Although video technology can at times seem like an old-fashioned way to document important events, there are some situations when it is simply best to use video technologies. And for today’s attorneys, this means using video technologies in their depositions and cases.

Attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants discover that video technologies are one of the best methods for recording events, cases, and depositions.

However, not every attorney may have the exact needs and preferences for the different types of video technologies they may use in their cases.

So, what are some of the video technologies legal professionals use?

7 Types of Video Technologies Attorneys Use in Depositions and Cases

Text-Video Synchronization

One of the most popular technologies used these days is text-video synchronization. It allows an attorney to play a video file and a transcript from the same file. This is done by using a player that includes a synchronized subtitles file, which means that you will be able to synchronize all video transcript files with one another correctly.

When using text-video synchronization, it is best to start with the transcript since this is an integral part of the video file. Once you have a well-written transcript, you should add the video file.

Video Depositions

Video depositions are also becoming increasingly popular. This video technology allows you to record, edit and save video for depositions. Unlike text-video synchronization, this technology only focuses on the recording process itself.

The advantage of having video deposition files is that these can be transmitted over the internet. This means you do not have to come to the court or deposition room in person.

However, the videographer who works with you will need to have good camera skills. So make sure the quality of your video deposition is outstanding by choosing someone who has the right skills.

Video Conferencing

One of the most effective video technologies for depositions is video conferencing. However, if you use video conferencing, you must choose a reliable and easy-to-use video conferencing program. For this, many attorneys prefer to use Skype or Go To Meeting.

Apart from depositions, you can also use video conferencing for video-recorded hearings and trials. Attorneys usually use video-recorded hearings and trials to prove that they are organized and can follow court proceedings. It also proves that attorneys are present in court, providing more credibility to your case.

Mobile Video Conferencing

Mobile video conferencing is the latest technology in video deposition. It allows paralegals, legal assistants, and attorneys to record depositions anywhere they go. This is possible through laptop computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Using this technology, your videographer does not need to come to your office or go to the deposition room with you. Instead, they have to attend the deposition and start recording it. They can do this by using a tablet or smartphone while sitting in the back of the room.

However, mobile video conferencing can only be used with a reliable and stable internet connection.

Site Documentation and Inspection

Site documentation and inspection is another valuable video technology that you can use. It allows attorneys to create a virtual tour of a location – something like Google Street View.

This is beneficial for sites that are difficult to access, such as mines and oil rigs. With this technology, attorneys can see the site and study it even if they cannot physically access it.

When using this technology, make sure you hire a highly skilled videographer. Your videographer will need to take several shots from different angles and ensure that all details are correctly captured.

The Use of Video Clips in Court

Using video clips in court can be very useful. There are situations where an attorney might want to show a clip from a movie or other moving pictures.

When showing a clip from a movie in court, you want to make sure it is relevant and necessary. It should also be short and easy to understand. If you cannot show a quick and relevant clip, do not show it because it can only waste the judge’s time.

Day-in-the-Life Videos

A day-in-the-life video is an excellent type of video deposition that you can use. It presents an overview of how a person performs their job.

An attorney can show this video to a jury, judge, and other involved people in the case. For example, if you are helping a client who wants to sue their employer for wrongful termination, you can create a day-in-the-life video showing what the client does on a typical day.

When creating this type of video, hiring an experienced videographer who can do the job well is crucial. In addition, the videographer should have good audio and video skills so that they can capture everything about the day-in-the-life of your client.

Conclusion

When it comes to the different types of video deposition and technologies available, you will need to choose the right one for your case. If you want to find out more about different types of video technologies, then you should contact a reliable and experienced legal videographer. They can provide more details on the different kinds of video deposition technologies available.

Following advancements in technology, remote depositions via video technology have now become reality. Many courts allow the use of video depositions to gather testimonies and witness accounts for civil lawsuits.

The world is visual-oriented, meaning stakeholders in a case are more likely to give video depositions their full attention during court proceedings. If you are a lawyer, turning to video technology when conducting depositions can make the difference between winning and losing a case.

With that said, here are the top reasons why you should use video technology when conducting a deposition.

Display the True Demeanor of a Witness

A written deposition cannot display the true demeanor and body language of a witness. This makes it very difficult for the attorney to make a compelling case. With video depositions, attorneys can display the witness’s demeanor, reactions, and body language as they provide their sworn testimony.

Grab the Attention of the Presiding Jury

As highlighted above, the world that we live in is now visually oriented. Therefore, using videos is more likely to capture the full attention of the judge and jury. Video depositions can engage the jurors in a way that conventional depositions and transcripts cannot. After all, it is human nature to pay attention to visual displays rather than written text.

Allow for Remote Witnesses

A key witness may not be able to appear in court in person due to distance, sickness, or any other reasons. This is where the importance of video depositions comes into play. It does not matter whether the witness is at home or a care facility. You can use videos to capture witness accounts conveniently from any location. 

Cut Down on Costs

Video testimonies are not only convenient but also affordable. They cut down on fees and travel expenses that can raise the entire cost and make depositions expensive. Besides, you can replay video testimonies repeatedly without having to call witnesses to come to court again.

Better Trial Preparation

Preparing for a case can be a long and tedious process. In any case, you have to gather and study all the evidence and testimonies to have a better chance of winning a lawsuit. With video depositions, the process becomes much easier since these depositions can act as a reference tool. Besides, you can review and assess the video multiple times as you prepare your presentation.

Show Physical Evidence

Sometimes physical evidence is what is required to determine the outcome of a case. Seeing a witness in a video handling physical evidence can make the difference in compelling the judge and jury into making the right decision. However, the display must capture everything accordingly to avoid crucial evidence getting lost in translation.

Impeach Inconsistent Witnesses

Some witnesses can be so inconsistent and they may decide to change their testimonies at trial. Using video depositions can help impeach untrustworthy witnesses when they decide to testify something different in the courtroom than they did in the video deposition. The judge and the jury will spot the discrepancies and this will certainly have far-reaching consequences on the direction the case will take.

Have you tried using video in your depositions? If not then it might be time to start considering that. There are plenty of benefits you can derive from using video depositions. 

We currently live in a highly visual technological landscape and videos have more or less become the primary medium of digital communication. Virtually all sectors have integrated video formats into their communication framework with the help of apps like Zoom and TikTok. 

Here are some of the ways in which a video deposition can benefit both you and your client.

It allows you to read the body language and demeanor of witnesses

Video depositions can help bolster an attorney’s case and make it more compelling. It is not always possible to recreate all of the reactions and body cues of witnesses during a deposition, but this is something that can be done very accurately on video. If there are video recordings of depositions, these can be referenced by a jury and used when making a ruling on a case. 

It captures and holds the attention of the jury

Using videos in your depositions not only allows you to make a more engaging presentation but also captures and maintains the attention of jurors. Exposure to video technology has conditioned us to passively pay attention to information that is presented in video format whether it is T.V shows or Youtube content.  So, even when there is no important proceeding going on during a deposition, videos can help keep your jurors more attentive compared to if they are listening to a transcript being readout.

It allows for witnesses who are not physically present to give their testimonies

One of the primary advantages of video depositions is that they allow for witnesses who are not able to physically attend the proceedings to present their submissions. This makes it possible for them to participate in the depositions without necessarily being present in the courtroom.

It cuts down on witness fees and travel costs

Having many witnesses in a deposition can be a very costly affair since it requires them to be facilitated throughout the deposition. The cost of transporting and accommodating witnesses throughout the period of deposition can be very enormous. However, by having them present their testimonies through video recordings, this cost can be significantly reduced.

Can be used as a reference point for trials

Videos can be very helpful tools of reference during a deposition. This is because you are able to review them and assess them when preparing your presentation. This can help improve the quality of your presentation and build a stronger case.

A final word

Using videos in your depositions has plenty of benefits that can significantly bolster your presentation and increase your effectiveness during a court proceeding. If you are interested in employing this medium in your deposition, enlist the services of a court reporter to help you set it up so that you are able to use it more effectively. 

There are a lot of benefits that can come from making video depositions. Video killed the radio star, and let’s face it, ours is now a visual culture. The human brain processes images at the speed of light and living in a visual world is now part of everyday life. We watch videos on our phone, watch television at the end of a day, watch our friends laugh, go watch a movie.

There are a few advantages when it comes to involving visuals in the legal world. Video can do a lot to benefit you, especially when it comes to depositions. How can video benefit you and a client?

It can help show body language and demeanor of the witness.
Video depositions allow attorneys to present their case more compellingly. You cannot recreate all of the witness’s reactions and body language on your own– but a video can, and accurately. they say that seeing is believing; so, give the jury something to see and believe in. From fidgeting to defensiveness or crossed arms and glares, the video will show it all.

Hold the attention of the jury.
Make presenting evidence a bit more engaging and you may be able to keep the attention of the jurors too! We’re also conditioned to passively pay attention to everything from television to YouTube, even watching ads. If you have nothing else going on in a courtroom, it may be second nature to watch a video and pay attention and you may even be more successful than if they had been listening to some transcript being read.

You can bring a witness who wouldn’t be able to be physically present.
One of the benefits of using video for depositions can be having a witness there that would not be able to be there physically otherwise. This could be due to illness, poverty, age, the distance needed to travel, medical reasons, and more. Video equipment can be used to record the witness and set up and then bring them to the court and participate in the deposition without having to be there physically.

Save on witness fees or travel expenses.
For an expert opinion, the price can be quite high for their witness fees and more. Having their words on video is a way to have them there and you can repeat them as many times as you want without having to pay for one day or more of them showing up, which can be a big cost saver.

Let the jury see the physical evidence.
Video can allow the jury and the judge to see evidence and actually see it and get an idea of what you’re talking about. A transcript cannot allow the jury to get that same impact. Especially if the handling of an object and capturing that activity is critical then you need to let the jurors see that.

Use as a reference point for trial.
Depositions can be reference tools. You can review the video and make assessments while preparing for your trial presentation to make it better than it may have been without it.

Impeaching the witness.
If a witness changes testimony at trial but you have testimony on video, you may be able to use it to impeach them. This is frequently why so many people choose to use it because it can be such a valuable asset. Seeing the differing statement can make a huge impact.

At the end of the day, using videos in depositions could increase your effectiveness when presenting at trial. This could get you the result that you want, so why not use video during depositions? It’s not like video cameras are some foreign, tremendously expensive and unattainable tool that no one can get hold of.

If you do want to use video, a court reporter may be able to help you set up details. Or you can hire an individual or service to help you out. If you plan it right and use video, it may be the asset you really need.

When it comes to video, it can seem like this medium is everywhere! With smartphones and Internet access available to us on a continual basis, it can seem like we’re watching videos all the time. YouTube is still just as popular as ever, and viral videos have the potential to make people a lot of money. You can even see video influencers creating content on their channels for their many viewers to watch.

So now that we’re focusing on the importance of video, how does that relate to video deposition services? We’ve got all the details, so read on to find out all about why the legal world is starting to turn to video to help win their court cases.

In recent years, the legal world has started to take advantage of video deposition in order to try and get a desired result. Video depositions are valuable additions to stenographic transcripts, helping to create richer testimonies. That’s because video has a greater effect on the human mind and can communicate a lot that words alone cannot. It can also add credibility to printed testimony. This can help sway a jury and ultimately to win a case.

Video depositions work well when presenting depositions of key witnesses and put on by the plaintiff as admissions to the defendant. They can help when witnesses are out of state or unable to travel to make the trail and thus could possibly not have their testimony make it to the ears of the jury and the judge. Video makes possible what would otherwise be quite difficult and can reinforce a case where in any other case it might have been made weaker.

Videos can also cut back on the costs of a trial. These types of depositions are also affordable and not at all expensive, which means that anyone can afford them. Any lawyer can use video deposition as a legal tool. However, it is on the party that is recording to make sure that the quality is good and there is proper tech being used. Poor quality video or recording may inadvertently work against you and you may find that the evidence is deemed inadmissible.

Attorneys may also be able to use online video depo services as well. With proper technology and manpower, it is possible to streamline the process. Many firms offer these services, but many do not. However, with videos making such an impact in court trials, more and more firms are looking into this aspect of court cases. If filming a video deposition, remember that visual impact is key and to make the quality of the video as high as possible. Be sure to coach the person to speak clearly and articulately, so that everything they say is picked up on camera.

At the end of the day, you cannot beat video depositions. It provides a service that is quite valuable when it comes to court cases. Not only that, but videos are often stored in databases so they can be accessed whenever you need to. Make testimonies and sway juries and judges to find in favor of your side with video depositions, so look into them today to find out more.