Advantages of Choosing the Right Court Reporter With the Right Experience
When you need a court reporter to transcribe an event—whether a deposition or a hearing—you need to be able to trust that she knows what she is doing. Court reporters must undergo a significant amount of training before they are certified. However, this training doesn’t necessarily guarantee the quality of experience or skill that your case demands.
In short, not all court reporters are created equal.
So, are you willing to put your needs and your case’s documentation into the hands of someone who may not fully be up to the task? Probably not—nor should you.
Necessary experience and skill are essential for court reporters not only to be successful when transcribing but also throughout their interactions with you and your clients.
The Benefits of Experience
Any college student or intern will tell you that experience bias is torturous. Sure, everyone wants an experienced worker, but how are people supposed to get experience if only the experienced are hired?
Although there may be some truth to this, the fact of the matter remains that experience builds knowledge and strengthens skills that better benefit employers. When it comes to court reporting, knowledge and skill are more important than you may realize. Distinguished experience can make the difference between a drawn-out fiasco and a quick resolution, a pitiful apology and a fair settlement, or even your own personal feelings of anxiety and a senses of security and confidence.
There are four specific areas where additional experience is extremely beneficial for both you and your case…
- Real-time reporting. Certification in real-time reporting isn’t mandatory for court reporters, but it can be a real asset. In addition to refined listening and accuracy skills, an experienced real-time reporter can provide you with instant rough drafts and an immediate, verbatim record of the testimony. As a result, you and your team have the opportunity to directly view and review testimonies during a deposition or arbitration meeting, if needed. Not only does this eliminate wasted time and witness confusion, but can also give you an edge during questioning.
- International depositions. Court reporters who are familiar with travel and taking depositions around the world can significantly improve your entire international experience. From scheduling and logistical planning to hunting down the nearest equipment locations and tasty local restaurants, an experienced international reporter can help get you what you need when you need it. Need exhibits printed at the last minute? Not sure if your cell phone charger is compatible with foreign outlets? You can rely on the experience of your court reporter to know how to resolve your concerns when abroad.
- Accent translation. Certification requires court reporters to develop acute listening skills, but thick accents, speech impediments, and mumbling can be difficult to understand. However, properly experienced court reporters can interpret difficult speech patterns. As a result, you’ll avoid wasting time having witnesses repeat themselves or clarify statements. You’ll also have the confidence that comes with knowing your transcripts are accurate.
- Transcript expedition. Although real-time reporting provides instant access to transcripts, normal transcriptions can take days or even weeks to complete. However, seasoned court reporters know how time-sensitive depositions and testimony can be for your case. Their experience also provides them with the necessary skills to transcribe faster than newly trained reporters. Therefore, your documents are completed on your schedule, when you need them.
Getting the Most Out of Your Choice
When the outcome of your case is on the line, you need to be able to trust that your court reporter has the experience and skill to handle whatever you throw at her. At Casamo & Associates we take pride in knowing that our reporters are highly trained in the latest captioning and stenographic technology. In addition, all of our reporters are not only certified, but also have (on average) 10 years experience within the legal field, with many holding special certifications as CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation) captioners.
We obviously hold our reporters to a high standard. Isn’t time you did as well?
Don’t allow your case to be jeopardized by an inexperienced court reporter. Call us at (877) 837-0077 or come visit us to set up an appointment. The sooner you contact us, the sooner you can begin reaping the benefits that come with securing the experienced help you need.
