Feb 25
The Unsung Heroes of the Law Office
icon1 Court Reporter | icon2 Articles | icon4 02 25th, 2009| icon34 Comments »

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.

court reporters

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.

Feb 25

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.