Every aspiring court reporter looks forward to the day they can practice the skills they’ve learned in the classroom. Preparing for your first deposition as a certified court reporter can be an anxiety-inducing experience. As much as you have the skills, you might struggle with confidence and worry about messing up your big day. 

Well, if this sounds relatable to you, here are a couple of tips to help you overcome that nagging anxiety and perform your best in your first deposition:

Be Prepared For Any Eventualities

When going into your first deposition, you want to be prepared for any worst-case scenarios. So make sure you pack all the documents and notes you’ll need in your briefcase the night before. This will help you avoid running late if your alarm fails to go off in the morning. 

Get Good Sleep

You’ll need to get a good night’s rest to bring your best game to the courtroom on your first deposition. You might find it difficult to fall asleep immediately due to anxiety and excitement, so plan to go to bed a few hours earlier than you usually do. 

Have A Power Breakfast

It’s not unusual for people to skip meals when feeling anxious. However, if you’re going into your first deposition, this is the last thing you want to do as it might lead to a blood sugar crash during the court proceeding. To prevent this, ensure you eat a light and healthy breakfast to keep you powered during the day. 

Exercise Restraint With Coffee

If you’re a person who enjoys a cup of coffee in the morning, try to limit it to one cup on the morning of your deposition. While coffee helps you stay awake and focused, indulging too much can make you jittery. 

Be Punctual

Arriving at the deposition venue well before the proceedings is always recommended on your first day. It gives you time to confirm whether you’re in the right place and set up before everyone else arrives. 

Have A Backup Plan

When going into your first deposition as a court reporter, it’s essential to have a plan B. Remember, you don’t have the luxury to excuse yourself or dash out of the room if you forget something. So make sure you have a clear vision of how you’ll respond to any errors that may arise. 

Practice Makes Perfect

As with any profession, becoming an effective court reporter is a never-ending learning process. So don’t be discouraged or beat yourself down if your first day isn’t rosy. The more you practice your skills and develop your competencies, the better you’ll become at this role.

Are you searching for a professional court reporting firm in New Jersey? If so, contact us today!

Law is widely regarded as a rigid profession, so steeped in its old ways that the entire job has come to be defined by traditions. It is, therefore, no surprise that most lawyers – at least in their official capacities – shy off from social media. 

Many propose that social media is merely a playground for teenagers, while others hold that social media exposure has few professional benefits for lawyers outside of some core sites like LinkedIn. 

However, social media has become so powerful and essential for life that attorneys can’t afford to miss out anymore. As a result, those lacking a social media presence are increasingly falling behind their competitors who established their digital platforms earlier.

Why You Need a Social Media Presence

Below are some key figures and facts about social media networks and digital commerce:

• Facebook has more than 2.9 billion users
• Twitter has more than 219 million daily active users
• Linked has 830 million members
• Facebook is the most lucrative social platform from a business perspective, with a majority of all social media referrals originating from the site.
• Individuals and businesses with active social media platforms are generally more trusted by clients than those who don’t

It Goes Beyond Having a Presence

Posting a few things here and there helps keep your pages and relationships active, but if you’re looking at it from a professional perspective, you need to do a lot more. Think of your social media page as a store. Having flashy product displays attracts customers, but the relationships you establish with them ultimately bring in sales.

As an attorney, your social media posts should have a cutting edge; that is, they should reflect your deep legal knowledge and insights. If possible, try to engage people who message you or comment on your posts, provided their responses are sensible. This is the best way to build a loyal following that can easily translate into paying customers for your law firm later on.

You should also make a point of keeping up with the latest trends and conversations in your practice and wider legal fields. Showing your clients that you spend time acquiring new knowledge is the surest way to earn their trust and briefs when it comes.

If possible, try to include some client testimonials, preferably in the form of in-depth, well-written articles or videos to serve as proof of work. These shouldn’t be hard to obtain from euphoric clients after landmark victories. 

In Summary

To make things easier, think of social media as a digital version of your real life. So, just as you need to build relationships and networks offline, your social media strategy should also be geared towards these things.

Try to build relationships with as many people as possible, avoid posting anything false or controversial (attorneys feed off reputation, not notoriety), and most importantly, work hard to nurture all relationships you establish with potential clients.

Are you looking for an experienced certified court reporter in New Jersey? Call us today.

In the courtroom, and even in movies portraying legal dramas, most of the attention and focus is given to the attorneys, judges, juries, and the parties in the case. Rarely, if ever, does the wider audience pay attention to the folks seated in the background, furiously typing on seemingly old-fashioned typewriters. That, unfortunately, is the place of court reporting in today’s world – an essential yet culturally irrelevant part of the justice system.

Yet, court reporters have always been, and will always be, as crucial to court proceedings as every other party, including the attorneys and judges. Without the transcripts produced by court reporters, the wheels of justice will inevitably break down. 

The Magic Touch of Court Reporters

Even as many courts integrate new technology into their procedures, the one profession that is not likely to be affected by the digital shift is court reporting. 

Court reporters are in many ways more reliable than available technology, especially when it comes to detecting mistakes and fixing them in good time. They are rigorously trained to make little to no errors in their work and will not break down (like machines do) or generate poor-quality transcripts due to “software glitches.”

Remember, courts need accurate transcripts not only for easier reference in the future but also to serve as evidence if the need arises. While AI is catching up fast, it is still not a match for seasoned reporters. In particular, recording devices cannot seek clarifications from speakers when they fail to discern certain words or phrases. Therefore, they are bound to produce transcripts full of holes and lack flow. In contrast, human reporters can speak up and request speakers to repeat certain words for clarity.

As such, the transcripts produced by court reporters are, in most cases, accepted by all parties as to the official run-down of proceedings and are attached to the given case’s files and quoted in media reports. Without these transcripts, litigating parties would have endless conflicts about who said what in the last court session. 

Job Security

If you were thinking of being a court reporter, you would probably be pleased to know that it is one of the few jobs that is not threatened by technological advances. However, the need for accurate and sensible court transcriptions is not going away anytime soon, and from the look of things, tech is not advancing fast enough to take over.

Even where digital recorders are used, human reporters are still needed to proofread and edit the generated transcripts. Technology is a work aid, not a rival, for the average court reporter. 

Notably, how long you remain employed as a court reporter is, for the most part, up to you. Reporters who consistently produce high-quality transcripts and continually look for ways to improve their skills and acquire new ones will always be in demand. Lastly, discipline and good communication skills are also invaluable to the trade and will help ensure you remain professional at work.

Are you in need of a certified court reporting company in New Jersey? Contact us today.

As much as court reporting needs to be a focused and attentive job in court, most of them inadvertently find themselves multitasking while working. This act can have severe consequences, considering the nature of their work.

However, it is not all doom, as some reporters benefit from doing multiple things alongside their work. 

Benefits of Multitasking

When done right, multitasking can help relieve boredom and ensure you are always busy.

Additionally, handling multiple tasks at once allows you to take extra work, which will not only earn you additional income but also win you compliments from your bosses.

The Downsides

No matter how dedicated you are to your job, failing to maintain a good work-life balance can have ramifications on both your productivity and health. Below are some of the problems you are likely to face:

• Late Deliveries – Multitaskers inadvertently overrate their time management skills and often promise to deliver within timelines that are, in most cases, not realistic. Doing so would force you to sacrifice other essential activities like eating, exercising, and even sleeping, which can adversely affect your health and ability to function properly.
• Last-Minute Changes – Failure to rein in your urge to do non-work tasks while working on a transcript can leave you in a difficult place when the deadline nears. You may even find yourself asking for deadline extensions or rescheduling future projects. Apart from affecting relations with your clients and thus your professional reputation, these abrupt changes can also affect you psychologically as you end up feeling like a failure.
• No Rest – Being occupied with several things at once means you will take longer to finish each task than you would have if you dealt with one task at a time. Consequently, you will always find yourself with something to do, even when you should be resting and relaxing. This can cause physical and mental problems like insomnia, muscle pains, and headaches, which can keep you in considerable pain and affect your ability to focus on work.

Recovering From the High-Stress Period

If you are coming off a period where your multitasking affects your productivity and health, you need to purpose to get back on track. The first step in this regard is to recognize that it is normal and human to go through periods of high stress. 

Next, eliminate some unproductive habits like scrolling through social media and use your free time to catch up with your work.

Are you searching for a certified court reporting company in New Jersey? Contact us today.

Arguably, no other job requires the amount of focus, concentration, and accuracy that court reporting does. Apart from being able to listen to and accurately record every word spoken in a courtroom, court reporters must know how to set up, operate, and make the most of their work equipment.

What’s more, reporters also need to be good at interpersonal relations and primarily be able to maintain seamless communication with judges, lawyers, and witnesses to ensure they produce transcripts with acceptable levels of accuracy. 

If you are a reporter or are looking to become one, here are some tips to help you become a better court reporter.

Always Be Early

As a rule of thumb, a certified court reporter should be at least twenty minutes early to any assignment. This allows you to set up equipment and familiarize yourself with the court setting and deal with any arising issue. 

Familiarize Yourself With Spellings of Certain Words Beforehand

By looking at the charge sheet or case files, you can tell the names of the people involved in the case, and the type of terminologies likely to be used in the proceedings. 

After that, check the right spellings for these terminologies and seemingly difficult last names, and also get the punctuation for every word. That way, you will save a lot of time when transcribing and presenting a more accurate transcript.

Know How to Deal With Interpreters

In the course of your work, more than one language may be used in court. In these situations, an interpreter will be used.  

As such, the reporter should indicate who is speaking at any given time. For instance, if a witness is speaking, the transcript must indicate so. The same applies to the interpreter.

Develop Your Communication Skills

It is imperative to be a good communicator when working as a court reporter. In particular, you should be able to develop a quick rapport with the attorneys involved in the cases you handle. 

This means you should try to be open about your expectations (and ask about theirs) and not be afraid to ask for clarifications when you need them.

Dress For Work

It goes without saying that when attending any court, you should dress in formal attire. Don’t wear jeans or shorts, and whenever you are in doubt about the ideal skirt to wear, always go with the longer ones. 

If possible, avoid loud colors and overly dated clothes. Instead, wear clothes that are not more than two years old and they should be freshly pressed.

Always Be Up to Date

The equipment and procedures used in court reporting keep changing with time, and it is in your best interest to stay current. 

Commit time to improve on your skills and learn new ones, and familiarize yourself with the latest trends in the industry, such as the use of timers and AI. 

Keep Up With The Demands of The Job

Be prepared to go to great lengths to ensure your transcripts are of the highest quality possible. For instance, you may ask speakers to clarify anything you don’t understand and take the time to go through your transcripts to remove mistakes.

Most importantly, dedicate enough time to rest and sleep and try to eat healthily. Both are not only good for your physical health but also ensure your brain remains strong and focused for the job.

Unless you work in the legal system, you may not be very familiar with what being a court reporter entails. Sure, you might have a basic idea of what they do, but the nitty-gritty of their job description may not be entirely apparent to you. 

However, for those who work in the legal industry, court reporting is an invaluable job, without which legal processes would be highly tedious and impenetrable. In most instances, a certified court reporter is a prerequisite for the case to begin. Even in cases where audio and video recordings are admissible, a judge might still select a court reporter to make a concise and accurate transcription of proceedings. 

Here are why court reporters are so crucial to the legal industry.

They Provide Accurate Transcriptions Of Court Proceedings

Typically, court reporters receive extensive training in various disciplines, including courtroom processes, legal jargon, and medical terminology. This allows them to be more prepared to capture everything said and done in court. They also learn to use a steno machine, which requires them to type at least 225 words per minute.

The transcript is often written after the record has been translated. This is then filed with the court clerk and forms part of the official record of the case file. It can be referred to in court throughout the case, with attorneys engaged having the option of requesting copies to examine the proceedings.

Their Presence Enhances The Courtroom Atmosphere

While the primary duty of court reporters is to produce transcriptions, this isn’t the only thing that makes them so invaluable at court hearings. 

The sheer presence and acute awareness of a court reporter signal everyone in the courtroom that any statements are translated into official evidence, which can be examined and reviewed at any moment. 

They constantly jot down everything said and done when the court is in session and often speak up to seek clarification if a part of a statement is missed or not heard. 

They can also be asked to read back statements made at particular points during the proceedings. 

They Have No Technological Replacement

Presently, it is not possible to replace court reporters with technology without sacrificing the kind of quality and accuracy required in the legal field.  

Although there is a need to cut costs by onboarding technological devices in the legal system, the accuracy and dependability of these technologies may not be guaranteed. 

For this reason, court reporters are not likely to be replaced by machines any time soon. Consequently, court reporting will continue to be a great career to pursue and work in for the coming decades as demand rises. 

Bottom line: 

While court reporting is a job that is often shrouded in mystery, it is a richly rewarding career that is vital to the legal system. 

Not only do court reporters prepare accurate transcriptions for record and reference, but their presence greatly enhances the overall courtroom atmosphere.

A court deposition is an out-of-court testimony given under oath. Whether you are a rookie or veteran in court processes, you must acquaint yourself with several legal terms used during depositions.

Understanding these legal terms can help you know your responsibilities and comprehend the direction of your case. It can aid you to discern what’s going to happen. 

Here are the most common legal terms used during court depositions:

Perjury

Perjury is a legal term you will hear at the beginning of the deposition process. The word refers to breaking an oath or telling a lie during your testimony.

As you might know, all court processes start with taking an oath. A designated deposition official will ask you to raise your right hand and take an oath that what you are about to testify is true and accurate.

Intentionally providing false or misleading information under oath is perjury, which could attract a hefty fine or land you in prison.

Objections

Objections often crop up during court depositions. For example, your attorney will call out “objection” if the opposing counsel asks a leading or irrelevant question to derail you from providing an accurate testimony.

The primary goal is to give your attorney time to review the question. Ensure you ask your attorney whether or not you should answer the query after an objection.

Stipulations

Stipulations are the ground rules set by the opposing attorneys during court depositions. They are essentially an agreement that defines what can or cannot be done during the deposition.

The essence of stipulations is to ensure a smooth and seamless deposition process. For instance, the attorneys may agree to reserve all objections until later during the trial. Nevertheless, an attorney has the right to have an objection ruled by a judge before the lawsuit begins.

Errata

Expect to receive a copy of your testimony transcript a few days after the deposition. This procedure aims to ensure that the information therein is true and accurate. 

Ideally, you must carefully go through all the questions and answers to verify and identify any mistakes. Then, your attorney will send you an errata sheet that you will use to list all errors detected in the transcript. 

You can also correct your testimony if the court reporter or stenographer erred during the deposition. However, you can only list all corrections on the errata sheet rather than on the copy of the transcript. For instance, if you had an auto accident along I-295, but the court reporter wrote I-95, you can request a correction. 

You have 30 days to complete the errata sheet. Ensure you sign and date the errata sheet before sending it back to your attorney.

Looking for a certified court reporter in New Jersey? Call us today.

Court reporters are – in many people’s eyes – only good for their typing speed. However, the truth is that most reporters possess a skill set that ordinary people would consider too complex. 

It takes more than many fast fingers to listen and accurately note down ongoing conversations in real-time.

If you’ve ever wanted to venture into court reporting, here are some of the skills you must possess to succeed:

Long Attention Span

Ever been in a meeting where you were constantly zoning in and out of the room? Well, you can’t do that as a court reporter. This is because you will be required to produce scripts with near-100 percent accuracy, which means you need to capture every word spoken. Losing concentration even for a split second can cause inconsistencies in your transcript, which may even cost you the job.

Ability to Handle Stress

Again, court reporting is more than just a “typing” job. Reporters are constantly under pressure, both from clients and the job itself. 

The stress is not just mental but also physical, with back problems, headaches, finger pains, and repetitive motion disorders being very common among court reporters.  

One needs to be adept at handling the stress and maintaining the right work-life balance, which includes getting adequate sleep and exercising.

A Pair of Good Hands

Court reporters earn their livelihoods from their hands, or rather fingers, just like models do from their bodies. Therefore, they need to ensure that their hands are healthy and in working condition at all times. Otherwise, they wouldn’t give any value to their employers and would find themselves out of jobs.

Some court reporters try to minimize the number of physical activities they partake in. For instance, they may avoid risky tasks like basketball games, home repair, and even weightlifting. The overly cautious ones even stay away from all forms of manual labor. 

The downside to the business is that, unlike most professions, one can quickly lose their job if they get chronic conditions like arthritis. This is because court reporters are typically judged on how many transcripts they can churn out in a given time, and health complications can significantly reduce one’s speed.

All said, becoming a certified court reporter is not a walk in the park. The competition is exceptionally stiff, both from other reporters and digital machines, and one needs to be good to have a shot. And those that make it deserve all the respect.

A deposition is a significant event in any legal proceeding as it influences the outcome of a case. 

No matter how confident you are, appearing for your deposition can be an anxious or even nervy experience with court reporters, attorneys, and legal officers waiting to hear your account of events.

This post explains what happens during a deposition and how to go through it for a successful civil lawsuit.

What happens in a deposition?

A deposition is a sworn oral testimony conducted out of court and recorded by a court reporter. It allows the opposing counsel to ask you questions about your lawsuit. Instead of telling your whole story, the attorney will ask direct questions and expect accurate answers from you.

Reasons why depositions are important

Records, documents, and other physical evidence are not adequate to paint a clear picture of the facts of the case during court proceedings. After all, they are usually taken at face value. 

Documents used as evidence cannot recount what happened at what time. For this reason, having witnesses testify under oath is vital, and that’s why depositions are necessary.

Depositions are oral testimonies from witnesses that are converted into written transcripts. They ensure the evidence provided by the witnesses remains the same throughout the lawsuit.

The participants in a deposition

Every deposition has at least four parties involved, including the witness, opposing attorney, witness’s attorney, and a court reporter.

• Witness – The witness provides an oral statement under oath that is later converted into a written transcript.

• Opposing attorney – The opposing counsel asks the witness direct questions about their case.

• Court reporter – The court reporter is responsible for recording questions asked and the responses to create an accurate written transcript.

• Witness’s attorney – They protect witnesses from answering inappropriate or misleading questions.

Where are depositions held?

Depositions are sworn, out-of-court oral testimonies and can happen in an attorney’s office, a conference room, or anywhere both sides deem suitable.

Clients may utilize video conferencing to conduct their depositions if the opposing counsel is out of town. The best part is that video depositions are admissible in court and are fast becoming popular due to their convenience. 

Depositions are part of the legal process, and they offer a chance to tell your story about the case in a written statement. They affect the outcome of a case since any discrepancies might suggest you are not a reliable witness.

As a paralegal or legal assistant, it is important to be able to utilize your time efficiently. This means being able to delegate certain tasks to other professionals so that you can focus on the more important aspects of your job.

The court reporting firm that you work with should be more than happy to assist you by taking on some of the responsibilities that can free up your time.

The following is a list of five tasks and why they make good delegation candidates:

Booking conference rooms

This task falls under the administrative portion of your daily responsibilities.

When you book a conference room for an attorney or client, you must ensure that all logistical details (e.g., location and entry codes) are confirmed in advance. You also need to record this information in your scheduling software and provide confirmation to both parties confirming the meeting.

By delegating this task to your court reporting firm, you will have the ability to avoid double-booking a room and wasting valuable time trying to rearrange schedules.

Preparing for depositions and hearings

As the paralegal or assistant, you are typically responsible for preparing the attorneys for depositions and hearings.

This includes collecting documents from the attorney and assembling them in a binder or folder in preparation for the event. It also requires that you review any important court decisions in advance, schedule a conference room, and ensure that there is sufficient space to accommodate everyone attending. Finally, it’s up to you to organize the documents according to relevance and sequence.

Preparing for a deposition or hearing can be a daunting task. Delegating this responsibility to your court reporting firm will take some of the pressure off of you and ensure that everything is handled in a timely and professional manner.

Handling any exhibits before the depositions or hearings

You must ensure that all exhibits are made ready in advance of the deposition or hearing. This includes making copies of the documents, removing staples and paperclips, inserting them in presentation covers (if needed), and labeling each one with exhibit stickers. There is also a need to make sure that you have enough copies of the exhibits.

Handle your legal video needs

Imagine you need video depositions and the only time your attorney can fit it in is on a weeknight. It’s up to you to either handle this request yourself or outsource the task to your court reporting firm. Most firms prefer that their clients provide them with as much notice as possible, but if you need something expedited, that’s where they step in and take care of everything for you.

The court reporting firm will make sure your videoconferencing, video depositions, and any other legal video needs are handled in a professional and timely manner.

Finding and scheduling all needed interpreters

Depending on the nature of your law practice, you may need to schedule interpreters for meetings or depositions involving foreign nationals who cannot speak English as their first language. You must then ensure that all logistical details (e.g., fees and availability) are confirmed in advance and documented so they can be provided to both parties prior to the meeting.

This task can be very time-consuming and difficult to manage, especially if you’re working on a tight deadline.

By delegating this responsibility to your court reporting firm, you can ensure that all required interpreters are scheduled and available for the date and time of your meeting.

Have you given any of the above tasks to your court reporting firm? If so, how has it affected your law practice?

There are many reasons behind delegating certain responsibilities. However, one must understand that not everything can be handed over to a third party and there is always the risk of losing control over certain aspects of your case. With this in mind, it is important to analyze your specific situation and determine which tasks can be delegated without putting your case at risk.