joshw, Author at CourtScribes, Inc. | Court Reporting & Litigation Support Archive - CourtScribes, Inc.

The Keys to Having a Successful Remote Deposition

Posted on: August 16th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

Depositions are a key factor in a court case. In fact, they may be one of the most important factors in the decision-making process of a trial. In order for attorneys and other law participants to obtain valid information regarding the case, they must go through the process of deposition.

The actual definition of deposition is the act of going to a witness or someone with regards to the case at hand and receiving their personal information and the facts they have pertaining to the case. It is important to be prepared for these types of interactions. We are in times now where depositions are not necessarily done in person. They are more and more commonly being done remotely.

Here are some tips to get you on the right track to having a successful remote deposition.

Remote Depositions Rely on Working Equipment

This isn’t a standard deposition where you meet in person with an attorney and give all your information then and there. You are working over an online connection and speaking through a video streaming application. All of these interactions are going to be relying on your equipment, that is allowing you to stream, to continue working properly. Ensuring that nothing will go wrong with your computer and the internet is stable is essential.

Be Comfortable and Follow Standard Protocol for a Deposition

You’ve done it. Other than ensuring that your internet and equipment are functioning properly, you only have to answer all the questions the attorney provides you. Remember, you can be comfortable in your own space, but be respectful and follow all other standards for a deposition you would normally attend.

If you need court reporting services that handle digital recoding then CourtScribes.com which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

Although the majority of cities that offer CourtScribes’ services are in Florida, the company home base, other cities all across these United States that CourtScribes offers services in, are the following: Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Port St. Lucie, Fort Lauderdale, Cape Coral, Coral Springs, Clearwater, Palm Bay, Fort Myers, Weston, Sarasota, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Hialeah, Stuart, Hollywood, Naples, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Jupiter, Key West, Coral Gables, Maryland, Manhattan, Buffalo, Washington DC, Baltimore, Bowie, Virginia, Frederick, Albany, New York, Brooklyn, Westchester, Gaithersberg, and Rockville.

CourtScribes is the Choice For Professional Court Reporting

Posted on: August 9th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

CourtScribes is a team of highly professional court reporters that has offices all over the country but is based out of South Florida. CourtScribes is the leader in the industry using top-of-the-line technology. Having an experienced court reporter is essential to every case. This includes cases in federal, state, and local jurisdictions.

You may not have known, but digital recording is now the exclusive method used for the record for all Supreme Court cases. Well, CourtScribes is doing the same with professional legal videography, ease of access databases, and transcripts that are made with effective and precise support services.

CourtScribes provides services that attorneys and paralegals alike all rely on. Whether it’s a trial, deposition, arbitration, mediation, or a hearing, visit CourtScribes.com or call 1-833-SCRIBES today to inquire about services.

Our Top-of-the-Line Services Include:

Audio Recording

CourtScribes audio recording equipment is designed to record every voice clearly and precisely. Each sound channel is dedicated to another person. Without having interfering channels, each voice will be captured in its own time allowing for playback at any time. Regardless of outside noise, accents or low speaking voices, there should be zero issues with our court reporters’ abilities to capture every moment.

Audio Transcripts

Each sample of audio will be replayed, documented and time-stamped for future review if needed. There won’t be any issues if a previous statement needs to be retraced or disputed. These transcripts are available through our 24/7 online database.

Videography

CourtScribes provides live and on-demand video streaming for your proceedings. These videos are also kept in our database for needed use. We use video-to-text synchronization for easy research into a past video. Using our time-recorded transcripts, you’ll be able to lookup statements from a perfect text record that matches up with both video and audio in perfection. Our top of the line technology will ensure that your case will be recorded with precision and accuracy.

Three Common Misconceptions About the National Court Reporter Shortage

Posted on: August 2nd, 2021 by joshw No Comments

Recent studies were done that caught the eye of CourtScribes regarding a likely court reporter shortage. The study found that the gap between the number of available stenographers and the demand for their services nationwide continues to increase year over year. This is no surprise as we have reported on this many times.

This problem has been consistent for seven years now and the shortage is impossible to ignore. This is a reality that the COVID-19 pandemic couldn’t even mask.

No firm has been immune to the impact of this court reporter shortage, especially firms located in the most litigious states like California, New York, Illinois, Texas and Florida. However, there are plenty of misconceptions about the national court reporter shortage.

Interestingly enough, some believe that there is no shortage at all despite all the evidence. There are some misconceptions about what is going on in the industry.

Misconception #1: Can’t we just train more stenographers?

This is easier said than done, especially when statistical data proves that such a proposition is near impossible.

Why is this happening? It was found that 70% of stenographers were over the age of 46. As the current population of stenographers continues to progress towards retirement, there are not enough new stenographers from younger generations entering the field to help close the gap.

Misconception #2: The shortage won’t affect us.

While you might think that only the “big” litigation states will be impacted by this shortage, each state will face the devastating lack of court reporters sooner than later.

As of 2019, 82,000 new students enrolled in court reporting training programs nationwide each year to overcome the deficit. This dropped dramatically in 2019 where there were only about 2,500 new enrollments. Now imagine that the average graduation rate is 10% and you’re talking about a maximum of only 125 new court reporters into the market.

You can see how the shortage is affecting all of the states. Combine this with our new remote work environments brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and there are even fewer court reporters available.

Misconception #3: There are no alternatives to stenography to combat the shortage.

While stenography is the gold standard for capturing a verbatim record of a proceeding, there are other court reporting methodologies available that are both accurate and flexible and provide the same finished product.

Voice writing offers an alternative to stenographers. A voice writer speaks into a steno mask, capturing a verbatim record of the proceeding, while speech-recognition technology converts the recorded audio into text.

Digital reporting is another court reporting method that has gained more widespread adoption in recent years. In fact, courthouses and law firms across the US have been successfully using digital reporting for years as their sole means of recording hearings and trials.

As the supply of available court reporters continues to widen each year, it’s becoming increasingly more important for legal professionals to understand and recognize the potential implications for their practice. While stenography will always remain the gold standard, there are additional court reporting methodologies that offer accurate, affordable and flexible solutions.

If you need court reporting services (with a little more experience than Lumsden) that handle digital recoding then CourtScribes.com which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

What Exactly is the Art of Stenography

Posted on: July 26th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

The CourtScribes company are masters in stenography? The “art” of stenography is about recording what is being said as quickly and as accurately as possible.

Stenography is mostly used in a courtroom or legal setting, ensuring that everything is being transcribed for the record. This is important because important decisions are being made on what is said during trials, depositions, and arbitrations.

“Steno” uses a complicated machine (a stenotype) to record all this information, and people who are specially trained to use these machines are called stenographers.

But keep in mind that stenographers are not just restricted to the inside of a courtroom. Stenography is also used for live captioning you see on TV. Like the type, you’ll find on the 6 o’clock news or press conferences.

It’s also used for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in places of learning to help follow what’s being said in a lecture, classroom, or video conference.

Why Would I Need a Stenographer

Many companies are now looking to stenographers (like those at CourtScribes) for live captioning services.

Live captioning is a way to level the playing field for everyone, while at the same time ensure your company is meeting its obligation when it comes to the law.

If you need court reporting services (with a little more experience than Lumsden) that handle digital recoding then CourtScribes.com which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

The Uncertainty of Remote Depositions Post COVID-19

Posted on: July 19th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

As we have discussed many times here at CourtScribes, remote depositions became more prevalent in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. But we now have an interesting conundrum. Court reporters have refused to use video to record depositions because they were not certified to do so. This led to some attorneys taking the job upon themselves even though very few attorneys have had a chance to “test” the use of self-recorded video depositions at trial.

Now that civil cases are now getting back on the dockets, so are the questions of the admissibility of uncertified videos from remote depositions that took place during the pandemic.

In one Illinois case, a federal judge found that the use of such uncertified video recording bypasses the process outlined in the rules of civil procedure and jeopardizes the integrity of the proceedings. The judge was unconvinced by arguments that the certified transcript was available for comparison to affirm the accuracy of the video.

The judge seemed further concerned about the “vantage point” in remote depositions. He noted that in a gallery view situation, the jury could be influenced by the attorneys’ home spaces and children or pets that will occasionally (inevitably) appear on the camera.

He concluded that neither option mimics a typical video deposition that gives the jury proper focus at trial and that absent changes in the civil rules, uncertified recordings from video depositions are not admissible in his courtroom. It is difficult to tell how other courts will rule on the admissibility of such self-recorded online depositions.

As courts reopen, attempts to use uncertified video deposition recordings at trial will become more common. Until court rules and decisions provide more guidance, it is important to enter proper stipulations to ensure that an uncertified video recording of an online deposition can (or cannot) be used at trial.

If you need court reporting services, please contact CourtScribes.com, which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world, and are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

What are the Different Stenographic Certifications

Posted on: July 12th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

Like any career, there are some that are more accredited than others. This is true for those in stenography as well. Here is an introduction to the levels that stenographers can achieve according to the NCRA aka National Court Reporters Association.

Stenographic certifications include (from entry-level to highest order):

Registered Skilled Reporter (RSR)
Registered Professional Reporter (RPR)
Registered Merit Reporter (RMR)
Registered Diplomate Reporter (RDR)

The entry-level registered skilled reporter requires the slowest Q&A dictation speed at 200 words per minute. The dictation speed and written knowledge content increase in difficulty through the certification progression. The registered diplomate reporter is the highest level of certification available to stenographic court reporters and requires passing a Q&A dictation speed of 260 words per minute. The RDR designation also has a years-of-experience component. The RDR distinguishes high-level, seasoned reporters as members of the profession’s elite.

The National Verbatim Reporters Association aka NVRA voice writer certifications include:

Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR)
Certificate of Merit (CM)
Military Verbatim Reporter (MVR)

Skills tests for both NCRA and NVRA certifications are administered at speeds ranging from 200 to 260 words per minute for five minutes of dictation at 95% to 96% accuracy, including all speaker designations, punctuation, and procedural events that take place during the proceeding.

A Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) is a designation granted by multiple states across the country. The testing speeds and written exam requirements vary.

If you’re seeking a stenographic reporter who is highly skilled at providing an instantaneous delivery of the spoken word to text, you will want to seek a Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR).

A voice writer with similar skills has achieved one of the following certifications: Realtime Verbatim Reporter (RVR) or Realtime Verbatim Reporter – Master (RVR-M).

Accessibility to justice requires accommodations for people with hearing loss. A Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC) should be engaged for this service if you’re using a stenographic reporter. Registered CART Provider – Master (RCP-M) is the designation for a voice reporter.

A Certified Legal Video Specialist (CLVS), administered by the National Court Reporters Association, holds a high level of skill and understanding of all aspects of video deposition recording, court proceedings, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and deposition best practices.

Addressing the Court Reporter Shortage

Posted on: July 5th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

One thing that CourtScribes has mentioned over and over again is that there is a serious court reporter shortage. This has not changed. As a matter of fact, it has probably gotten worse.

So that being said, there is definitely is still a shortage of stenographic court reporters in the United States. Yes, there have been concerted efforts to attract and train new stenographic reporters. But it is an uphill battle. First off, the job requires a high level of skill and education. Combine that with the rate at which stenographic reporters are retiring, and you can see that the numbers are dwindling.

Some court reporting agencies like CourtScribes, who are striving to ensure their client’s record is given the requisite diligence, have started to hire and train individuals to become certified as digital reporters.

One thing for sure is that professional certification requires a serious commitment to acquiring and maintaining a unique skill, which leads to the highest quality of service and product to clients. Commitment to obtaining, maintaining, and continually improving knowledge and skill levels are essential to quality. And while there are some that are ready to tackle this very overwhelming task, it is complicated, takes diligence, and needs someone with a “stick to it and through it” attitude.

Project Steno Helps Students Choose a Career in Court Reporting

Posted on: June 21st, 2021 by joshw No Comments

Project Steno, founded in 2017, is an independent, non-affiliated organization that relies on financial support from the court reporting community to promote the stenographic reporting profession and recruit promising students.

Project Steno has a free, online, 12-hour course offering potential students an introduction to court reporting and captioning. All of this without having to make a financial commitment. Project Steno even provides a steno machine for the student’s use while in Basic Training.

The textbook and all training materials are provided to the prospects at no charge. Guest speakers will come to each two-hour session and explain the various professions to those who achieve the necessary stenographic skills.

The program allows prospective students to decide whether this is the right path for them. And with that, helping to save thousands of dollars in tuition and course fees should they discover it is not the right fit.

School data shows that 66% of students who start it, complete the 12-hour course, and 44% of those that complete enroll in court reporting school.

But it is a difficult course. It is very much like learning an instrument or a foreign language. This means that it can typically be a two-year program. Once enrolled, students are offered incentive-based merit awards (two at $1,000 each), as well as being mentored and encouraged along the journey to graduation and in their start as a new professional in our field.

Graduates are very necessary. As we have highlighted before, the industry is hurting for stenographers. Without graduates from this court reporting program, the community will be unable to staff courtrooms, putting at risk one’s right to appeal his/her/their verdict with a verbatim transcript of the testimony and arguments presented in trial.

Without graduates from the captioning programs, vital live events such as the news and sports will not be accessible to those members of our community who need them most: deaf and hard of hearing people.

How Did COVID-19 Shape UK Court Reporting?

Posted on: June 14th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

Much like in the US, the UK justice system has also had to adapt to virtual settings (like Zoom meetings) throughout the pandemic. But it is not just lawyers and judges who have felt these perils. Court reporters have also experienced a period of adjustment.

When the pandemic hit, the UK government introduced The Coronavirus Act 2020. This meant that UK courts began to use video and audio technology so proceedings could be viewed by the public, including court reporters covering the cases.

And although the COVID-19 restrictions are easing, it doesn’t seem like video calls are going away anytime soon. The Coronavirus Act in the UK has been extended until September, so remote court hearings will continue until then.

Bumps in the Road

The transition to virtual court attendance has had its fair share of bumps in the road. One of the issues was that the UK legal system lacked the digital technology and infrastructure to make a smooth transition. Participants were dialing in through Skype and then a dedicated cloud video platform. Many times the links did not work and the settings were not acoustically designed for the type of set-up. It was often hard to hear who was talking and pick up the important details during hearings.

Normally the clerk of the court is on hand to clarify questions, or details on court lists, addresses, charges, or even the spelling of people’s names. But it is harder to ask questions in a virtual setting and so routine questions needed to be handled through follow-up emails. This was rather challenging.

Tuning in through a camera lens fails to encapsulate the typical drama expected in the courtroom. Journalists are missing out on reactions from the dock, defendants reacting to what’s being said about them, not being able to see the barristers or judge, and not understanding who the other people in the courtroom are. These are all peripheral things taken for granted in a courtroom.

The Upsides & Benefits

However, there is a bright side. Virtual hearings are more practical when a full day of work could mean up to four different hearings at four different venues across the town. So while the downside is that you can’t be there, you save time on travel and can get more accomplished virtually.

Improving accessibility could also see a spark of interest in court reporting. Virtual attendance has the capacity to get more journalists in the newsrooms involved with court reporting, but also spark more interest in the young talent coming through. However, universities have not been able to take their journalism students to visit courts as they normally would.

If you need court reporting services in the US that handles digital recording then CourtScribes.com which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world is ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

What is a Stenotype, the Tool Stenographers Use

Posted on: June 7th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

We have all seen that person in the courtroom typing away superfast on something that “kinda looks like a typewriter”. They are typing away because they are taking down all of the information to create a record of the events in that courtroom. And while that is not a typewriter they are typing on, it is actually called a stenotype. It is also known as a shorthand machine, steno writer, or chorded keyboard. And what that stenotype is doing, is recording in shorthand.

Those who are registered to use a stenotype as a trained court reporter must write speeds of approximately 180, 200, and 225 words per minute at very high accuracy in the categories of literary, jury charge, and testimony. We here at CourtScribes have many stenographers that are experts at just that.

What is a Stenotype?

The stenotype machine was invented in 1906 by Ward Stone Ireland, an American stenographer and court reporter. The stenograph and stenotype machine are used in offices to some extent. But they are mostly used for court reporting. Both machines have keyboards of 22 keys, and because the operator uses all their fingers and both thumbs, any number of keys can be struck simultaneously. And they will need to be.

The operator controls the keys by touch and is thus able to watch the speaker. The fingers of the left hand control the keys that print consonants occurring before vowels. The thumbs control the vowels, and the fingers of the right hand control the consonants that follow the vowels. There are not separate keys for each letter of the English alphabet. Abbreviations are used for some of the most frequent words, giving the operator the ability to write two or three words in one stroke.

Pressing the multiple keys simultaneously spells out whole syllables, words, and phrases with a single hand motion. Because the keyboard does not contain all the letters of the English alphabet, letter combinations are substituted for the missing letters.

If you need court services that handle digital recording that require those stenography skills, then CourtScribes.com which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

CourtScribes is the Best in Court Reporting

Posted on: May 31st, 2021 by joshw No Comments

If you are in need of court reporting services, the team at CourtScribes is a team of highly professional court reporters that are leading the industry. Possessing top-of-the-line technology for a fraction of the price, CourtScribes based in South Florida, is the one and only company you need for court services of all kinds. Having an experienced court reporter is essential to every court case. This includes federal, state and local jurisdictions.

CourtScribes also uses digital recording. Digital recording is now the exclusive method for all Supreme Court cases. It seems like it will become more and more used in the future. With professional legal videography, ease of access databases, and transcripts that are made with effective and precise support services, CourtScribes provides a service that paralegals and attorneys alike can rely on. Whether it’s a trial, deposition, arbitration, mediation, or a hearing, visit CourtScribes.com or call 1-833-SCRIBES today to inquire about their services.

Services Offered by CourtScribes

Audio Recording – We possess audio recording equipment that is designed to record every voice clearly and precisely. Each sound channel is dedicated to another person, without any interfering channels. Each voice is captured in its own time allowing for playback at any time. Even in the event of outside noise, accents, or people speaking too low, there will be no issues with our court reporters’ abilities to capture every moment.

Videography – CourtScribes even provides live and on-demand video streaming. These videos are also stored in our database for needed use later on down the road. We use video-to-text synchronization for easy research into a past video. Our top-of-the-line technology will ensure that your case will be recorded with precision and accuracy.

Audio Transcripts – Each audio sample will be replayed, documented, and time-stamped for future review. That way there won’t be any issues if a previous statement needs to be retraced or disputed. And these transcripts are available through our 24/7 online database.

Five Reasons Why You Should Consider Court Reporting

Posted on: May 24th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

Court reporting is a tough job. Court reporting may not be for everyone. You will have to go to a school and acquire a whole new skill set. That being said, here are ten reasons for why one should consider a career in court reporting.

1 – Potential for High Income

A court reporter’s salary depends on their location. The income is also affected by certifications and services provided. A reporter who provides real-time translation services usually makes more than one who doesn’t. The national average is around $46,000 a year. But keep in mind that many reporters work part-time, so it drives down the national average. The sky is the limit if you’re willing to work hard and be a top-notch reporter. Some reporters make $225k to $300k per year consistently.

2 – High-Demand & Recession-Proof Career
From the moment you graduate from court reporting school and get licensed as a certified shorthand reporter, you will never experience a day without working that you didn’t want to work. A recession-proof job is one that remains in high demand even through bad economic times. Though no career is entirely recession-proof, court reporting is more constant than most others when times are hard.

Several elements create a high demand for court reporters. The first is that there is an increased demand in the legal field. Crime tends to rise dramatically when people feel desperate and experience serious financial problems, so the number of court cases increases. Civil disputes also reach a boiling point, resulting in more civil litigation when times are tough.

Secondly, there is an increase in demand in other industries that require real-time court reporters to provide transcriptions or captioning of conferences, seminars, video, and television. The growing number of fields that require stenographers includes television, sports, politics, business, medicine, and many more.

3 – Flexible Working Hours
If you are looking for a flexible job, court reporting may be the field for you. Some court reporters work just two or three days a week. Working part-time as a court reporter is common and easily attainable if you are looking for a nice balance between your professional and personal life. Freelance reporters are able to schedule a short one-hour depo or an all-day video deposition if necessary. If you need to take the day off, then you can simply tell the agency you’re not available for work that day.

4 – Residual Income Opportunities
One of the main reasons some choose the court reporting profession is for the residual income opportunity. Once we report a matter, we can continue to get paid for the work for months and years after it’s done. It’s common to earning royalties from intellectual property like books and patents. The record court reporters make is considered a “work product”. If anyone wants a copy of it, money can be earned again and again.

Official court reporters earn a salary plus transcript income. Some freelance reporters will earn a per diem for the time that they are at a location or just to show up. After an original transcript is produced court reporters can earn money for the transcript again at the time of appeal, which happens in the years following the matter reported.

5 – Longevity
Stenography stems from man’s desire and necessity to preserve happenings of yesterday and today for the future. Stenography is one of the oldest professions and will be around well into the future. Even with technological advancements, it will always need a human touch. Technology has come a long way in the last 20 years, but it still has a long way to go before it will be a threat to the profession of court reporting. The experimentation with replacing human court reporters with audio recording has failed time and again. It’s similar to replacing all language interpreters with translation software.

Court reporters are tasked with the protection of the record. Court reporters use extremely sophisticated technology to create a record using machine shorthand, and it is a process that takes an average of three years to master.

Stenography is a career that offers longevity. Many court reporters have enjoyed several decades-long careers in the profession and plan to work well into their retirement age. Longevity in court reporting is possible because of the variety of jobs.

A few of the things a human court reporter can do that digital recording can’t are: capture testimony at 99 percent or greater accuracy, handle multiple speakers at the same time, identify speakers, understand different accents and dialects, create an immediate draft transcript, create a same-day or next-day final transcript, mark exhibits, swear witnesses, and stop a proceeding for clarification due to an accent or soft-spoken witness, or ask for a repeat because a door slammed or other noise cut out the speaker.

Even if voice recognition technology evolves to a level of near perfection, it can still never replace the human court reporter because it lacks the ability to control and protect the record and do the human aspects of the job.

These five reasons outlined here by CourtScribes, show how court reporting is a great career choice. It is a decision you have to make, but if you think that these five reasons make sense and it is of any interest to you, then this is a career choice you would have to consider. It is not only rewarding financially, but it is rewarding because you are an intricate cog in the machine of the courts and justice.

Nine Questions Answered About Stenography

Posted on: May 17th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

We have all seen the person in the courtroom typing away with reckless abandon, as people speak and give their testimony in any given courtroom proceeding. You may have wondered to yourself, how do they do that, where did they learn that, and even how much do they make for doing that? Well, that person is called a court stenographer. Sometimes they are also referred to as a court reporter.

Court stenographers, like the ones available from CourtScribes, or court reporters, are people trained to type and write in shorthand, which allows them to write as fast as people can speak.

1 – What Does Stenography Mean?

The word “stenography” comes from the Greek word “steno” which means narrow and “graphy” which means writing. Narrow writing is now commonly referred to as “shorthand”. A stenographer simply put is a shorthand writer.

Modern-day stenographers use machines called stenotypes, which allow them to type, in some cases, faster than 300 WPM, which is just about double the ‘speed of speech’.

2 – How is stenography used?

Stenographers can type in shorthand which allows them to type as quickly as people speak. This provides important and accurate documentation that is immediately available. This is mostly provided in courtroom settings, however, stenographers are used to assist the hard of hearing as well by providing the services that you see on movies and TV that allow for captions.

You can actually make the case that the stenographer is as important as the judge in a courtroom.

3 – Do stenographers type every word?

Yes, and they can type full words at once by simultaneously tapping multiple keys. So while they do type every word, it is done with shorthand.

4 – Is stenographer a good job?

Yes, it is a great career. There is a huge demand in courtrooms for stenographers. This is true for a couple of reasons. One, there is a dire shortage of those that are trained to do this job, so there is a lot of opportunity. Two, the job pays very well, as it is a hard to acquire skill. And three, there are many side jobs you can do, as well as outsourcing your services outside of the courtroom.

5 – Why is stenography important?

It is important as it is a requirement in many places to have written transcripts. This makes stenography something that is still needed. Court reporters are also tasked with writing down the defendant’s gestures and expressions, as well as their reactions to things. This is something that no machine can do. The stenographer is responsible for creating the “record” of what occurred in the courtroom. This record is extremely important as every member of the court uses this record in their case.

6 – What are stenography skills?

The main skill is the ability to do shorthand and then transcribe your notes. 180 WPM is the ‘speed of speech’ which means that stenographers have to be able to write at a minimum speed of 180 WPM. Stenographers document and record everything that takes place in a courtroom, which makes them an integral part of court hearings across the world.

7 – How long does it take to become a stenographer?

It takes close to three years. You do have to put in the time as if it is a college-like education you are getting. This is a very difficult to master skill, and many dropout or just cannot accomplish the curriculum.

8 – Are stenographers well paid?

Stenographers are actually very well paid. Stenographers can make upwards of $80,000 a year based on hours and years in the industry.

This is due to the fact that it is an intricate skill, there are very few people that have the skill, and there is a shortage of those with the skill that are working in courtrooms.

9 – What is the future of stenography?

The future of stenography is clear. Technological advancements have been made and stenographers will have to adapt to them. While it is unlikely that at any time, now or in the future, that stenographers will not be needed, technology has infiltrated the area.

As technology has become more and more advanced, audio and video recordings are now being used in courtrooms around the world. To save money, courtrooms have invested in video and audio recorders. Many then theorized that the stenographer’s days were numbered. This simply is not true. There is room for both to work.

This is because video and audio recordings are not always successful. There can be interference, data gets corrupted, and sometimes people just forget to turn the devices on! Because of this potential threat, the stenography industry had to adapt to the times.

Computers became more popular, and as they did, court reporters began using these machines to compete with other forms of technology. Stenotype machines could now be plugged into portable computers, laptops, and be used to translate shorthand onto the computer screen in real-time. This was something video and audio recorders could not accurately do.

Many now use a technology called ‘steno masks’ which are microphones plugged into their computers that run voice-recognition software. The stenographer then, in real-time, cleans up the machine’s mistakes and errors; the perfect fusion of technology and stenography.

While technology is an incredibly important part of all of our lives, it cannot be entirely trusted just yet. Machines are not infallible and make mistakes. A stenographer must supervise and verify what these ‘steno masks’ record.

These nine points should have made one thing clear. Court reporters aka stenographers are very important, and they are not going anywhere any time soon. We here at CourtScribes provide all of the services mentioned in this article.

So if you need court reporting services that handle digital recording and remote depositions then CourtScribes.com, which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world, are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

We are located in South Florida, but offer our services throughout the entire United States. Call us now when you need any courtroom steno or tech.

Court Reporter Goes Rogue in Wisconsin

Posted on: May 10th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

Nobody was surprised when Hyundai Motors, the Korean automaker, planned to appeal after a Racine County, Wisconsin jury returned a $38.1 million verdict against the company.

But nobody expected nearly a year later, that the appeal would remain on hold because of a missing court reporter who was responsible for providing a transcript of the trial.

Court records show that after the trial, Brande Browne agreed to have transcripts sent to Hyundai’s lawyers by March of 2020. By June the transcript still hadn’t been produced. Browne, nor her boss at the Racine Court Reporter’s office, were answering emails from Hyundai’s attorneys at the law firm of Quarles & Brady.

This scenario is one thing for sure that you won’t have to worry about with Court Scribes.

What Did the Court Reporter Do?

Finally, in mid-June, Browne responded, saying that personal and professional events had set her back, but she was working as fast as she could to complete the transcript of the 18-day trial. On June 30th, she indicated in a formal document that she would have the transcript by July 31st.

The problem is, August came, but the transcript did not. Hyundai’s lawyers emailed Browne repeatedly but never heard back. The Court of Appeals then demanded Browne file the transcript, then extended the deadline twice, before fining her $1,075 in November.

In December, the trial judge issued a warrant for Browne’s arrest after she failed to appear in court to explain why she hadn’t produced the transcript. Police have been to her home, but she was never present at the home. Calls reporters to various numbers listed went unanswered or the numbers were no longer in service.

What is the Case Against Hyundai About?

In 2015, Edward Vanderventer, 67, of Racine, Wisconsin, was stopped, waiting to turn in his 2013 Hyundai Elantra at an intersection when he was rear-ended by a 17-year-old driver.

He sued Hyundai and the driver, alleging that while the other driver caused the accident, Vanderventer’s serious back injuries, which left him a paraplegic, were caused by a defective seat that collapsed into his spine, although three passengers in his car were not seriously injured.

The jury found that a large portion of Vanderventer’s injuries was attributable to the seat design. Hyundai lost a judgment for $32.7 million of the total judgment.

The Appeal From Hyundai

On appeal, Hyundai plans to raise issues about how the trial was conducted. But they can’t without a reliable, accurate record of the proceedings due to the absence of the court reporter.

A court reporter, or stenographer, like the ones at Court Scribes, doesn’t just type what’s being said in court. They write the rapid speech into a type of code they must later translate into a readable transcript. They have extreme importance to the case.

Vanderventer’s attorney said the court reporter Browne was dependable throughout the trial. He said if she or her machine are never found, those drafts of daily transcripts might allow both sides, and the judge, to assemble an agreed-on final transcript for the appeal.

If you need proper court reporting services that handle digital recording and remote depositions then CourtScribes.com which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

Ten Tips to a Successful Remote Deposition

Posted on: May 3rd, 2021 by joshw No Comments

With COVID-19 completely altering the entire system of the courts, CourtScribes would like to offer some great tips in mastering the art of the remote deposition. The remote deposition has become one of the most important parts of the process now that things have dramatically changed and may stay this way for the near future.

CourtScribes has ten successful tips to take 2021’s virtual depositions to the next level. Let us dive into these valuable suggestions!

Get to the Call Early. This will help in avoiding delays and gives time to iron out any technical issues, should there be any.
Set the Stage Properly. Eliminate distractions around you. Make sure there is proper backlighting, and position yourself to the center of the screen.
Test All of Your Equipment. Test your internet connection, your microphones, your headphones, and audio quality.
Update Your Zoom software Regularly – Make sure to check for updates and install them.
Dress Well. Wearing dark, solid colors works best on camera. Everyone should be clean and professional.
Close All Unrelated Programs. When doing a remote deposition, only the deposition should be on your device. Close all browsers and programs running in the background. This will help to avoid inadvertently displaying confidential or compromising material or other sensitive materials to other participants. It also keeps focus on the deposition.
Speak Slowly, Loudly, and Clearly. In any deposition, speaking clearly and slowly is helpful to the court reporter taking down the record. This is true for the interpreter, if one is present, as well.
Avoid Multiple Participants in the Same Room. Each participant in the deposition should have their own separate location and device so that there are no problems with audio feedback. This will also provide a clear headshot for each participant.
Request the Video. The mobile videoconference recording will always be made available, but this recording is unedited, and syncing is also not available.
Be Patient. Technology, like everything else, is not perfect. Glitches, though uncommon and quickly resolved by skilled technicians, can and do sometimes happen. Just be patient and you will overcome any of these issues.

This list should be very helpful. Whether remote depos are a struggle or smooth sailing, this list is should be helpful as you continue to schedule remote depositions with CourtScribes. So, if you need court reporting services that handle digital recording and remote depositions then CourtScribes.com which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

Successful Tips for a Remote Deposition

Posted on: April 26th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, CourtScribes, courtrooms, and frankly the whole court system has changed. The need for social distancing has become an important factor in getting things back to normal as quickly as possible. And the courtrooms are no different.

Society agreed that conducting trials while making use of remote court appearances and remote depositions is now the norm. The thing is, that many are not used to video conferencing (like Zoom) and maybe going to the net for tips. You’re in luck though, as CourtScribes is gonna provide a list of tips to conducting a successful remote deposition.

1 – Knowing the Web Conference Applications

You should always do a practice run of the software that you will be using during remote depositions. This will make it more comfortable to use and can access all system commands without issue.

2 – Don’t Interrupt Audio from Another Source

Remote depositions are always recorded for future use. It is important that all of the audio is transmitted correctly. If it is not done correctly, it will be too difficult to understand. Try not to speak over others to ensure that everything is recorded.

3 – Make Sure All Equipment is in Order

Having a stable internet connection might be the most important part of having a successful remote deposition. Make sure all systems are stable. You don’t want to have any issues with disconnections. Check that all audio devices are working and make sure that the microphone is picking up all audio correctly.

4 – Follow Normal Conducts for a Standard Deposition

Many people are working from home, and although you are comfortable in your home, with your familiar equipment, it’s important that you still represent yourself in a professional state of mind. Use all standard protocol procedures for conducting a normal deposition.

5 – Work in a Comfortable Space

When working, you just don’t need unexpected visitors popping in to interrupt your remote deposition. It is important to make sure that the area you are going to work in is free from any chances of interruption.

CourtScribes is who you need to provide you with everything you may require for a remote deposition.

Why are Court Reporters Important

Posted on: April 19th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

As time has gone forward, technology jobs increase as more mechanical-type jobs go by the wayside. In court reporting circles, that you have read about here at CourtScribes, many believe that this too will happen to the profession. As a matter of fact, it is happening right now as we speak. As the technology expands in the field, fewer and fewer actual court reporters are needed.

However, certain jobs require a human quality to properly function. Court reporting is definitely one of those jobs.

Who or what is a court reporter?

Well, the court reporter is the person in charge of transcribing a verbatim legal record using a typing tool called a stenograph. Using the stenograph, the reporter transcribes the court proceedings in a sort of shorthand. But, instead of being replaced, the technological addition of audio tech allows the court reporter to complete the job with even greater efficiency.

Reliability is Key

If one is trying to understand why technology is taking over this industry, it basically comes down to the option that is more efficient and more reliable. While the ability for a human being (court reporter) to take in proper notes and hear all that is going on crystal clear, many times that is just not the case.

Due to the simple advancement of tech, we can now record conversations and have audio renditions. However, some things are unable to be recorded if there is a crossover in speech by multiple people. This means that there needs to be a human also recording everything being said in order to capture the full truth.

So that while technology has now given people a way to record, this should mean that court reporting is now enhanced and requires training with audio recording technology on the side. This would actually be the most efficient and reliable way to conduct transcribing.

Don’t Leave it to Chance

A court reporter’s main focus should be to record every single word that is spoken in the courtroom. They must do this, all while differentiating between those who are speaking, and ignoring the background noises. This is tough because one of the hardest situations to deal with is when two attorneys or legal participants speaking over each other.

The audio technology at CourtScribes has advanced to a much higher stage than its tape recorder predecessors. But if there is any chance that the device may lose speech during a situation where two people are speaking over each other, then that entire passage of speech has been lost. This especially matters if there is an appeal to the case. Imagine that someone has grounds all because the words were not properly transcribed?

What this says, is that until it is perfect, courts just can’t take that chance.

A Look at a Court Reporter’s Remote Deposition Setup

Posted on: April 12th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

When COVID-19 first forced workplace closures back in March of 2020, people across the country quickly found themselves working from their home office, dining room, table, couch, and other unique locations within their homes. Basically, it was anywhere they could find a quiet place to do their work. The legal industry, including professional court reporters like those at CourtScribes, was certainly not immune to the work-from-home trend.

Court reporters shifted to working remotely and had to re-engineer how they operate in their day-to-day in reporting depositions and other proceedings. The emergence of new remote platforms, guidelines, and client expectations led court reporters to quickly adapt to ensure business as usual to capture the record.

At the onset of the pandemic, remote working meant simply setting up a workspace at the kitchen table or in the living room. Now a year later, with a lot of creativity being applied, many court reporters have learned helpful “do’s and don’ts” for at-home remote deposition setups.

We have learned that many professional court reporters created many interesting and effective remote deposition offices.

As the pandemic continues and the acceptance of remote formats for proceedings continues to gain widespread adoption and acceptance, it is important to stay up-to-date on best practices and considerations for a successful remote deposition.

In preparation for upcoming and future remote depositions, we gathered equipment and accessory recommendations that make the process easier for both you and your clients.

If you need court remote deposition services that handle digital recording then CourtScribes.com which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

Derek Chauvin Trial Highlights the Crucial Work of Court Reporters

Posted on: April 5th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

The Derek Chauvin (George Floyd’s kneeling police officer) trial is taking place, and someone in the courtroom who doesn’t get any publicity has one of the more important jobs. That job is the court reporter. CourtScribes agrees. This may be the most important person in the courtroom.

A court reporter is responsible for accurately transcribing every word that’s said in open court. Christine Phipps, the president of the National Court Reporters Association, says the job comes with a lot of pressure.

“Somebody’s life hinges on that testimony,” Phipps said. “It’s the court reporter’s certified transcript that rules the day over anybody’s memory of what might have been said. That is going to be what’s argued on appeal.”

Court reporting isn’t done letter by letter. Court reporters use combinations of keys to type by phonetic sounds. Shorthand gets proofread and fleshed out later.

When a trial goes on for two weeks, it could probably get between 2,500 to 3,000 pages of transcript you need to proof.

If something is missed or needs to be repeated, the court reporter will interrupt the proceedings, but tries to do so as delicately as possible. The reporter will also confer with the judge if they feel someone in the courtroom should be instructed to slow down.

Getting correct and proper testimony is key in any trial, but even more so in a trial that the whole world is watching. We at CourtScribes know this is true. That is why this position may actually be the most important in any given courtroom.

If you need court reporting services that handle digital recording then CourtScribes.com which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

Reasons to Hire a Digital Court Reporter

Posted on: March 29th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

As CourtScribes has noted in several posts in the past, there is a growing shortage of stenographers. This reality combined with the fact that the average age of a court reporter is 53, leaves cause for concern about the profession’s future. Additional contributing factors to this shortage include a significant decrease in graduates from professional stenographic training and the closure of many training schools, according to the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT).

To overcome these hurdles, the court reporting industry has been tapping into digital court recording systems, such as audio and video recordings of proceedings and advanced transcription technologies, which provide accurate court reporting.

What is a Digital Court Reporter

Like a stenographer, a digital court reporter is a notary. Responsibilities include swearing in witnesses and marking exhibits.

Instead of the traditional stenography machine, these professionals record the proceedings using digital technology. That usually means audio, but also includes video. Professionals take notes during the recordings either manually or by annotating in a software platform, and then submit these for transcription into a cohesive document afterward.

How Digital Court Reporting Future-Proofs Your Business

The biggest difference between digital and standard stenographic court reporting is that digital court recording systems allow businesses to grow and future-proof their operations.

Both clients and the legal system as a whole are transitioning into digital. There’s little dispute that digital court reporting is more efficient. Companies can get faster transcripts at better prices and avoid unwanted delays due to the stenographer shortage.

Cost savings is also a significant factor. Based on data from the AAERT, court reporting companies that transition into digital are expected to save nearly $250K USD over the next decade simply by transitioning from stenography to digital court reporting systems. Advanced technologies, therefore, provide the opportunity to lower costs, while also serving more clients faster.

How Digital Court Reporting Improves Turnaround and Quality

It has been learned that legal clients prefer to work with digital court reporters due to the faster turnaround that advanced transcription software provides. Due to artificial intelligence, instantaneous transcription also continues to be more accurate, as the software learns from its mistakes. Even if the transcription provider offers additional review by humans, the process is faster.

A top concern and also deciding factor is the quality and accuracy of court reports. Since the software is trained to understand both legal terms and a client’s own specific situation, the most advanced products provide 99% accuracy. Similarly, if selected software features an automatic sound recognition (ASR) engine, it can distinguish between different speakers to avoid confusion.

Court Reporting Service Market is Anticipated to Grow

Posted on: March 22nd, 2021 by joshw No Comments

New studies are showing that the court reporting service market is anticipated to grow well into 2027. CourtScribes is here to go over the findings. They were quite interesting.

The reports show present technological revolutions are continuously minimizing paperwork in legal proceedings with a gradual shift towards non-paper mode and an increase in digitalization. The rise in digitization is leading court reporting services to shift from a traditional reporting system to a remote reporting system, where lawyers and their clients can attend deposition remotely.

It is observed that governments in various countries are increasing their investment towards paperless in court proceedings. Globally, governments are continuously trying to expedite the court hearing process along with quick judgments in the least possible time.

What is Causing the Change

Another factor that is fueling the growth of the court reporting service market is the modernization of court structure and adopting modern software technologies for legal proceedings. Real-time transcription services are helping the attorneys, to instantly read, search and annotate a testimony along with a facility to leave deposition with a copy of the transcript.

The services also arrange a transcript copy for future references. The internet deposition facility provides greater flexibility in the hearing process, where the attorney and client can attend a court hearing session through the secured virtual space, no matter their physical presence.

Presently, courts are also promoting video recording practices during the deposition in order to bring more clarity to the entire hearing process. Modern software technologies provide data security facilities where unauthorized persons are restricted to access the database, however, authorized persons can access these details at any time and from any location.

In terms of revenue, the global court reporting service market stood at $4.4 million in 2018 and is anticipated to reach $6.5 million by 2027.

Key Findings of the Report:

The global court reporting service market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period, owing to the adoption of modern software for legal proceedings.
An increasing number of disputes and fraudulent activity across the globe is fuelling the volume of court cases, which is giving an opportunity to the market to increase its total market share.
Based on the global court reporting service market, North America holds the major revenue among all other regions and the European region is anticipated to grow at the highest compounding rate of interest by end of the forecasted period.

Esquire Acquires Willette Court Reporting Its Second Acquisition of 2021

Posted on: March 15th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

Court reporting gets bigger and bigger especially as CourtScribes reports acquisitions that occur in the community.

Esquire Deposition Solutions, a leading national provider of remote and in-person court reporting, video, and interpreting services, is pleased to announce it has acquired Willette Court Reporting. This acquisition strengthens Esquire’s industry leadership and expands its presence in Wausau and Central Wisconsin.

Willette’s network of highly skilled stenographic court reporters has serviced the area since 1985, with a focus on medical, expert, and technical testimony. Christine Willette, RDR, CRR, CRC, founder and owner of Willette Court Reporting, will become Esquire’s Vice President of Acquisition Strategy, where she will leverage her deep court reporting industry expertise to drive acquisition initiatives and work closely with Esquire’s court reporter and service partner programs.

“I am thrilled to welcome Chris to the Esquire family,” stated Terrie Campbell, Esquire’s Chief Executive Officer. “Her deep industry knowledge and history of industry leadership will add great value to service providers and clients as well. Chris will play an important role in helping Esquire navigate our clients, service providers, and employees through this unprecedented period of technology-driven industry transformation.”

This acquisition marks Esquire’s second recent acquisition following its announcement of the Honorable acquisition. Esquire’s strategy of growth via acquisition enables local and regional court reporting firms nationwide to leverage Esquire’s investments and industry-leading platform.

Hiring the Right Stenographer

Posted on: March 8th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

If you weren’t familiar by now with who those people are that are typing away during court proceedings are, they’re known as stenographers. Sometimes, they are also referred to as court reporters. They are incredibly helpful because the service they provide is helping a court, and all the members of it, jot down and record the proceedings by creating a written report.

While the courts require them, private attorneys and often businesses will occasionally need to find qualified stenographers that are able to do the job properly, which means that there is a checklist of qualifications to look for. Here are some of the ways to hire a good stenographer that a company like CourtScribes offers.

Start by Searching Court Reporter Companies

There are plenty of companies that hire out stenographers or reporters for the courts. This makes it easy to find the best out there as a court reporting company will feature only the most qualified, and the most trusted stenographers available. It’s also a lot easier to negotiate rates or fees, as well as scheduling when a large company is handling the bulk of the heavy lifting.

Check References & Reviews

On company sites, or anywhere else that a stenographer has listed work or availability, you’ll want to check references or reviews. Any job that is skilled labor will have reviews to help you decide on the right contractor. Stenographers are an example of this kind of contractor that can be found with reviews or even references to help bolster their claims of being qualified for the job. It’s important to always read these reviews to see what former clients have said about them, good or bad.

Find a Stenographer That Charges Reasonable Rates

Stenographers don’t charge an exorbitant amount considering their work, but they are not cheap. It’s not surprising to find stenographers that range in fees between $20 – $80/hr. It can be a lot or a little, depending on the length of the need. It’s still important to note that hiring a good stenographer is an important part of the process to ensure that the reporting of the court case (or whatever business transcription might be needed) is done effectively and efficiently. This is not something you’d want to mess up by hiring inferior workers, so a reasonable rate can be flexible if they are very experienced and qualified.

View Their Skills & Qualifications

Many stenographers, whether working full-time for a company or as a freelancer is that they should have a list of their skills and qualifications. Any kind of certificates or previous experiences working in sectors involving their typing, notation, and dictation skills are things that they will want to show off to make themselves look like more qualified and attractive candidates. You can easily view these, as well as looking them up on LinkedIn, to verify and determine if they are the right kind of candidates.

Meet & Vet Potential Candidates

You also have the option to meet up and interview the candidates or do a little more investigating to see how they are. It’s never a bad idea to meet face to face because this adds a more human approach to the entire process where you can finally meet and see them and figure out if they may be the right hire. Picking out a good stenographer means going with your gut sometimes, so getting a good interview process going will help you figure this out.

Stenographers might not be a household name when it comes to professions, but their services are invaluable nonetheless. Finding a good stenographer for a court case is also a hugely important process, so following these tips will help you make the right choice in picking a qualified court reporter. If done properly, you would end up with a stenographer than can get the job done in an efficient and effective manner.

CourtScribes Providing 24/7 Online Access to Your Private Online Repository

Posted on: March 1st, 2021 by joshw No Comments

CourtScribes is the website and court service for all of your court reporter, remote court access, and online database needs. One of the top features offered is that CourtScribes offers 24/7 access to a private online repository that will hold all of your transcripts, exhibits, and videos regardless of where you might be located. By using either a computer, tablet, or smartphone, one can access all files on-demand. If you need the help of some of the most skilled court reporters in the business, then you must contact CourtScribes today!

What Type of Services does a Court Reporting Agency Provide?

CourtScribes takes pride in providing the most high-value skills many court reporting agencies don’t even possess. Here are some services that CourtScribes provides:

Live & On-Demand Video Streaming – Many court reporting agencies haven’t embraced the high levels of value that videography offers. Professional videography has boosted the court reporting profession into the future.
Video-to-Text Synchronization – Due to our ability to perform professional legal videography, we also offer a video-to-text option. This allows you to watch the video of the court proceeding while having a text page to follow along. These are equipped with timestamps and other information regarding the proceeding.
Certified Transcripts – You will be provided transcripts that are certified by professional court reporters. These can be stored in our (your) private online repository.
Interpreters – CourtScribes has interpreters available for any of your language needs.
Daily/Expedited Delivery – We offer two different types of delivery. Both have quick results.

CourtScribes covers trials, arbitrations, depositions, mediations and hearings.

Do You Need a Service Like CourtScribes

Posted on: February 22nd, 2021 by joshw No Comments

If you weren’t aware, CourtScribes is a team of highly professional court reporters & stenographers that lead the industry in top of the line court reporting technology for a fraction of the price. An experienced court reporter is essential to every case. This includes federal, state and local jurisdictions.

Did you know that digital recording is now the exclusive method for all Supreme Court cases. With professional legal videography, ease of access databases, and transcripts that are made with effective and precise support services, CourtScribes provides a service that paralegals and attorneys alike can rely on. Whether it’s a trial, deposition, arbitration, mediation, or a hearing, visit CourtScribes.com or call 1-833-SCRIBES today to inquire about their services.

Top of the Line Services

Audio Recording

CourtScribes audio recording equipment is designed to record every voice clearly and precisely. Each sound channel is dedicated to another person. Without having interfering channels, each voice will be captured in its own time allowing for playback at any time. Regardless of outside noise, accents or low speaking voices, there should be zero issues with our court reporters’ abilities to capture every moment.

Videography

Audio Transcripts

Boulder County in Colorado Feeling Impact of Court Reporter Layoffs

Posted on: February 15th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

CourtScribes is reporting that after the 20th Judicial District laid off its court reporting staff due to budget constraints, attorneys in Boulder County, Colorado are trying to adjust to not having appointed employees creating a record during hearings and trials.

When the pandemic hit in March and led to budget chaos for the state, Boulder County court reporters knew there was a chance some of them could be impacted.

Unfortunately, that is what ended up happening as the 20th Judicial District laid off all of its court reporters.

Officials with the 20th Judicial District said they could not comment on the decision as it related to internal employee matters.

“I think Boulder made the decision that they thought was best for the district,” Kim Ritter said. “COVID has hit everybody really, really hard. It was scary for all of us, because we had been there for so long. When you get laid off it’s hard. And its scary because you don’t know what’s next.”

But understanding the decision did not make it any easier. Ritter has been a court reporter in Boulder County for 20 years full time and more than that if you count her time as a substitute court reporter to start her career.

The Effects are Everywhere

In addition to the hardships faced by the court reporters who got laid off, the decision has also affected the courts and attorneys.

“The impact of cutting court reports has been significant,” Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. “The court reporters are incredibly important, highly skilled people who do the difficult job of taking down every single word spoken in court.”

Without reporters, judges and attorneys were suddenly relying on a recording device to transcribe court proceedings. And it has been an adjustment.

Attorneys said the recording device has not been as effective in picking up sound from every part of the courtroom and sometimes does not catch what every witness is saying, especially with witnesses now wearing masks into court and some hearings taking place over spotty video feeds.

There have even been points when in a particular trial they went a half-day without realizing the recording device had malfunctioned.

The Importance of Having a Court Reporter

Recognizing the importance of having a court reporter for serious cases, some have looked into bringing in freelance reporters, and hired one for the Isaiah Rios trial, the one murder case that took place during the brief period when Boulder resumed trials in fall 2020.

In fact, the 20th Judicial District has now issued court orders helping regulate the use of freelance court reporters.

Freelancers can charge their own rates, which means using one is expensive. In the Rios case, the freelancer charged $600 a day, and the DA’s Office ended up paying $15,000 for the full trial.

Dougherty noted Boulder County currently has 40 serious cases that would warrant hiring a freelance court reporter set to go once court resumes.

As for the reporters themselves, Ritter said most court reporters were already doing freelance work.

“I took some weeks to kind of process everything, but I have been very blessed and have been able to work,” Ritter said. “As court reporters, most of us have two careers, one as official for the state of Colorado, the other as a freelancer doing depositions.”

Added Ritter, “You form friendships, and it’s a lot of very professional people that you highly respect and you enjoy working with.

“We’re very appreciative for the time that we had in Boulder, it was a great district to work in,” Ritter said. “Sadly, COVID has wreaked havoc on millions of peoples lives. Luckily for us, I think it worked out, and we’re in a good place.”

What is Stenography

Posted on: February 8th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

The “art” of stenography is about recording what is being said as quickly and as accurately as possible.

“Steno” uses a complicated machine (a stenotype) to record all this information, and people who are specially trained to use these machines are called stenographers.

It’s also used for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in places of learning to help follow what’s being said in a lecture, classroom, or video conference.

Why Would I Need a Stenographer

Many companies are now looking to stenographers (like those at CourtScribes) for live captioning services.

Live captioning is a way to level the playing field for everyone, while at the same time ensure your company is meeting its obligation when it comes to the law.

Canadian Stenography Student Becomes TikTok Star

Posted on: February 1st, 2021 by joshw No Comments

Stenography is getting a popularity boost thanks to a series of how-to videos posted by a female Edmonton, Alberta, Canada student. Isabelle Lumsden, who is taking a stenography course at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, featured her stenotype “steno” machine in a video that she posted on the social media app TikTok in September, 2020.

The people were hooked. Soon enough there were 3.3 million views on the video, close to half a million likes, and the 23-year-old was fielding a flood of questions.

“People were most fascinated by the keys and actually just how they work,” said Lumsden. “Lots of people were commenting, saying it was like witchcraft and very thrown off by it.”

Stenotype machines are used by court reporters who capture testimony verbatim during trials, hearings or depositions. The shorthand tapped into the stenotype looks like an alien language before being translated into proper sentences using a connected computer. Unlike the standard QWERTY keyboard, the stenotype machine has only 22 keys.

Shortage of court reporters

Stenography is often described as one of the original careers for women, dating back to the 1880s. But the profession seems to have lost its luster. The North American shortage of court reporters is why many feel this way. According to a 2019 article in the Wall Street Journal, the school dropout rate for court reporters is around 80 to 85 percent.

When her mom suggested she consider court reporting as a career, Lumsden was intrigued.

After the success of her first video, Lumsden dedicated her TikTok channel to stenography and court reporting. She’s gained about 80,000 followers and has been featured on BuzzFeed.

Because TikTok videos are only a minute long, Lumsden has released several that explain exactly how the machine works and how the keys form words.

With so many transcription tools available online, some people have asked if she is concerned about seeing her job taken over by artificial intelligence.

On average, court reporters can type between 180 to 225 words per minute.

Lumsden was told to practice a minimum of two hours a day. So far she can capture up to 80 words per minute but is working her way to 100.

With the shortage of stenographers in Canada and the United States, combined with the surprising popularity of her TikTok videos, Lumsden is confident about her future employment prospects.

Arkansas Tells Why You Should Consider Becoming a Court Reporter

Posted on: January 25th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

CourtScribes has explained many times in these blogs that court reporters have a silent, but largely significant role in our justice system. But as we have also explained, there is such a huge shortage of them across the nation. This is especially true in the Arkansas/Louisiana/Mississippi area.

From divorce courts to murder trials to hearings on the House and Senate floors, court reporters are always in the courtroom even though you may never know who they are or what they are doing.

Their accurate record of what’s going on is helpful for lawyers, jurors, other court personnel and is especially helpful for those at risk of being incriminated while facing a lawsuit or on trial.

Why the Shortage?

Why is there such a shortage of these professionals?

“They are unaware that you don’t have to use a college degree to become a court reporter. A lot of people don’t even understand what a court reporter does,” Director of Arkansas Court Reporting Academy, Heather Pierce said.

“This career is essential no matter what sickness is out there,” Pierce said. “I hope everyone checks into it. It’s a wonderful career for anybody needing something.”

In addition, there are more people retiring and not enough people to fill these vacant positions. That’s why this organization is hoping to spread some awareness about this profession.

ARCA is having more trouble finding interested individuals in the northeast and southern parts of Arkansas.

In years past, court reporters were trained to use a notepad and pen to transcribe words being said in the courtroom as it was happening in real-time. The key to a reporters’ speed was becoming skilled using a form of shorthand.

Nowadays, reporters are trained to use a steno mask which is a hand-held microphone that they use to put over their nose and mouth.

According to ARCA, reporters could start off making between $65,000 to $68,000 per year.

“That’s good especially to not have gone to college for 4 years. That’s almost unheard of anymore,” Pierce said.

To learn more information you can visit Arkansas Court Reporting Academy website. The course is offered to anyone across the nation.

Get to Know CourtScribes: The Best in Court Reporting

Posted on: January 18th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

The team at CourtScribes is a team of highly professional court reporters that are leading the industry in top of the line technology for a fraction of the price in South Florida. Having an experienced court reporter is quite essential to every court case. And this includes federal, state and local jurisdictions.

Digital recording is now the exclusive method for all Supreme Court cases. With professional legal videography, ease of access databases, and transcripts that are made with effective and precise support services, CourtScribes provides a service that paralegals and attorneys alike can rely on. Whether it’s a trial, deposition, arbitration, mediation, or a hearing, visit CourtScribes.com or call 1-833-SCRIBES today to inquire about their services.

The Best Services Offered

Audio Recording

Videography

Audio Transcripts

Despite Tech Court Reporters Say They’re Here to Stay

Posted on: January 11th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

In the age of smartphones, it’s a common occurrence. Instead of typing out a text, you use Siri or Alexa and dictate your message. Sometimes your digital assistant gets it right, but sometimes (many times), she gets it wrong. This can create issues that are frustrating.

This misunderstood voice-to-text message might not be a big deal for day-to-day affairs. But in court, these words matter, and even one mistake in messaging can make or break a case.

It’s this reason that court reporters strongly dispute the notion that voice-to-text technology or other artificial intelligence could replace them in a courtroom. Even in the age of a pandemic that forced court proceedings into the digital world, reporters insist that a human element is needed to create an accurate record.

That being said, digital recording is growing, and it’s more than likely here to stay. But, according to some, there’s a middle ground to be found: embracing technology to increase efficiency while also relying on humans for nuance.

COVID-19 Changes

Once the pandemic came, it forced the entire legal industry, reporters included, into a virtual environment. That transition created new responsibilities for reporters.

Reporters have always had “officiating duties,” such as administering oaths to witnesses in court and depositions. But the move to virtual proceedings has created more nuance in that role. Attorneys took to Zoom quickly because of the convenience the platform provides.

The Human Element

There are two main reporting methods: traditional stenographic reporting and digital reporting. These methods play the same role but with different tools. The traditional method translates proceedings from stenography into English for a transcript, while the latter translates digital audio directly into a transcript.

Digital recording is useful from an efficiency perspective, though lawyers need to hire a stenographic reporter if they want the level of efficiency provided by real-time reporting. But there is a “misunderstanding” in the industry as to the role digital technology can play in producing a transcript.

Also is the issue of differing dialects. A non-native English speaker testifying in a medical malpractice case might pronounce the word “skeletal” as skee-lee-tal, and voice-to-text technology would capture the word in that manner. A reporter, however, would know that the witness meant “skeletal” and would transcribe accordingly.

Can Court Reporting Be A Rewarding Career

Posted on: January 4th, 2021 by joshw No Comments

CourtScribes wants to know, “Are you considering court reporting as a career?” Did you know there are several perks to becoming a court reporter, making it a profession worth pursuing? If you are interested in becoming a court reporter, there are several rewards that you can look forward to.

Great Earning Potential

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that a court reporter’s average annual salary in 2019 was $60k+. The bureau also saw 9% growth for the profession faster than all occupations from 2019 to 2029.

A court reporter’s salary depends on their location, services offered, and their certifications. A court reporter who offers real-time translation services can earn more than one who does not. Many court reporters prefer to work part-time or freelance. However, others chose to work even harder and earn more than $200,000 per year.

Interesting Work

As a court reporter, there’s never a dull day at work. The profession exposes you to a wide range of subject matter. You’ll be working and learning a lot at the same time.

You also get to work in various courtrooms and locations. Some interesting experiences even include coming into a courtroom with celebrities. While listening to depositions and courtroom litigations, you get to listen to people from various professions. Some are even highly educated and much respected in their fields as they stand as witnesses or parties in a case.

A court reporter with decades of experience under their belt will likely tell you how they still take home something new every day. The amount of information they get to listen to and learn from daily is vast. You can look forward to the same if you decide to pursue court reporting, too.

In Conclusion

Is being a court reporter rewarding? Yes, it is. Court reporters have skills that are valued worldwide, especially in the legal world. You also get benefits in terms of income, longevity, reduced burnout rate, flexibility, a sense of purpose, and pride in mastery. There are indeed many rewards to being a court reporter.

2021 National Court Reporting & Captioning Week Announced for February

Posted on: December 28th, 2020 by joshw No Comments

CourtScribes is proud to announce that The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), which is the country’s leading organization representing stenographic court reporters, captioners, and legal videographers, has designated February 6th-13th as the 2021 National Court Reporting & Captioning Week.

The weeklong event themed ‘All you need is love and steno.’ brings court reporters, captioners, court reporting firms, schools, and others in the legal industry together in showing the many aspects that make court reporting and captioning a viable profession.

Aspects include a quicker entrance into the workforce since no four-year degree is required, well-paying salaries, job and hours flexibility, and an increasing demand for more reporters and captioners to meet the growing number of employment opportunities available in the field.

The 2021 event marks the ninth year NCRA has hosted the celebration.

“Court Reporting & Captioning Week is our time to shine the light on what we do, why we do it, and what makes us, human court reporters and captioners, so vital,” said NCRA President Christine Phipps, RPR.

“Whether we are preserving records of proceedings, gathering the stories of our war veterans, or ensuring that the spoken word is made available through captions to members of the deaf or hard of hearing community, the skills we employ as professionals are dynamic and unique and cannot ever be replaced by artificial intelligence or electronic recordings,” Phipps added.

Court reporting and captioning professions offer serious career choices and plenty of employment opportunities nationwide and abroad. Court reporters and captioners rely on the latest in technology to use stenographic machines to capture the spoken word and translate it into written text in real-time. This work can take place both in and out of the courtroom. These tasks include recording legal cases & depositions, providing live captioning of events, and assisting members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities with gaining access to information, entertainment, educational opportunities, and more.

The NCRA made available a robust catalog of resources ranging from press release templates to media messages to help spread the word about the benefits of a career in court reporting or captioning. Additional marketing materials are available on NCRA’s DiscoverSteno.org site. There is also information available at the site about NCRA’s A to Z® Intro to Steno Machine Shorthand, a free, six-week program that offers attendees the opportunity to learn to write the alphabet on a steno machine to discover if a career in court reporting or captioning is suited for them.

Texas Website Connects Legal Professionals with Court Reporters

Posted on: December 21st, 2020 by joshw No Comments

Recently, the Texas Court Reporters Association (TCRA) announced the launch of MyTexasCSR.com. It is a new website that is dedicated to connecting legal professionals with court reporters. CourtScribes thinks this is quite an interesting concept. This might be an idea that takes off all around the country.

The site was developed after much debate on solving an ongoing challenge in the legal community. According to an independent industry outlook report, the retirement rate of court reporters has now surpassed the rate of new Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) certifications. This has resulted in a national court reporter shortage with Texas owning the second-biggest shortage in the country. There are currently over 2,200 CSRs in Texas.

Mellony Ariail, the President of TCRA, said, “TCRA developed a multi-pronged and comprehensive plan to address the shortage of court reporters, including the creation of MyTexasCSR.com. Our mission was to develop a tool that ensured that 100% of Texas court reporter jobs were filled.”

MyTexasCSR.com is a first of its kind website that Ariail describes as an “Uber for Court Reporters.” Attorneys, judges and their administrators and assistants can use MyTexasCSR.com to notify Texas court reporters of their need for a CSR for court proceedings, hearings, depositions, conferences, meetings or other events that require verbatim reporting and transcribing.

Attorneys have expressed frustration with the difficulty in hiring a court reporter when needed and may feel the need to resort to using non-human alternatives. Some companies are promoting digital recording and voice recognition as a way to fill the gap but the National Court Reporters Association describes those methods as “a loss in accuracy, timeliness and value.”

All court reporters in Texas are invited to register for free on the website to receive immediate alerts for jobs that need to be filled. After an attorney registers on the site and posts a request for a reporter to cover a job, the poster will get an email notification each time a reporter replies to the request. The email notification includes a link to the applicant’s profile as well as their email address and phone number for direct communication.

MyTexasCSR.com was launched in September 2020 and has already connected dozens of Texas CSRs with attorneys, judges and court administrators in need of court reporters.

If you need court reporting services that handle digital recording then CourtScribes.com which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

Although the majority of cities that offer CourtScribes’ services are in Florida, the company home base, other cities all across these United States that CourtScribes offers services in, are the following: Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Port St. Lucie, Fort Lauderdale, Cape Coral, Coral Springs, Clearwater, Palm Bay, Fort Myers, Weston, Sarasota, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Hialeah, Stuart, Hollywood, Naples, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Jupiter, Key West, Coral Gables, Maryland, Manhattan, Buffalo, Washington DC, Baltimore, Bowie, Virginia, Frederick, Albany, New York, Brooklyn, Westchester, Gaithersberg, and Rockville.

24/7 Online Access to Your Private Online Repository Via CourtScribes

Posted on: December 14th, 2020 by joshw No Comments

CourtScribes is your go-to website and service for all of your court reporter, remote court access, and online database needs. One of the best features that they offer is 24/7 access to a private online repository that will hold all of your transcripts, exhibits, and videos regardless of where you might be located. By using either your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can access all files on-demand. If you need the help of some of the most skilled court reporters in the business, then contact CourtScribes today!

What Type of Services does a Court Reporting Agency Provide?

CourtScribes takes pride in providing the most high-value skills many court reporting agencies don’t even possess. Here are some services that CourtScribes provides:

Certified Transcripts – You will be provided transcripts that are certified by professional court reporters. These can be stored in our (your) private online repository.
Live & On-Demand Video Streaming – Many court reporting agencies haven’t embraced the high levels of value that videography offers. Professional videography has boosted the court reporting profession into the future.
Interpreters – CourtScribes has interpreters available for any of your language needs.
Video-to-Text Synchronization – Due to our ability to perform professional legal videography, we also offer a video-to-text option. This allows you to watch the video of the court proceeding while having a text page to follow along. These are equipped with timestamps and other information regarding the proceeding.
Daily/Expedited Delivery – We offer two different types of delivery. Both have quick results.

CourtScribes covers trials, arbitrations, depositions, mediations and hearings.

More Courts Reverting to Remote Criminal Trials as COVID-19 Surges

Posted on: December 7th, 2020 by joshw No Comments

CourtScribes has taken notice that the Minnesota Judicial Council has imposed a new 60-day pause on almost all in-person criminal jury trials, effective until February 1st, 2021. And they are not the only state.

There will be an exception process, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea said, but nearly all trials will revert to virtual proceedings. Unless doing so is “impossible or there is an emergency.”

The order will go into effect on November 30th, giving courthouse staff time to adjust. The Judicial Council approved it unanimously on November 19th.

Why are the Courts Taking This Step

This was precipitated by skyrocketing COVID-19 infections, which prompted Governor Tim Walz to reinstate tough restrictions on private gatherings, sports and entertainment venues and restaurant and bar services.

In a second vote, the Judicial Council also unanimously approved an order emphasizing remote courthouse counter services until February 1st, though in-person, over-the-counter services will remain available by appointment.

The new rules will create difficulties for the courts.

The decision coincided with the Minnesota Department of Health reporting a one-day total of 7,877 new COVID-19 infections and a one-day record 72 deaths. Unidentified court employees in Scott and LeSueur counties reportedly are among the 249,906 Minnesotans who have tested positive for COVID-19.

The order effectively re-imposes the court shutdown imposed in the opening weeks of the pandemic. Courts, however, gradually began holding more in-person jury trials. But they were allowed to do so only if they adhered to strict mask-wearing, social-distance and disinfecting guidelines.

In September, even the civil trial moratorium was lifted. Thursday’s order re-imposes it.

Thursday’s decision overrides recommendations from the council’s Other Side Work Group, which had suggested that courts begin ramping down out-of-custody, in-person hearings but continue to hold in-person jury trials involving speedy-trial requests, without exception requirements.

7th Judicial District Chief Judge Jay Carlson offered a motion to pass Gildea’s emergency order. Other than for trials already in progress, he said, no criminal jury trials will commence until February 1st, 2020, unless the Judicial District’s chief judge, in consultation with Chief Justice Gildea, grants an exception.

The order allows other kinds of in-person hearings to be held only if there is an emergency necessitating one, or if holding a remote hearing is not possible.

While demands for speedy trials might trigger an exception to the rule, that will be true only for demands made prior to Nov. 20—the date of the order’s issuance. To wait until the order’s Nov. 30 effective date, council members worried, might invite a crush of speedy-trial demands between now and the end of the month.

Judge John Hoffman offered an amendment related to grand juries. He suggested that prosecutors also be allowed to apply for exceptions so they can continue bringing major criminal charges.

The order puts no new limits on contested omnibus hearings or other proceedings that can be held remotely, council members said.

The New Normal: Tips for Remote Depositions

Posted on: November 30th, 2020 by joshw No Comments

For many of us, including us here at CourtScribes, connecting by Zoom, Teams, or WebEx is rather routine. Many use this for work-related meetings, online schooling, or remote social hours. These video-conferencing platforms have provided a way to maintain daily connections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even during the pandemic, litigation has continued amidst social distancing requirements and court closures, and with that comes the remote depositions. Many, if not all, depositions during COVID-19 are being handled remotely. While this does pose additional considerations as to procedure, remote depositions are not to be feared. Below are the three tips for witnesses, counsel, and other participants to assist in preparing for a remote deposition.

1. Plan, Prepare and Plan Some More

Take advantage of the short commute to your home office by using that extra time to prepare for the logistics of a remote deposition. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and a working microphone. The court reporter transcribing the deposition will thank you. Also, make sure family members and pets are out of the way to minimalize any distracting background noises.

Also, double-check the background that will be visible behind you. Many depositions are video-recorded as well as transcribed, and these videos ultimately may be played to a jury. Photos, clocks, and artwork behind the witness may detract from the testimony. Consider using a professional-looking virtual background if necessary.

2. Use an Experienced Court Reporter

While this might be your first remote deposition, make sure it is not the first for your court reporter. The court reporter (or videographer, like CourtScribes) should serve as the host and should be well-versed in the mechanics of serving as the appointed officer from a remote location.

Experienced court reporting services should come prepared with a stipulation to swear in the witness remotely. They should also be ready to handle exhibits electronically, which will save the witness from having to ship hard copies to the court reporter later. Sophisticated video-conferencing platforms allow a witness to take control over an exhibit on the screen and to scroll through pages or add markups as instructed by counsel.

Like any video conferencing call, you will receive a link prior to the deposition. Test it out a day or so before to make sure you have the necessary software installed and to confirm the platform is compatible with your computer, camera, and microphone. Similarly, make sure you have a game plan for exhibits, whether that be uploading them in advance or sharing them yourself during the deposition. Likewise, make sure you conduct a trial run of that technology.

3. Be a Good Witness (Or Prepare Your Client to Do the Same)

Have the host set up a private break room so the witness and counsel can confer during breaks. The witness should set up her screen so she can see the questioning attorney, the court reporter, and her counsel. Remotely, it is easy for the witness to fall into conversation mode and forget to include the witness’s counsel in the equation. If needed, counsel could hold up a finger when he or she intends to object to remind the witness to wait.

Witnesses also should be aware that the questioning attorney often will ask if the witness has any materials with them during the deposition. If so, these materials likely will have to be provided to the other side.

Overall, being more comfortable and familiar with the process than your opposition will be to your advantage and will allow you to focus on substance rather than the logistics. Remote depositions are likely to be around for a while. Embrace them!

Covid-19 Ushers in Changes for Court Reporting

Posted on: November 23rd, 2020 by joshw No Comments

Anyone who has been involved in a lawsuit knows the time and expense involved in taking depositions of witnesses. CourtScribes.com knows that typically you go to a lawyer’s office, the parties and witnesses in the case are asked, under oath, to tell what they know or have seen and their testimony is transcribed by a certified shorthand reporter. It is put in booklet form for later use in court.

Some depositions are videotaped, which adds considerable expenses to the process.

Why is This Important

Depositions are an important fact-finding element of litigation. But they can be a real hassle. Having to drive long distances, fighting traffic, and running up attorney fees even before the depositions begin is part of the problem. And then there are the certified shorthand reporter’s charges which typically run from $1,000 – $2,000 per deposition.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an easier way of attending a deposition? It would be even nicer if there was a way for a lawyer to file a lawsuit, and take deposition with the understanding that if the case were lost, nothing would be owed to the agency that provided the shorthand reporter, that person being paid by the agency itself.

Thank Covid-19

One of the benefits that have come out of Covid-driven lockdowns is a new way of taking a deposition where the parties, witnesses, and lawyers don’t have to go anywhere. Now a deposition can be taken right from your home. If it is not taken from the home, at the very least it can be taken at the attorney’s office. This is not only convenient, but it can guarantee that the proper actions are taken during a sketchy pandemic situation.

Who is CourtScribes and What Do They Do

Posted on: November 16th, 2020 by joshw No Comments

CourtScribes is a team of highly professional court reporters that are leading the industry in top of the line technology for a fraction of the price. An experienced court reporter is essential to every case. This includes federal, state and local jurisdictions.

Top of the Line Services

Videography

Audio Recording

Audio Transcripts

State College of Florida Offers Free Digital Court Reporter Program

Posted on: November 9th, 2020 by joshw No Comments

As we at CourtScribes have covered many times on this website, the legal industry is currently experiencing a severe shortage of court reporters given the overall increase in demand for services and the pandemic’s shift to digital platforms.

This shortage presents an opportunity for those seeking a rewarding career as a digital court reporter, with average starting wages of $25 per hour.

Here in Florida, The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) is partnering with State College of Florida (SCF) to provide a virtual information session about a tuition-free digital court reporter training program. The information session is part of WRC’s monthly Career Connections program to link women to quality jobs and funded training programs.

When is This Being Offered

The free informational webinar will be offered on November 18th from noon to 1 p.m. Participants can attend by phone or computer and will be able to ask questions. Guest speakers include representatives from SCF, the online training company Ed2Go.

Graduates of the self-paced class will be ready to pass the Certified Electronic Reporter exam and can work from home or in-person providing deposition and litigation support. The webinar participants will learn about the online class, how to apply for the fully funded scholarship through CareerSource Suncoast and hear directly from an employer regarding job opportunities in this high-demand profession.

These days, digital court reporters play an essential role in the legal system by capturing and maintaining a verbatim record of court proceedings via digital audio equipment. As litigation continues to rise nationwide, and the technology used to capture testimony evolves, there is a need for digital court reporters who can work in the freelance market for a court reporting agency or as a full-time government employee at a courthouse.

WRC also offers free individual career coaching. Those interested can register at www.mywrc.org/CourtReporter or call 941-256-9721 for more information.

Oregon Has a Stenography Meets Social Justice Issue

Posted on: November 2nd, 2020 by joshw No Comments

Many people have asked, and not just in Oregon, “Why in 2020, in this electronic age, do courts still have a roving stenographer?”

Ryan White, an official court reporter at the Portland Federal Courthouse, has an answer: Because transcripts produced without a live reporter can come out sounding like this representative sample from an actual Oregon court transcript: “I object (unintelligible), sir. I don’t think (unintelligible). I understand that the news — the news media (unintelligible).”

How Did This Happen

In the 1990s, Oregon state courts and magistrate hearings (but not federal courts), began using digital recordings instead of live reporters in order to save money.

What happens at a trial matters beyond the courtroom. Trial verdicts set precedents; they are appealed. Neither one of these is possible unless there is an accurate record of the trial. That record cannot have gaps, and it should not, experts say, be skewed by a transcriber’s accuracy in reproducing the spoken words.

“In my experience,” White says, “the people who are pushing the ’Record’ button … are often the judge’s staff or clerks. This is just another duty on a long list of duties. It may look like it’s recording, but then afterward nothing is there. Or they thought they saved it … but somehow files are often missing when you go to look them up.”

Bonita Shumway, another official court reporter at Portland’s Federal Courthouse, says “all it takes is someone shuffling papers or pouring water, and the incidental noise will completely block out whatever is being said—and that, of course, can be the sentencing itself.”

And then there’s the transcription, which has lots of potential pitfalls. It’s not clear how Oregon handles transcription of the recordings. But Shumway’s impression is that transcripts are auctioned to the lowest bidder and may be sent overseas. If the transcriber is underpaid and ill-trained, even a clear recording may result in an unclear transcript.

What are the Effects

This affects everything from petty crime cases to high profile ones. Everything, White said, except for crimes on Native American reservations, crimes that cross state lines or that affect interstate commerce, and crimes against the federal government.

One solution is to require live court reporters across the board, in all courts in Oregon. This is what neighbors California and Washington already do. And it seems to have really worked for them.

Another solution is to invest heavily in regulating the digital recording and transcription of circuit and magistrate court cases. Both options are possible, though, and both have the potential to succeed.

One way to avoid problems is by having a microphone allocated for each person speaking, by instructing clerks to monitor background noise, and by paying someone to monitor the recording feed in real-time so that any problem with the recording is discovered while it can still be remedied.

The Benefits of Remote Court Appearances

Posted on: October 26th, 2020 by joshw No Comments

As court systems and courtrooms deal with coronavirus, we have learned that a lot of social distancing measures that are being taken are actually more convenient than how things were done pre-covid. One of these situations are with court appearances. Remote court appearances have become a blessing for attorneys and judges to become even more efficient than ever before. Overcrowding in courtrooms are now a thing of the past. It’s as simple as having a scheduled video call from CourtScribes between the attorneys and any other participants. Then, the judge dials into the call and conducts the trial right then and there.

The Benefits for Attorneys to Conduct Court Business Remotely

A major issue for attorneys is the ability to schedule cases and conduct multiple trials in different places. To do this efficiently is actually quite a chore. Travel times can cause an extreme amount of difficulty. This is especially true in situations like rush hour traffic and during severe weather.

However, newfound social distancing requirements are not only allowing for safety from the coronavirus but allowing for even better flexibility with time. This remote business should have a positive effect, as it should drive down fees and prices. This will help save the attorneys’ AND client’s money.

Are Judges Benefiting from Remote Court Appearances?

With remote appearances, attorneys and their clients will save plenty in terms of litigation fees through said remote court appearances, but what about the judges? Judges mainly reside in one area for most of their work. That is sitting in the middle of the courtroom overseeing the trial. A remote case allows a judge to just dial into video session after video session.

There is no longer any outer noise that will distract any of the participants in the case. All videos, recordings, depositions and other information is backed up and saved to an online database for judges to find. Finally, CourtScribes takes care of all the support inquiries, transitions between cases and even create private rooms quickly for a judge to talk to an attorney.

If you need these types of remote court services from the best court reporting service, CourtScribes.com which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world, and we are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

Court Stenographer in NY Admits Stealing $187,000 By Adding Zeros to Invoices

Posted on: October 19th, 2020 by joshw No Comments

We here at CourtScribes.com pride ourselves on being a company that is honest, has integrity, and will do an accurate and professional job for all of our clients. Unfortunately, not everybody works this way. Here is an example from New York state where an Oswego County court stenographer this week admitted to stealing more than $187,000 over the years by adding zeros to invoices she used to bill her clients.

Laura Hayes, 47, pleaded guilty to felony second-degree grand larceny in Oswego County Court, New York state officials stated in a news release.

The New York State Inspector General’s Office said that Hayes, who owns and operates Quality Court Reporting, schemed over multiple years to overbill four workers’ compensation insurance carriers for her stenography services. The New York Inspector General opened an investigation after receiving multiple complaints about her billing practices.

Investigators found Hayes regularly charged 10x the appropriate value of her services by adding a zero to the end of an invoice, the IG said. Over the years, she took an additional $187,700.

Hayes’ overbilling may have negatively affected workers’ compensation premiums for those companies, the IG’s office said.

She is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Donald Todd in Oswego County Court.

If you need court reporting services from a company that would never overcharge or defraud a client then CourtScribes.com which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

Tik Tok Account Shows Court Reporting is Cool and Hard

Posted on: October 12th, 2020 by joshw No Comments

Social media can always expose new audiences to things they have never been privy to in their own lives. It’s part of what makes social media fun. Well, thanks to social media platform TikTok, it has shown that the “hardest job in the courtroom” is actually the stenographer, or, the court reporter. (As if readers of CourtScribes.com didn’t know this)

Meet, 22-year-old Isabelle Lumsden. She is a court reporting student in Canada. Recently, she shared some behind-the-scenes looks on TikTok about how she uses a stenotype machine to transcribe everything that’s being said.

Apparently to many, it is a common misconception is that stenographers use a regular keyboard like we all use at home and work. In reality, “stenos” use a specialized, chorded keyboard that types in shorthand.

According to Lumsden’s most viral TikTok, she hooks her stenotype up to her laptop, which translates all the shorthand she’s typing into actual words. To form words, you have to push specific keys at the same time. This is why stenographers can type an average of 225 words per minute.

“I think it’s really cool how you’ve made so many of us genuinely curious about stenography,” a TikTok user commented on one of Lumsden’s explainer videos.

It is pretty cool that court reporting can get some positive light on social media. Especially for a younger audience, as the career field certainly needs new faces.

If you need court reporting services from the best court reporting service, CourtScribes.com which supports all states and programs that aid in the court reporting world, and we are ready to serve you in your court reporting, videography services, interpreters, live-streaming, and video-to-text synchronization.

Will Remote Court Appearances Become the Norm

Posted on: October 5th, 2020 by joshw No Comments

As COVID-19 sticks around and we prepare for the ‘second wave’ this winter, we are discovering that a lot of the social distancing measures that are being taken are actually more convenient than their original counterparts when it comes to legal situations like litigation and more. One of these legal situations is court appearances.

In this ‘COVID World’, the use of remote court appearances has become a blessing for attorneys and judges. It has allowed them to become even more efficient than ever before. Overcrowding in courtrooms is a thing of the past. Attorneys are becoming much more flexible with their time and even more efficient at their job. It can be as simple as having a scheduled video call between the attorneys. Then, a judge could simply dial into the video and conduct the trial right then and there.

What are the Benefits of Conducting Legal Business Remotely

One of the top issues for attorneys is the ability to schedule cases and conduct multiple trials from different places. Travel times lead to incredible difficulties. This is especially true in situations like peak traffic times and during severe weather. However, these new social distancing rules are not only allowing for safety from COVID-19, but they are allowing for better flexibility with time! All costs of litigation should decrease and this should not only save the attorney’s costs but the clients’ money as well.

Can Judges Benefit from Remote Court Appearances

It seems quite apparent that attorneys and their clients will save plenty of money in litigation fees through ‘Remote Court Appearances’, but what about judges? As you know, Judges typically reside in one area to conduct most of their work. Well, now remote appearances can allow a judge to just dial into a video session.

There is no longer any outer noise that will distract any of the participants in the case. There is no worry about contracting COVID-19. There is no fear of violent outbursts. All videos, recordings, depositions, and other information will be backed up and saved into an online database for judges to retrieve. If this is something that you can benefit from, CourtScribes.com takes care of all the support inquiries, transitions between cases, and even create private rooms quickly for a judge to talk to an attorney. Contact CourtScribes now to see what they can do for you.

Illinois is Looking to Hire 400+ Court Reporters Over the Next Few Years

Posted on: September 28th, 2020 by joshw No Comments

Obviously, judges and attorneys are at the forefront in any courtroom. Court reporters are not usually in the same spotlight in the courtroom as a judge or attorney would be. But you would be surprised how truly important court reporters are. We have shown examples of this fact many times on this site.

Jill Layton, an official court reporter for the Cumberland County, Illinois Courthouse. said a court reporter’s job is one of the most important there is.

“It’s very important to have what people say in the courtroom. You want it, word for word what everybody said every utterance and you want to keep that forever,” said Layton.

As we have stated many times here on CourtScribes.com, there’s a shortage of court reporters. In fact, Jill Layton is the only court reporter at the Cumberland County Courthouse.

And that is why classes are now in session.

The First Steps class at the Edgar County Courthouse gave people a taste of the short-hand writing style used in courtrooms. The class was taught how to spell out words and phrases in a single-hand motion.

“When you see people on tv and they’re just touching that’s not court reporting, you’ve got your machine and you’re pounding away on that,” said Layton.

Layton said for those who are interested, there’s an entire world of opportunity waiting for you.

“You will not find a court reporter that does not say I absolutely love what I do and so we’re just bringing people into the fold,” said Layton.

As we have mentioned many times, this is a career desperately in need. From Florida to Illinois, court reporters are in full demand, so if you have a calling now is the time.

Why is CourtScribes Even More Important During the Pandemic

Posted on: September 21st, 2020 by joshw No Comments

Covid-19 has changed everything when it comes to the courtroom. Trials, jury selections, and yes, depositions are all being handled in a completely different manner now. Technology and the ability to record without being directly present is now also the norm. This is why you need CourtScribes. CourtScribes is a team of professionals dedicated to giving the highest quality service to judges, attorneys, and all other court participants through their excellent court reporters and high-quality technology.

With a wide array of digital-based technology, high-quality video, and a plethora of professional-level recording systems, we capture every moment of the case and store it in a cloud-based databank. Also, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the extra steps are taken to provide all remote court needs. From scheduling to recording to video hosting, CourtScribes is here for all of your court reporter and remote court needs.

So What Does CourtScribes Offer?

CourtScribes prides itself on state-of-the-art technology that allows for crystal-clear court recordings. When you’re trusting your case to CourtScribes you can expect the following:

Remote Court Appearances – We provide all attorneys and judges remote court appearances. Just link up to our hosted streaming application and your court proceeding is on its way!

Instant Playback – The most valuable feature of audio recording is instant playback. All statements can be replayed at any time from an online database. Gone are the days to worry about looking up transcripts and weeding through the errors.

Speaker Identification – Many court cases have a bunch of people speaking at the same time and that can be very difficult for a single stenographer to follow. CourtScribes’ audio recording technology uses multiple channels to separate all voice and record these statements for future review.

Unobtrusive Presence – Unlike a stenographer who may need to speak up if something was missed and interrupt the proceeding, the high-quality recording technology will keep these moments to a minimum if at all.

Equipment and Reporter Working Together – All electronic recording equipment is constantly monitored by a professional. If specific times of the recording need to be retrieved, statements are placed by time-stamp for easy retrieval.

Author Archive

Remote Depositions Rely on Working Equipment

Be Comfortable and Follow Standard Protocol for a Deposition

Our Top-of-the-Line Services Include:

Audio Recording

Audio Transcripts

Videography

Misconception #1: Can’t we just train more stenographers?

Misconception #2: The shortage won’t affect us.

Misconception #3: There are no alternatives to stenography to combat the shortage.

Why Would I Need a Stenographer

Bumps in the Road

The Upsides & Benefits

What is a Stenotype?

Services Offered by CourtScribes

What Did the Court Reporter Do?

What is the Case Against Hyundai About?

The Appeal From Hyundai

1 – Knowing the Web Conference Applications

2 – Don’t Interrupt Audio from Another Source

3 – Make Sure All Equipment is in Order

4 – Follow Normal Conducts for a Standard Deposition

5 – Work in a Comfortable Space

Reliability is Key

Don’t Leave it to Chance

What is a Digital Court Reporter

How Digital Court Reporting Future-Proofs Your Business

How Digital Court Reporting Improves Turnaround and Quality

What is Causing the Change

Start by Searching Court Reporter Companies

Check References & Reviews

Find a Stenographer That Charges Reasonable Rates

View Their Skills & Qualifications

Meet & Vet Potential Candidates

What Type of Services does a Court Reporting Agency Provide?

Top of the Line Services

Audio Recording

Videography

Audio Transcripts

The Effects are Everywhere

The Importance of Having a Court Reporter

Why Would I Need a Stenographer

Shortage of court reporters

Why the Shortage?

The Best Services Offered

Audio Recording

Videography

Audio Transcripts

COVID-19 Changes

The Human Element

Great Earning Potential

Interesting Work

In Conclusion

What Type of Services does a Court Reporting Agency Provide?

Why are the Courts Taking This Step

Why is This Important

Thank Covid-19

Top of the Line Services

Videography

Audio Recording

Audio Transcripts

When is This Being Offered

How Did This Happen

What are the Effects

The Benefits for Attorneys to Conduct Court Business Remotely

Are Judges Benefiting from Remote Court Appearances?

What are the Benefits of Conducting Legal Business Remotely

Can Judges Benefit from Remote Court Appearances

So What Does CourtScribes Offer?

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Contact

Proudly Providing Court Reporting In The Following Areas And Many More!