Court Reporting

If you are in need of a court reporter to meet your litigation needs, it is important to understand the field of stenography in order to choose the right one for your specific situation. Below is some basic information about stenography and tips on how to choose one that will provide the best service for you, according to an article published by Harlem World Magazine.

History of Stenography
In simple terms, stenography is a technique that uses shorthand in order to allow the typist to record quick-moving conversations as fast and accurately as possible. The use of shorthand is an age-old method of recording that differs significantly from, and is more organized than, what is used in SMS (think of lmao, btw, brb, etc.). Unlike SMS, shorthand is an extremely reputable way of reporting. The roots of shorthand can be traced back well into history, as far as 4th century BC, when the Ancient Greeks used shorthand to communicate through phonetic symbols on marble slabs, which was a resource available in limited quantities at the time. Not surprisingly, shorthand’s usage and structure has evolved significantly since the time of the Greeks.

Understanding Shorthand
In order to pick the right court reporter for your particular needs, it is best to understand the art of shorthand — at least the basics. A short and simple definition of shorthand is that the artform is a preset writing structure that significantly increases the typing speed of the person recording the conversation. While shorthand can be completely incomprehensible to the average person, the typist can quickly and easily decode the terms. Just as important, unlike abbreviations that are typically used and accepted across social media platforms, shorthand has a specific and strict set of rules dating back several decades. Moreover, in order to properly learn and use shorthand a person must take a deep study into the artform and also take several stringent skill tests to become a successful stenographer. Stenography can be a demanding industry, and the best are able to work in the field in courtrooms and high-end private enterprises.

We Can Provide Your Transcription Needs
If you need a court reporter, contact Elizabeth Gallo Court Reporting today. Our team has vast experience with in -person and remote proceedings. We will help support your litigation needs with excellent service. We can ensure high quality, accurate, and fast transcription services and can provide all the assistance you may need for success.

We can also assist with service of process, both locally and internationally. Please contact Ancillary Legal today to learn more.

Court Reporting Misconceptions

For those who work outside of the legal industry, it can be difficult to understand how important court reporters are to the legal field. And, not surprisingly, as more and more lawsuits are filed in American courts the value of a neutral record of all aspects of legal proceedings — inside and outside of the courtroom — also continues to grow. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”) the court reporting industry is expected to increase job openings for workers by 9% between 2019 and 2029. This growth is much faster than the average growth in other industries. The BLS has determined that this growth is affected, in part, by new federal laws requiring TV programming and real-time broadcasts to be closed captioned for the hearing impaired.

Despite the growing demand for court reporters, the trend is that fewer and fewer workers are entering the field. The reason for this, in part, is due to the misconceptions about the occupation. Below are some of these wrong assumptions.
● It is simply typing: Perhaps the most damaging myth is that court reporting is “just typing.” A stenograph, which most people have never seen, only has 22 unmarked keys. Court reporters often have to record high-profile cases with impeccable accuracy at an extremely fast pace. While the average person can type 40 words per minute with a 92% accuracy. The speed of the average court reporter is 225 words per minute.
● Anyone can do it: There is a common misconception that court reports can be easily replaced by digital recording devices or unskilled typists. In reality, court reporters can capture the meaning and nuances that even the most sophisticated artificial intelligence or algorithms miss. Court reporters have a flawless understanding of language as well as legal and/or technical terminology. Likewise, live court reporters do not malfunction like voice-capture technology can.
● The career is easy: While many institutions offer placement programs for newly minted court reporters, statistics show that a large percentage drop out within the first two years of their career. While the reasons for dropping out vary, the most common are due to the overwhelming pressure of speed and accuracy required by the job.
● Not much training: Aspiring court reporters must learn to use equipment like stenotypes and complete a court reporting program that awards an associate’s degree or certification. Reporters also undergo on-the-go training. Depending on the state, certification or licensure is required and likely involves passing an exam and skills test.
For more data on court reporting in the legal industry, visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

To schedule a court reporter. Contact us here.

Need a process server? We can cover that too. 

The Coronavirus pandemic that has hit the globe is causing all of us to adjust how we live, work, and play. Lawyers are no exception to this. In order to continue to live up to the calling that requires attorneys — particularly litigators — to be custodians of our society’s ideals, there are a few things that should be done during this world-wide pandemic.

You Must Resolve Your Cases

Attorneys are called on to resolve disputes, which can be difficult during normal times. The best thing for a litigator to do is to put on his or her “closer” hat. More than ever, clients are losing income. It does not matter if you represent a plaintiff or a defendant — the downturn in the
economy affects everyone, and it is not known when the economy will bounce back from this pandemic. Clients are also in shock and disoriented. Defendants may be wanting to solely focus on business operations and not deal with lawsuits. Plaintiffs may want their lawsuit resolved sooner rather than later because of their current circumstances. Attorneys must be aware of these issues, while still balancing zealous advocacy and not selling the client short. Getting opposing counsel to come to the table is critical during this difficult time. Likewise, court dockets — which are backed up and trials delayed — will appreciate the civility employed by litigators to resolve cases.

You Must be Efficient

While the Coronavirus pandemic has taught us all to be more aware of personal hygiene, it has also forced businesses to become more efficient. The legal field, in many ways, is also a business. Law firms across the nation have transitioned to remote work for attorneys and staff alike. Attorneys — just like remote workers across the nation — are having to juggle work, family time, and schooling children. Legal work requires writing, editing, re-writing, analyzing, and researching, among other skills. While silence is key to these tasks, it is likely not available in prolonged periods right now. Using your time effectively is more critical than ever. Whether this means early mornings while the house is quiet or late evenings when everyone is in bed, squeezing in work and keeping clients up-to-date needs to happen.

Keep Using Discovery

The courts need not be involved in the discovery phase of a lawsuit — unless there is a need for motion practice or hearings due to disputes that cannot be resolved without court intervention.   Use of requests for admissions (RFAs), requests for production (RFPs), interrogatories (Rogs), and depositions are ideal ways to move your case forward during this time. While depositions may be difficult due to social distancing requirements, these can be done via video conference — although, admittedly, they are not the same as in-person depositions. That being said, litigators must be patient with opposing counsel because this time requires this type of civility.

The Case Must Go On

While it is true that the global pandemic has placed us all in an unprecedented position, attorneys must continue to practice zealously for their clients while employing additional patience for those on the other side of the case. In doing so, we can maintain our obligation to our industry while still properly representing our clients.