Having a record of significant company proceedings can fend off a host of problems. Written transcripts provide a clear and unbiased record of events that can defuse situations before they become problems. From resolving a simple dispute whether the deadline was the 7th or the 17th to providing critical evidence in a lawsuit, more private companies than ever are using court reporters.

How can your organization use court reporting?

The most obvious reason that businesses consult a court reporting agency is if they have a legal transaction. If there is a situation that could go to or has gone to court then an organization might need to collect depositions from concerned parties.

However there are countless everyday situations that also benefit from court reporting services. A certified court reporter acts as an impartial witness to events, providing an unbiased written record that can settle arguments in a flash.

A reporter is a skilled listener who can tell the difference between "our stock is worthless" and "our stock is worth less" or whether the union representative wants a "resolution" or a "revolution".

Some companies might record important meetings, either as an official record or to allow the meeting to be broadcast remotely to other offices. Having a written transcript of the recording is still an important component of full documentation and a court reporter can provide that quickly and accurately.

On the other hand some proceedings are broadcast to remote office live rather than on tape. Here the reporter can serve another purpose: closed captioning. A skilled reporter can provide real-time captioning for any deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers.

Most organizations use a court reporting agency

Very few organizations can justify a full-time court reporter on staff. This is a specialized skill that requires years of training and experience to do correctly. Having a reporter on staff usually means this person spends a lot of time on other duties that are often a waste of the reporter's skills.

Instead, most organizations opt to hire through a court reporting agency. The company gets a professional with extensive experience, someone who does nothing but live, real-time transcription. This avoids the problem of interviewing and hiring, background checks, and a host of other issues with having a person on staff.

Agencies also make sure that all the regulations are followed so that you know you are getting a fully-certified court reporter not just a simple transcriptionist. The difference between the two is vital if the transcript is ever used in a legal proceeding.

Reporting regulations vary from state to state so it can be difficult for a private company to ensure that a court reporter is properly licensed. For example, a Texas court reporting agency will have all of their reporters pass state certification tests because it is required by state law. Other states do not have the same licensure requirement.