Finding The Right Court Reporter For Your Deposition

Posted on: 2 July 2017

Depositions play an important role in many lawsuits. These depositions allow attorneys to gather information that could prove valuable in mounting a case on their client's behalf. To ensure that the information provided throughout the deposition is preserved, a court reporter can be used to create a transcript of the proceeding.

If your law firm is looking to hire a court reporter to help with upcoming depositions, here are three things to keep in mind.

1. Look for a reporter that provides rough drafts of transcripts.

It can take some time for a court reporter to fully edit and prepare a final draft of a deposition that he or she is responsible for recording. If you need access to the information gathered during a deposition immediately following the proceeding, it can be beneficial to work with a reporter that provides rough drafts of transcripts.

The rough draft can be used as a reference while you are waiting for the final copy of the transcript to be prepared. Having access to a rough draft allows your firm to continue working on your client's case without the delay of waiting for deposition transcripts.

2. Look for a reporter with specialized knowledge.

Many lawsuits require specialized knowledge in order to gain a full understanding of the legal issues being presented. If you are planning to depose an expert witness, it can be beneficial to hire a court reporter with specialized knowledge in the expert's field.

A reporter with a medical background will be able to understand the terminology used by a doctor, while a reporter with experience in mechanics will be able to accurately transcribe the jargon used by an engineer. Hiring a reporter with specialized experience ensures that your deposition will go as smoothly as possible.

3. Look for a reporter that can provide real-time transcription.

It isn't always easy for an attorney to remember the information provided during a deposition. Having a colleague review the answers given by the individual being deposed can help you gain additional insight and clarification that would otherwise go undocumented.

Many court reporters are equipped to provide real-time transcription. You can review the rough draft of the transcript as it is being prepared, allowing your colleagues to review the transcript throughout the deposition to help guide your questioning in the right direction.

Hiring the right court reporter is essential when it comes to the success of your depositions. Look for a reporter, such as from L & L Reporting Service, Inc., that will give you a rough draft of the transcript, that has specialized knowledge when deposing an expert witness, and that can provide real-time transcription services.

Share