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[C1150]Court Reporting At Home

by Mark Etinger, Mar

Myth #1: Court reporters are just glorified typists

Fact: Court reporting is one of the most demanding fields in and around the legal profession. Unlike typists or word processors, court reporter must listen to, and translate the human voice with incredible

Myth #2: Technology will replace the court reporter

Fact: One would think that by now computers and video equipment would have rendered the court reporter obsolete. But the fact is, there is no substituting the human element in court reporting. Court reporters can provide essential emphasis on words and phrases and other vital portions of the process.

Myth #3: Court reporters are all women

Fact: The historical image of the courtroom stenographer is that of a dapper-looking woman sitting cross-legged in the court room. But now, the profession is almost equally divided between men and women.

Myth #4: A good court reporter is hard to find

Fact: Although court reporters are always in demand, it is now easier than ever to find a good one thanks to the Internet. Many top court reporting services now use the web to give their clients the power to book court reporters or transcribers with the click of a mouse.

Myth #5: There's not much else a court report can do except…report

Fact: Now, more than ever, court reporters can provide a wide variety of services not only to law firms but the general business community as well. In addition to court room and deposition transcriptions, court reporters use their speed and accuracy to perform real-time closed captioning for the hearing impaired, transcribe the spoken word in audio and video materials and even give businesses a way to create records of shareholders meetings and other important corporate events.

Myth #6: Most of a court reporters time is spent in the court room

Fact: Like the legal community they serve, a large percentage of the court reporter's billable time is not spent in front of a judge. Instead, it is much more likely to find a court reporter in a law office working on a deposition. The court reporter's work on a deposition is crucial, as they create a written record of testimony that can be used as evidence, or to corroborate that witness' story once they do appear in court.

Myth #7: Court reporters look different than everyone else in the courtroom

Fact: Professional, experienced court reporters always dress and conduct themselves in such a way that represents their clients well. In fact, it should be hard to tell the court report from the attorney in most cases. Court reporters arrive on time and never make themselves the focal point during proceedings. To perform the duties with perfection, and NOT be noticed is essence of their work.

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 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.

Article Source : Free Legal Advice On Line

Mark Etinger has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recreation and Sports, Health and Computers and The Internet. For court reporters, plus a WHOLE lot more, visit CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videograp. Mark Etinger's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.