While finding a certified court reporter in New Jersey can be a hassle, it is still possible to outsource a competent company if you know what to look for.

Below are some of the questions you should ask a court reporting company during vetting to ascertain whether they are right for you.

Their Level of Experience

Independent court reporters are often required to provide references from past jobs.

Similarly, when grilling a potential court reporting company for your projects, you should probe their background.

Check whether the firm can give you references from other attorneys who have worked on similar cases.

Don’t be hesitant to inquire about each court reporter’s qualifications, experience, and certifications.

Be sure to also pay attention to reviews and testimonials by other attorneys and clients who have worked with the firm.

The Services Offered

Many court recording companies often assume that audio recordings are sufficient to convey a client’s position in court correctly.

While this may be true in some cases, it is not always applicable. Therefore, when vetting a firm, ask whether they have the resources, facilities, and technology to make video depositions.

You might also want to check what transcription formats they use and how quickly they can deliver copies of depositions.

The Areas Served

It is crucial to hire a court reporting agency with a hosting space or numerous office locations.

If your preferred company doesn’t conduct depositions, you’ll need to determine which geographical locations it services and how far its employees are prepared to travel.

There may be instances where depositions need to be made over several days in different places, so the company should be able to plan logistics ahead of time.

You may also ask whether you can retain the same court reporter to avoid variations in the transcripts.

The Service Fee

The cost of court reporting can vary widely from one company to another, depending on their services.

Remember, the cheapest option is not always the best. So, when outsourcing court reporting services, aim for a company that will provide all the litigation services at a reasonable fee while still being pleasant enough to work with long term.

Bottom Line

Due diligence is critical when looking for the right company to outsource your court reporting to.

Fortunately, asking the right questions during the vetting process can save you a lot of time in the vetting process and ensure you find the most suitable company for your litigation needs.

Court reporters take down information in a legal or serious setting so that there is an official record of events. Court reporting agencies offer these services by having qualified reporters that know how to do their jobs! Far from being replaceable by a machine or a computer, the great thing about this field is how it appreciates and needs people that are efficient, detail-oriented, smart, and trustworthy.

Typing quickly is important, but it’s also the type of career that is good for people who are organized and fastidious about the little things. This is why so many opt to go with an agency that has reliable, certified reporters that are going to be able to provide that invaluable legal record of event (especially when compared to technological options).

Check Online for Reviews

Get a good feel about the type of agency that they are by going online. Bad reviews that have the same thing in common may be a red flag. You want to collaborate with an agency that seems to have a positive reputation and is professional.

Gauge Their Service Levels

How good or poor is their service? Do they return inquiries and messages (voicemail, email, etc.) in a timely and prompt fashion? Do they seem professional and provide great customer service, able to answer every question that you might have? Check out their website and make a call to find out.

Do Your Hiring Research

When hiring an agency, make sure that you do research first. Find out what they’re about and see what you like or dislike about them. Make a list of candidates and cross off those you find unappealing as you go.

See If They Travel

Better to see if an agency has a travel feature before you hire them than after! Check and make sure they’ve got reporters that travel or if you need to search elsewhere. You may also want to see that they provide equipment and any other features that they offer beforehand when hiring (such as travel, scheduling, videoconferencing, equipment, fees, etc.).

Look For Certification

If you’re getting certified and want to work with an agency or want certified reporters, that’s one aspect to keep in mind.

End Result: Transcript

Last but not least, the transcript. Do they have the ability to produce a timely and accurate transcript? That’s the main thing when looking to hire an agency.

Be selective and follow our guidelines and you’re likely to find a great court reporting agency with all of the requirements that you need!

The world is seemingly full of technology these days. Court reporting has traditionally been a position filled by humans and still is. Each and every single court hearing has a huge need for a reliable transcript of events, actions, and statements so that they have an accurate record of just what went on. Without it, they simply not function in the same way.

While it may seem that tech is popping up in many facets of life, the fact of the matter is that it isn’t likely to replacing these reporters anytime soon. Courts need people to be doing this job simply because of the fact that they are so reliable.

They don’t mess up and make errors and they certainly aren’t going to have a breakdown because something is ‘glitching’ and causing them not to function– unless they forgot to eat breakfast, which a reliable reporter always does.

Trials and hearings have a need for not only accurate records, but someone that is going to be able to speak up and signal when they need something repeated or were not able to discern a word that was said. Technology is currently not so integrated with impeccable AI that it can accomplish that– and if it can, it does not come anywhere close to rivaling the abilities of a human.

Reporters are simply a necessary part when it comes to any court proceedings because there needs to be the official recording. This then is turned into legal evidence, which can have a huge effect on how the case turns out. Without it, things simply cannot move forward.

Are you considering getting into this field? It could be a great career for you if you are willing to work hard as well as get certified. While many others are wondering whether tech will eliminate the need for human workers in some fields, the good news is that reporting will continue to need people to do this job simply because an accurate transcription and record is so important.

Tech is certainly something to worry about in a variety of job fields, but certainly not this one anytime soon. While the advancement of technology has certainly been able to help reporters in what they are able to get done, there is no question that they are not a rival for doing the job itself.

Reporters, also known as stenographers, put a lot of effort into learning their skills and continually striving for excellence in their field of choice. With discipline and pursuing your training, you can become a stenographer too!

It’s a great career path and one that is not at risk of being threatened by total tech replacement! They’re an integral part of the courts and more. If you’re interested in this field, do your research and find out more about what it involves and maybe find a training program or school near you.

Take a moment to check the spelling.

Court reporters work phonetically to record a deposition. Sometimes the first draft is not going to have ‘traditionally correct’ spelling. If you are working with a court reporter, you may want to give them a list of phrases or words that they might be coming across. That way, they can avoid spelling them incorrectly and get them down. Some court reporters may verify strangely spelled words, but it’s a good idea to give them a list beforehand so they know.

Be sure that you are enunciating when you are speaking.

Court reporters are able to type words at an incredible rate, even reaching speeds of 200 words a minute. But when things are going quickly in the deposition or court room, it can be tough to figure out what people are saying or keep pace. Creating accurate records means that you do your best to enunciate and not speak over others so that there is flow and what is transcribed is accurate. Speak clearly at all times so that the records are as clear as possible and the recorder does not have to stop things to clarify, ideally.

Try to use words and not strange sounds that aren’t words.

Sounds that are not clear should not be used. Avoid saying ‘uh-uh’ instead of no. Dictate ‘no’ and ‘yes’ clearly. Even if you don’t think that it makes a difference, consider that sounds really don’t have any shorthand notations. Ask for clarification as a reporter and as a legal side, advise your clients and any witnesses to speak clearly to avoid delays.

Be sure to work with an experienced reporter.

Hiring an experienced reporter is essential if you’re going to have a great set of records at the end. If you want accuracy, then you have to go with a reporter that follows the guidelines set by the board in their state. Reporters often need to be trained well and a good reporter has excellent training as well as the ability to transcribe in a variety of formats.

Reporters should identify everyone clearly.

You’re going to want to start off a legal deposition on the right foot. You’ve got to identify yourself as well as the other people present, which will include counsel, witness, and other people there. If depositions are to be used in court, they must be as accurate as possible and complete in nature.

Be sure as the reporter to state the name of the case. Identify yourself every time you speak on telephonic transcriptions to be clear. When referencing exhibits, state the name, the date, its number, and other features.

Focus.

Having a sense of clear focus will help you produce a flawless record that benefits everyone.