the individual “on the fly” and lessens the chance that the individual will incriminate themselves during testimony.

The deposition is also an evaluation period for the individual who is being deposed.  Simply put, attorneys may use the opportunity to get to know the individual and determine whether or not they will be suitable to appear before a jury.  Some individuals are combative or speak without clarity – and therefore could damage a case if they were to provide live testimony.

While a deposition is taking place, a court reporter is creating a written record of everything that is being said by both the attorney and the individual who is being deposed.  The court reporter plays an integral role in the deposition.  Accuracy is of the utmost importance since the transcript of the deposition may be entered into the case as evidence during the trial.  Much like court reporting during a trial, the written record of what takes place during a deposition is kept forever and can be referenced at any time by attorneys working on similar cases or appeals.

When a deposition is complete, all involved parties will have a chance to review the transcript.  And although they are given a chance to make corrections and revisions, the written word created by the court reporter generally stands as law.

Veritext is nationwide leader in court reporting and transcription services.  With expert court reporters available throughout the United States, Veritext provides courtrooms and law offices with professional reporting services for a variety of legal proceedings.  Visit www.veritext.com today for more information.

A law office is an interesting place. Young associates scramble for position among the partnership elite, while the partners themselves try to maintain their foothold in the hope of one day seeing their name on the door. Through it all, there are a number of selfless, hard working individuals who never get to see their “name in lights” atop the law journals on in the headlines of the daily paper.

These are the unsung heroes of the legal world – and without them, a law firm would just be a series of cluttered offices and overflowing coffee machines.

The Legal Secretary

The legal secretary is heart and soul of any law office that wants to stay productive. Responsible for managing the attorney’s time (which is of course, all billable and therefore holds great value) and office “flow” the legal secretary is one of the few people in a law office whose time is not billed out to clients.

The Paralegal

Paralegals handle a lot of the legal “grunt work” that forms the basis for court cases and important legal proceedings. Paralegals are either “lifers” who have devoted their career to this facet of the industry, or they are law students or aspiring attorneys who want to see the industry from the front lines. Regardless, they perform everything from legal research to filings and more – and are billed out to clients for their time (which makes them even MORE valuable).

The Messenger

The computer age has not spelled the end for the messenger. This is especially true in the legal industry, where official signed documents must still be filed with the court or delivered to all involved parties within a case. Messengers don’t generally make a great deal of money, but their trustworthiness and responsibility are relied upon every day by the attorneys the firm.

The Court Reporter

Although the court reporter is usually a “hired gun” that comes into the law office on an “as needed” basis, there is no denying their importance to the process. In addition to providing transcripts of trial proceedings, court reporters also work with depositions, meetings, audio and video transcription and more. A law office thrives on its official legal documents – and those documents wouldn’t be possible without the court reporting services of these individuals.

The Receptionist

Keeping the calls flowing and the office humming is the direct responsibility of the receptionist. He or she is the first impression the company makes on visitors and sets the tone for how people will view the office. Receptionists are often able to glean a great deal from their surroundings – which might be the reason why some go on to become attorneys themselves.

In a law firms, associates and partners are the public face of the organization. Their client-work obviously fuels the hours that pay the bills. But without the dedication of the individuals above, attorneys would hardly have time to tie their own shoes – let alone helping clients win their cases.

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.

You don’t have to have an upcoming trial to enjoy the benefits of a skilled court reporter. The core qualities of a court report – speed and accuracy – can help with any number of services for attorney and businesses of all sizes.

1. For a deposition. Actually, court reporters are more likely to be called to provide a transcript for a deposition than almost any other proceeding. In legal offices around the country, court reports provide the essential written record of the involved party’s testimony.

2. For closed-captioning. More and more, court reporters are being called upon to provide real-time closed captioning for the hearing impaired. These invaluable services help deaf individuals follow along with television programs, important meetings and other events.

3. For translation services. If a court report speaks multiple languages, their speed and accuracy makes them the perfect choice to provide language translation or interpreter services. When an individual is speaking another language – and the other party needs to follow along with every word in real time, the services of a court reporter are incredibly valuable.

4. For corporate gatherings. Annual shareholders meetings, corporate gatherings or corporate-wide status reports all benefit from an official written record. Court reporters can seamlessly provide these records, which can then be part of a corporate log or used to disseminate among investors.

5. To transcribe previously recorded materials. If a law firm or business has audio or video materials that they need transposed into the written word, a court reporter can handle the job quite nicely. They know the importance of total accuracy, and can do the job quickly to maintain a high level of cost-effectiveness.

How to Find a Good Court Reporter

In the past, when you found a good court reporter, you held on to them for dear life! The position is always in great demand, and finding a professional that you felt comfortable working with was like finding a needle in a haystack. Now, online court reporting services have made the process much easier. Instead of relying on word-of-mouth or referrals, it is now possible to work with an agency that prescreens all their court reporters for:

· Speed

· Accuracy

· Professionalism

· Experience

With the click of a mouse it is now possible to hire these professionals and feel comfortable that you will receive a highly-trained court reporter in return.

How to Help Your Court Reporter Do Their Job More Effectively

There are several ways you can get more out of the court reporter you hire, including:

· Be prepared. Prepare a short brief regarding the project the court reporter will be working on. This will help them get a proper perspective on the work to be done – and will help increase their proficiency.

· Be aware of their time. Be considerate of the court reporters time. Try to predict how much time will be needed for the project and communicate that information to the reporter.

· Provide amenities. Feed your court reporters and meet their needs while in your care. This will allow them to stay content and work throughout the course of the day.

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.

Facts and statistics about becoming a California court reporter

The state of the job market in California is currently uncertain. The unemployment rate is one of the highest in the country, and many companies are moving to other parts of the United States to avoid the high cost of doing business in the Golden State.

However, one job sector that looks stronger than ever is court reporting. California court reporters can look forward to a future of rising salaries and job security at a time when other industries are failing.

Why is court reporter a good career choice in California?

There are several reasons why court reporting is such a good career move for Californians in today’s job market.

• The job cannot be outsourced. While many positions in the customer service industry or industrial sector are being sent overseas, it is impossible to do so with a court reporter. They must be present at the proceedings, so finding cheaper labor in another country is not an option.

• Court reporters cannot be replaced by technology. While there have been significant advances in speech recognition software, a human being will always be required in order to execute a court reporting job accurately and intelligently.

• There is a growing demand for court reporters. California court reporters have the advantage of living in one of the most litigious states in the country. And as the number of court cases continues to grow, so too will the need for people to record them.

o In fact, a nationwide study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that court reporting job openings will increase by 25% over the next several years.
Salaries and benefits for California court reporters

Some individuals shy away from the court reporting business because they mistakenly believe that the job does not pay a sufficient salary. In actuality, the average income of an accredited court reporter last year was almost $72,000.

Other growth areas in California court reporting

In addition to standard court reporting services, many other peripheral services are bringing about growth in the industry. In California, there has been a significant rise in the demand for real-time closed-captioning for the hearing impaired. This is a task perfectly suited for court reporters who are, by design, skilled at transposing the spoken word into text quickly and accurately.

Also, many non-legal-related fields are utilizing the skills of court reporters. Businesses throughout the state use court reporters at internal meetings, shareholder functions and other events where maintaining a written record of the proceedings is crucial.

A challenging field to enter

Court reporters must undergo rigorous training before they can begin their careers. In fact, the challenging nature of this training is one reason why court reporters are in such high demand. According to several sources, as many as half of those individuals who begin training as a court reporter drop out before their education is complete.

But for those who stick with it, the benefits can be considerable. And the difficultly of the training process insures that every law firm who requests a California court reporter is getting a high-quality individual who will be able to execute the job with proficiency and professionalism.

To find an outstanding court reporter in your area, visit Court Reporter Net. 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.

The legal community in Dade County is one of the busiest in the country. As we speak, there are millions of criminal and civil cases being held in Miami area courthouses, as well as thousands of depositions being taken every day within the law offices found in the area.

Therefore, the Miami, FL court reporter is an individual who is constantly in demand. The following are ten things everyone should know about court reporters in Miami, including how find them, and how to select the most appropriate individuals for your project.

1. You can find a Miami court reporter through an agency. Some of the best court reporters work for court reporting agencies. These companies pre-screen all their employees and only staff the best-of-the-best professionals in the area.

2. Miami court reporters can transcribe proceedings in the court room. Although the bulk of the court reporter’s time is spent outside of an actual courtroom, they can still be used to keep official record of a trial, pre-trial hearing, motion or other procedures.

3. Court reporters are available to transcribe depositions. Depositions are the backbone of many legal cases, and court reports function as the official recorder of the proceedings. Deposition transcripts are used when an individual cannot appear in court, or when the validity of their in-court testimony needs to be verified.

4. Court reporters work on an hourly or per project basis. The most common form of billing in the court reporting industry is hourly, with higher rates applied for overtime, late night work or expedited work.

5. Court reporters can be requested on short notice. Many court reporting agencies in Miami and throughout Florida have individuals waiting to be called into action. And while more advance notice is always preferable, court reporting agencies understand the unpredictable nature of the legal profession.

6. The Miami Florida court reporter should always act and dress appropriately. Men and women who wear the title of court reporter should always dress in a businesslike manner. Men should be wearing suits when in court or at a law office and women should stay away from anything not deemed “workplace appropriate.”

7. The best Miami Florida court reporting services provide a variety of services, including audio-to-text transcription, videography and other jobs relevant to the legal reporting process.

8. Court reports are fast! In order to become a certified court reporter in Florida, each individual must be able to transcribe at least 225 spoken words per minute.

9. Your Florida court reporter may also be a notary public. Many agencies require that their reports have the ability to notarize the legal documents they transpose (or other documents involved in the case). Check with your court reporting service for availability of these individuals.

10. Many court reporters work in the area of closed-captioning. These individuals use their transcription skills to provide real-time closed-captioning of meetings, television programming and other event for the hearing impaired.

Finding an outstanding court reporter in Florida is easier when you contact a court reporting service. These companies help insure that the individual you trust with the official record of your meeting, hearing or deposition will be professional and efficient.

For the best court reporters in Miami Florida and around the country, visit court reporting. 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.

Another benchmark in technology could save money for Oakland County but also potentially eliminate jobs in the process, as the Oakland County Board of Commissioners is considering the acquisition of four digital audio/video court recording systems that will effectuate the dismissal of four court reporters.

The Oakland County Board of Commissioners’ Public Services Committee unanimously approved a one-time appropriation from the county’s fund balance to buy the equipment and has referred the authorizing resolution to the board’s Finance Committee for review on Thursday, Aug. 14.

According to the proposal, the court recording devices will improve the quality and efficiency of court operations.

The resolution is one response to the budget cutting tasks ordered by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who said the courts must slash $2.3 million from their 2010 budget due to projected revenue shortfalls. According to Oakland County Commissioner Jeff Potter (R-Walled Lake, Wixom), chairman of the Public Services Committee, the need for budget cuts has forced the committee to rethink current operations.

“We have been aggressive in supporting technology to keep burdens off the taxpayers,” Potter said. “Implementing this technology will eliminate (a court reporter) sitting in a court room waiting for a lawyer conference or for a court case. That kind of inefficiency is what we’re trying to change.”

Currently there are 16 fully operational digital court recording systems in judicial courtrooms and five in referee hearing rooms within the courthouse.

The resolution proposes that the Oakland County Circuit Court eliminate one court reporting position effective Oct. 1, 2008 and replace it with one digital recording system. Likewise, effective Oct. 1, 2009, it will eliminate two more court reporting positions and replace them with two digital recording systems.

The Oakland County Probate Court plans to follow suit. It has proposed to eliminate one court reporting position and replacing it with one digital recording system next year.

The courts plan to have all four systems installed and operational by Jan. 1, 2009.

The total cost for the video equipment and installation of one unit is a one-time fee of $45,000 in contrast to $95,000 per year for one court reporter (including fringe benefits and salary).

“The investment will be paid back through manpower services several times over,” Potter said.

According to Oakland County Circuit Court Administrator Kevin Oeffner, court reporter positions are not the only jobs being cut. By 2010, Oakland County will terminate 27 positions, with only four of them being court reporters.

“In the short term, it consolidates the need for recording rather than staffing full-time personnel,” Oeffner said.

County employees typically take retirement or are shifted to other jobs when their positions are eliminated, according to Potter.

The future of court reporters in the field, according to Oeffner, lies in the hands of the judges on the bench.

“We have 19 circuit court judges. Some use video, some use court reporters,” he said. “Its at the discretion of the judges on the bench in how they wish to have their court proceedings handled.”

The courts will retain several court reporters on the payroll. Currently, three court reporters are assigned to juvenile court referees; but the probate court uses both video and court reporters depending on the preference of the seated judge.

Potter said the cutting-edge technology is another step toward streamlining production and saving money, but added that the concept is still in the exploratory stage.

“It will bring efficiencies for production,” he said. “We’re already doing it in other courts so in our opinion it’s an expansion of something already in place. We won’t speculate on what the future holds. We have to gauge its success on factors such as community acceptance and costs.”

The estimated total cost of the equipment and installation is $200,000, but a support contract will be needed to maintain the systems at an approximate cost of $3,000 per system each year.

The useful life span of a system is between five and 10 years.

Once the Finance Committee approves the resolution, the final decision rests with the county Board of Commissioners. The board plans to make a decision on Sept. 4.

Check out this video about the world of court reporting, A video to peek inside the world of competitive court reporting

Who’s the fastest typist in the land?

If you’re talking about the Land of Lincoln, it’s arguably Melanie Humphrey-Sonntag, who has won the Illinois court reporters speed contest for the past three years. At last year’s event she transcribed the contest’s blazing dictation—averaging 245 words a minute—with a 99.193 percent accuracy.

That’s about 4 words a second.

Or to put it another way, Humphrey-Sonntag types faster than your average auctioneer talks.