Certified Court Reporting - Deciding on the Best Court Reporters

As attorneys, we often evaluate the strength of our cases based on objective information, although not based upon the support system that gathers that information. Apart from tv dramas that depict a lawyer as being the sole determiner of the case, we all know much better than anyone that, before a court case reaches court, a number of people working in many capacities can make or break its level of quality, one of which is a court reporter. While all attorneys know, the potency of many cases is ultimately based on the strength of depositions. However while attorneys rigorously examine depositions, seldom will they evaluate the skills of deposition reporters. In most cases, lawyers are too busy to look at a court reporter as if they were examining a witness. But there's an easy method for lawyers to select the best reporters without investigating them: contact an established court reporting agency. Below, we list three facets of the reporter screening process that define an established reporting firm.

Examining of Referrals

Certified court reporting is dependent upon getting the proper certifications to do the job. But those who have had a bad experience with a professional reporter can verify that the reporter's value depends upon a lot more than his / her certifications. One way to determine a reporter's value beyond certifications is to rigorously screen personal references, particularly those not listed. Just about every certified court reporting agency will screen a reporter's stated referrals. But the best agencies also request several references that are not listed on a reporter's resume. By examining an extensive range of referrals, a reporting agency can determine whether a reporter has conducted just a few good reporting assignments or has a true track record of quality.

Evaluation of Technical Skills

Like most occupations, court reporting is becoming more and more defined by technological practices, specifically real-time reporting as well as video reporting. Should you need these abilities in a reporter, you will not have a problem locating reporters which possess them. However, you may have difficulty figuring out exactly how proficient a reporter is in your particular reporting needs. Just like some lawyers undertake cases they don't typically focus on, some reporters undertake reporting assignments they aren't proficient in. To prevent these reporters, always hire through a reporting firm that actually tests their reporters' skills instead of judging their skills by their certifications.

Screening of Personality

That court reporters ought to be screened based on personality might sound strange. After all, court reporters are usually silent and sedentary during their assignments. But court reporters' personality has more than to do with how they present themselves during depositions; additionally, it it relates to how they will react to deponents relating to the deposition manuscript. A reporter that's easily bored, prejudiced or reacts angrily to certain topics could product a transcript that is untrue or highly flawed in terms of the deponent's non-verbal reactions. Again, some court reporting agencies depend on a reporter's credentials. But a reporting agency that truly values its clients will effectively screen its reporters based on personality.

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