There are many types of certifications out there and if you’re interested in becoming a videographer for the courts as your career, you may need to see what’s out there.

Certification desirability may vary by state or location. Depending on what county, state or local area you are in, the license and certification requirement may be different from place to place.

A popular one comes from the American Guild of Videographers and is the ‘Certified Deposition Video Specialist’ certification, but check and see what the requirements are when it comes to the court system you will be working with– it’s good to know.

This field has a few requirements, as most career fields do. While it is something that the majority of people could technically do, the fact of the matter is that your dedication level and commitment as well as some positive traits that lend themselves to success will determine how suited you are to this position.

You will likely want to check out training or licensing courses near you. Make sure that they have the proper credits or what they offer is going to work with where you may be employed in the future or that it is a popular and reliable license.

Things you will be trained in include the basics of the field, videography skills, the ability to follow procedure, how to protect records, how to problem solve, and more. The process of certification may be one that you pay for, but is also worth the value that it provides– preparing you for working in the field.

It will also allow videographers to learn how to record audio and video and pick up on body language or nonverbal cues. Video recordings offer the ability to influence a case, and jurors as well as others making decisions in the system review evidence regarding the cases frequently. Video over text transcripts or presentations can often capture and relay testimony that can help the jurors come to their ultimate decision.

When you specialize and work in this field, you will become a part of the process of court testimony. They are a crucial part of capturing the video that is presented in court. It’s also a skill that can transition outside of court and be used for recording depositions, creative work, interviews, documentary, testimonials and more.

Having been in the game for thirty years, legal video can be majorly helpful in cases. Perhaps you should consider it for your next case if you’re a litigator! After all, there is a reason why it was used in the past and there’s a reason why it is being used still to this day! Having a video record of a deposition provides a great advantage, as you can probably imagine. Is it better to have a tape of what happened or just to remember? Human memory is notoriously spotty and unreliable, but video evidence cannot be contested in its validity.

Make a Case
Video records of a deposition can be so valuable because it does precisely that: record. It creates a visual record of what has gone on, what has been said, what the individual ideas and thoughts and actions demonstrated were throughout the deposition. As some trials can go on for a very long time, even years, it’s all the more important to preserve what has been said through video. That way, what was said will not be lost in the mix.

These videos can also help when it comes to settlements, as just a part of that video featuring a witness may really help your case and destroy the assertions of the opposing counsel, leading you to be that much closer to winning your case and a settlement.

Provide Evidence Things Were Stated
You’re not supposed to lie on the stand, but what is a counsel to do when a witness denies saying something? You cannot very well counter that you remember so it must be true. That does not work in court. If video evidence says something, then a witness cannot state that they did not say it– the recording does not lie.

Save Money
By showing a video in court, you can actually save money. Witnesses that live in another state or even country can easily come to the courtroom thanks to videos or video conferencing via software, which provides an easy testimony through a secure connection to anywhere. It can be a lot easier to question experts and more in real time than it is to attempt to fly them out to testify.

Set the Record Straight
Depositions recorded via video are not replacements for testimony that is recorded by court reporters, but they are a helpful aid nonetheless. You can also sync video and text transcripts. Video also provides a truthful record. What’s there on the tape is what’s going to be seen. From tone to verbal cues, this allows for a depth that simple transcription alone cannot.

Effective Visual Evidence
What people see visually can make a very big impact. Jurors who hear and see a video may be more engaged with presented evidence that comes in a video format, making it a very powerful tool in your roster.