What Court Reporters Want You to Know About Depositions

deposition

No one likes surprises especially a member of your legal team like the court reporter. The more you keep them in the loop on scheduling and preparation, the better for you and your case. It will save time in getting a final deposition transcript delivered and will build a solid working relationship with a trusted reporter.

Scheduling

Be sure they have time on their schedule for your client’s deposition by notifying the court reporting agency. Include the time and place and notify them of changes or cancellation. If you anticipate a lengthy deposition, let them know so they can make appropriate arrangements for child care, pet care, and other personal obligations.

Witnesses

It’s important your witness understands their role in the deposition and delivers what you need them to deliver as efficiently as possible.

  • Answer the questions asked, nothing more.
  • Speak clearly.
  • Avoid non-words like uh-huh and gestures like nodding.

If it’s an expert witness, they know a lot about their area of expertise and can be wordier than you’d like during deposition. Encourage them to directly answer what is asked in as few words as possible. It will help to have them review reports and evidence prior to the deposition so there is limited need for clarification.

The more you prepare witnesses, expert or otherwise, the better for your case. From a reporter perspective, it saves time and gets the final transcript to you sooner.

Preparation

You’ve scheduled the deposition and prepared witnesses. Now it’s time to make sure everyone has what they need.

  • Have witnesses reviewed pertinent evidence and reports?
  • Does the reporter have accurate information about the time and place of deposition?
  • Does the reporter have what they need in terms of technology and hardware?

It’s helpful to provide witness information ahead of the proceedings so there’s no time wasted on clarifying the spelling of names. Also let the reporter know if you need a legal videographer or interpreter and if it’s a technical or expert witness, provide terminology ahead of time so the reporter can familiarize themselves.

Reporters are good at their jobs and they are thorough. Providing a case caption ahead of time will be one less item they need post-deposition. That means you can get the draft of the transcript sooner which benefits you and your client.

When you call your Phoenix reporting agency, be as specific about the needs of your case as you can be so that we can match you with the right court reporter. Ready for your next deposition? Contact us today!

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2016 NCRA Conference — Let Yourself Laugh

Who in your life makes you laugh? According to 2016 NCRA Conference keynote speaker and humorist John Wagner, “Humor is a powerful tool we can use to help relieve stress and connect socially. Supporting those social networks is critical in helping to get past the edge of our comfort zones.” In other words, make sure you have people in your life who make you laugh!

Wagner engaged conference attendees in laughing exercises that had them literally rolling in the aisles. It was a nice change of pace from the stress of court reporting or running a reporting agency. Sometimes it just feels good to laugh!

Everyone should have a friend whose jovial mood the room. When you send a funny email to an officemate, you love to hear them giggle. You tell a joke just to hear the wide mouth gasp or a belly laugh. That’s powerful!

Laughing refocuses your mind and body.   

Do you ever feel stuck? Whatever you do, it just doesn’t feel right. You can’t make a decision or you make what feels like the wrong decision. Those are signs you’re in your own way. You need to move so you can grow. Whether in career or personal life, there’s always room for change. If we can laugh about it, that makes it even better.

All too often we see people who just can’t get out of their own way. You see them too. They’re the ones who are always busy but never seem to get much done. Does this sound like you? There’s a cure. Try letting the stress out with a good laugh. Then re-focus. Who knows, you may come up with new, brilliant ideas!

Connecting with others for a fun time is one of the best cures for getting out of your comfort zone. It allows you to be free and leave the tension behind, even for a few minutes. Even if you’re not the giggling type, give it a try.

Let yourself laugh. It’s good for your business….and your health!

Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases infection fighting cells.

It allows us to get out of our own head and just be.

Laughter releases stress in your mind and muscles so that you can focus on your life in meaningful ways. Whether you realize it or not, you’re out of your comfort zone and in a more creative space in your head. That can make all the difference to your court reporting business.

It wasn’t all fun and games at the conference. Attendees also expanded their knowledge and skills to learn ways to balance working at home with spending time with family, ways to be productive, and managing transcripts to save yourself time.

Are you an attorney in need of a court reporter in the Phoenix area? Contact us today!

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Social Media Tips for Court Reporters

social media for court reporters

Social media has become a part of the professional landscape and whether you’re just starting to test the waters or a social media junkie, you can use it to build your professional reputation, showcase your skills, and make new networking connections. How you use social media makes the difference between building a reputation for professionalism and committing career suicide.

Social Media Tips for Court Reporters

Your updates aren’t just a social commentary or for fun, they’re a reflection of you and your business. Be conscious of what you’re posting and think about who may see it. It might change what you’re posting.

Content matters. Whether you’re tweeting, posting blog articles, or sharing content on Facebook, be aware of how you want to be perceived. Pay special attention to your spelling and grammar. As a court reporter, demonstrating accuracy is vital. Careless errors call your accuracy into question.

Separating business and personal. Having a social media presence can certainly help build your career. It will be up to you whether you choose to separate your personal and professional presence. Consider if you want to share photos of your kid’s baseball game or your sunrise birthday party with your professional contacts and if you want to share your professional posts with your friends and family. Even if you do separate your accounts, remember that professional contacts may still be able to see some of your personal posts. As a good rule of thumb, if you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see it, don’t post it.

Communication takes two. The key word in social media is social. Social media isn’t about broadcasting a monologue but about fostering a conversation. Good content will naturally drive conversation, giving you a chance to demonstrate your knowledge and professionalism.

Ready to listen. Part of any conversation is listening. Social media can be a wealth of information. In addition to building your own reputation, you can learn best practices from other seasoned court reporters.

Finally, a good rule of thumb when it comes to posting, always keep in mind the image you are creating. Your posts should be a clear reflection of the image you want to put forth whether that’s your role as a grandmother or as a highly regarded court reporter.

If you’re a court reporter seeking more clients or an attorney in need of a court reporter, contact us today.

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3 Reasons for Taking Breaks During the Work Day

taking breaks during the work day

Do you feel like you have so much to do and little time to do it? You’re not alone. Even though many court reporters work from home, we’re working throughout the day. We might even skip lunch just to get one more project completed. We think working continuously means we’re getting more accomplished but this isn’t true. Often we’re less efficient if we’re constantly sitting in front of the computer. Taking breaks during the work day is actually beneficial for us physically and mentally.

  1. INCREASED FOCUS AND PRODUCTIVITY. Just as prolonged or aerobic exercise can drain your physical energy, prolonged periods of focus and concentration can drain your mental energy. Taking a break to get coffee, visit a co-worker, or eat lunch allows your brain to recharge. You will be more focused and productive when you return to your work space.
  2. IMPROVED PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. Leading a healthy lifestyle requires a balance of healthy eating habits, hydration and physical exercise. Many court reporters spend their days sitting behind a desk, hunched over a computer. This often leads to pain and discomfort in the neck and back. It’s important to get the blood flowing by going for a walk, stretching, or getting in a quick workout.
  3. NUTRITION. Eating regular meals allows you to consume nutrients that your body needs to function properly. In addition, carbohydrates and other nutrients provide energy to compete the physical and mental tasks required during your work day. Working for long periods of time without a break for lunch or at least a healthy snack (almonds, peanut butter and celery, or protein shake) can lead to mental fuzziness, fatigue, or feelings of stomach discomfort and nausea. Include a break for lunch in your schedule and help to further improve your energy level and ability to function.

Breaks offer the opportunity to visit with friends without feeling guilty that the work isn’t getting completed. The work will be there when you return and you will be refreshed and ready to finish the day. Next time you want to skip lunch, take a break and have a healthy snack. Notice that you feel less pain and discomfort and are actually more alert and productive.

Here’s to a healthier YOU!

For more information about court reporting or hiring a court reporter, contact us today!

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Qualities of a Great Court Reporter

Court Reporter

While attention to detail and accuracy are keys to being a great court reporter, they aren’t the only characteristics that set this profession apart from the rest. Here are qualities we think make a great court reporter.

  1. Passion for learning. Whether you’re expanding your vocabulary or studying industry trends, court reporters are constantly learning. It makes you more marketable if you can illustrate your willingness to utilize new technology like real-time reporting. That translates to financial incentive for you.
  2. Focus. If you can concentrate on one subject or person for long period of time, this is a good profession for you. Court reporting requires listening to and recording testimony for hours, sometimes over a period of days. For some people this type of work is exhausting but for you it’s your passion.
  3. Organized. Whether you’re in a courtroom, boardroom, or working from home, you need to be organized so you know when to be at a deposition or appointment, even if it’s virtually. This is especially true if you’re covering more than one case. We recommend an online calendar and an app on your phone so you know where you need to be at all times. If you work from home, the calendar can also serve as work and non-work blocks of time so you know when to schedule time with family and friends.  
  4. Punctual. A colleague once told me that being early was actually on time and being on time was late. While I am not always perfect, I try my best to be on time. As a court reporter, you cannot be late to depositions. If you’re working virtually, build in time to check technology so you can troubleshoot early and start on time. Witnesses and attorneys are counting on you.
  5. Confidentiality. You will likely hear information that is not meant for public consumption and should be kept private. Not only should you act maturely when you hear the testimony, no matter how juvenile it might be, you should also keep it confidential. You’re just there to record what it said, not comment on it.

As a court reporter, it’s your job to be focused and maintain a level of confidentiality that is professional. Continue this as you review and proofread the transcription. Your accuracy could be the difference in the case.

Are you thinking of becoming a court reporter or need to hire a court reporter for an upcoming case? Contact us today!

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Local vs. National

Why are you letting your client pay Wall Street page rates in, say, the Grand Canyon State, when the most experienced, highly respected professional court reporters own businesses in your back yard? Insist that your personally-vetted, LOCAL court reporting professional be present at your deposition.

Locally owned companies with a vested interest in the community, in fact, do create a greater economic impact, indirectly supporting more jobs, payroll and output locally.

National “body brokers” of court reporting services, by their very nature, are controlled from central headquarters – which could be anywhere in the world. In many instances, they do not even have a brick-and-mortar business in your state, and they blindly throw a dart into an unknown pool of anonymous reporters. Sound familiar? They are making decisions based on factors which might not have anything to do with what is right, or legal, for one particular location, business or community. Any cost-containment or savings promised by a national firm is illusory, as rates from all over the country much higher than local rates are calculated into their price matrix. In many cases, you are simply throwing your client’s money away.

Several of these national firms who procure exclusive third-party contracts with carriers, have a history of suing individual states (taxpayers), practicing in gross violation of local codes, and even bankruptcy, leaving local vendors, consumers and property owners holding the bag for unpaid services, payroll and leases.

Think of your client first. Operating under an exclusive contract with a supposedly-neutral officer of the court doesn’t even pass the sniff test of impartiality. Does it? You and your client are being charged more for the layers of administration for like or inferior customer service.

Locally-owned, community active, with all the litigation-support services a national agency offers; Arizona Litigation Support, LLC. National certification and experienced, with personalized owner-operated service. http://www.courtreportersaz.com/

Conference rooms, experienced certified reporters and videographers throughout Arizona. We are your cost-containment specialists.

[Statements on this blog reflect the author’s personal opinions and may not reflect the views or policies of any other organizations or institutions with which the author is affiliated, and are not intended to malign any ethical and code-abiding organization, company, or individual.]

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