Court reporters offer an invaluable service for legal institutions and for attorneys who rely on accurate transcriptions of proceedings. It can be a challenging process to search for a court reporter, especially for legal professionals new to the process in a particular jurisdiction or who don’t know much about the venue. In the absence of a professional network you can rely on for a word-of-mouth referral, you have to use objective criteria to find the right person. Going to court can be a confusing time, there is a load of things that need to be sorted alongside getting a court reporter. For example you might need to use a process service (such as one provided by someone like the Colorado Springs Process Server).
Lawyers assess several key factors when deciding on a court reporter. This kind of analysis is essential, as the role of a court reporter is complex and attorneys need to rely on those services in order to safeguard the welfare of their clients. The welfare of clients is of the highest importance to attorneys like Bley & Evans, they need to make sure that everything going on, is happening in a fair and impartial environment to get the best result they can from the proceedings. Consider these criteria when searching for a new court reporter for your next deposition or trial.
Certifications and Training Matter
Court reporters provide the only record of depositions and trial proceedings. They document the gestures and actions of speakers using stenography equipment. At the conclusion of events, they edit for typographical errors, ensuring the record is accurate and reliable. However, a full-service legal service can provide more sophisticated services, like video depositions.
Because court reporters must have a general understanding of the legal environment, they are trained in legal terminology and procedures. Many states require court reporters to have a license. Additionally, most court reporters are members of the National Court Reporters Association, adhering to a code of ethics and committing to provide unbiased and accurate reporting. Magna court reporters are also experts in particular subject matter, meaning they’ll be up-to-date on all of the latest terminologies and issues regarding your particular field of law.
Hiring a trained and certified court reporter gives attorneys peace of mind that an important word won’t be missed or incorrectly transcribed. When a deposition is used in court or transcript used for an appeal, there will be no debate as to whether the court reporter made a mistake.
When searching for court reporters, ask about their training and confirm that they are NCRA certified. Certifications through the NCRA are verified independently and continuously updated. The organization provides continuing education programs and services to ensure its members are able to meet the high standards required of attorneys and courts across the country.
How Will Depositions Be Recorded?
Attorneys refer to legal records for varied kinds of information. Often, a written transcript can only reveal part of what’s important in a piece of testimony. Gestures, hesitations, body language and other visual cues are mostly missing from text-based transcription. Legal experts and layman observers agree that visual information is often crucial to gain a greater understanding of what was said and thereby the legal argument.
Video records offer additional insight and create another record of what transpired, particularly if cameras are placed at a variety of angles to get a full perspective. Advanced technology allows for real-time transcription of testimony that supplements the video recording, so attorneys can refer back to important places in the proceedings almost immediately.
Since securing a deposition and exhibits is a crucial part of court reporting, confirm the person you hire will get the records you need. MagnaLS, for example, provides both written and video depositions and offers camera shots from many angles so no important detail is missed. When depositions are presented to a jury or judge, those subtle cues can make the difference between winning or losing a case.
What Technology Solutions Do They Offer?
Court reporting has evolved significantly over the past several decades. The days of court reporters using shorthand to take down dialogue are over, although experienced court reporters may use an impressive range of skills in order to document all aspects of a proceeding.
As legal cases have become more complex, reporters have introduced advanced technology to ensure every detail is recorded for the benefit of the courts, attorneys and juries. This is essential in cases where there is a great deal of scientific evidence to analyze, if attorneys have to impeach witnesses or challenge amateur evidence like cell phone video.
Ask your prospective court reporters about the technology they are trained to use and have access to. Sophisticated technology offers a 360-degree perspective of a proceeding, including comprehensive video, audio recordings and written records. MagnaLS, for example, offers digital videography and a multi-camera perspective. Real-time exhibit and video deposition integration, as well as courtroom video playback, give attorneys essential tools to examine witnesses. For lawyers, it usually means having the competitive edge that can get the best results for clients.
After the session is complete, MagnaLS handles video digitization and transcript synchronization so you receive the optimal record of proceedings for use in later stages of the case.
Contact MagnaLS to Learn More
MagnaLS is committed to meeting high standards in legal services. Attorneys place a great deal of trust in our technology and personnel, a trust we do not take for granted. With a nationwide reach, we can find the right people to work your case in any part of the country as well as internationally.
We always welcome inquiries from prospective new clients interested in our work. For high-quality court reporting services, contact MagnaLS today!
