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Hidden Duties of Court Reporting Services
© COPYRIGHT HUSEBY, INC. 2008
 

When a judge calls recess at the end of the day, all of the participants in the trial go home to get a good night's sleep. Except, that is, the court reporters.

Court reporting services involve more than typing or dictating notes during legal proceedings. Those notes are useless by themselves and if someone needs a copy of the full transcript, it may mean a late night for the reporter.

Late Transcripts Are Not an Option

At Huseby we know that when someone needs a transcript from one of our court reporters, that transcript needs to be complete, accurate, and on time.

An integral part of court reporting services is providing documentation when needed. This means that the reporter's personal life may get put on hold. Officials don't request transcripts out of casual curiosity. These are certified records of court proceedings and when they are needed, they are needed no matter what.

However even legal professionals often don't realize just how much is involved in producing a full document.

Transcript Production

In the past, court reporting machines produced documents in shorthand that were gibberish to anyone but another reporter. This output had to be translated into a full English document that could be read by other people.

Today's transcription devices usually use Computer Aided transcription which automatically translates the cryptic reporter notes into human-readable text. However, as anyone who has ever been embarrassed by a spellchecker's idea of correct spelling, computer translation needs to be edited to ensure the final document matches what was really said.

After translation comes research. The reporter must verify everything from correct spelling of people's names to proper use of obscure technical terms. The goal is accurate transcription of every speaker's words, not necessarily accurate information. If a witness claims that the world is flat, the reporter must dutifully record the comment.

Once the reporter has a correct and readable document, it must be printed and bound then delivered on time to everyone who needs a copy.

Court Reporting Services Involves Even More

Huseby provides court reporting through independent contractors. As small business owners, these independent court reporters have to attend to a variety of other tasks.

Record-keeping is often the bane of small business owners but is also the key to successful and profitable ventures. Computer software makes it easier to keep track of things such as customer databases and tax payments, but the owner still has to be conscientious about keeping information up to date.

Court reporters may hire clerical help so they can concentrate on court reporting services. However hiring and managing these personnel takes time out of the reporter's daily schedule.

Although the core duties are the same, reporters might have different ancillary functions due to their home state regulations. For example, the details of California court reporting services could be different than that of reporters from Virginia or Michigan . This requires each court reporter to adopt a business plan that fits their local needs.

Huseby, Inc. provides premium worldwide litigation services with Registered Professional Court Reporters, Certified Legal Video Specialists, state-of-the-art videoconferencing, trial presentation and mediation services. Call us or schedule online for all of your real-time and verbatim court reporting services, bates stamping, document and exhibit scanning and management, videotape services, coding, electronic transcript and advanced litigation support needs

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