This blog is about making depositions easier for court reporters. For several parties involved, from attorneys to judges and others, the certified court reporter provides numerous benefits. Depositions simply wouldn’t be as valuable or meaningful as they are without a great transcript and record-keeping from the court reporter, making their services essential.
At Phoenix Deposition Services, we’re also here to tell you about the other side of this coin: How clients, attorneys and others involved in the deposition process can take small little steps to assure the real time court reporter’s job is done correctly. We’re here for your convenience, of course, but this street goes both ways and the right approach here will ensure perfect record-keeping and transcripts from your deposition. Here are some important areas to go over with your attorney ahead of time.
Introductory Information
If at all possible, time should be taken ahead of the deposition to give the court reporter a basic list of names, terminology or other important words that might be used. This allows them to add this to their dictionary and note it before any possible errors take place. In turn, this will lead to a more error-free transcript and will also improve turnaround time if you require documents quickly after a deposition.
Regular Breaks
In a given deposition can benefit from breaks every now and then, particularly if the deposition is a long one, and the court reporter is no exception. This gives them a chance to rest and stretch, plus benefits you with a brief break from what can be stressful proceedings. Once again, this kind of approach will lead to a more accurate transcript.
Clear Expectations
Every deposition is different and has different goals, and for this reason, it’s vital for you and your attorney to communicate any special expectations before proceedings get underway. This includes things like making a request for a real time reporter in advance – these require special certifications. Other similar requests might include expedited services, immediate rough transcripts or video reporting services, all of which are easily handled so long as there’s adequate warning and preparation time.
Speaking Habits
Finally, while your attorney likely has experience with the deposition process, you should be made aware of a few speaking habits if you’ve never been in one before. Try not to talk too quickly or mumble, and never cover your mouth or obscure your voice in any way. Reporters are trained never to ask you to slow down, so doing this will ensure they can stay accurate.
In addition, while we know depositions are a place where arguments can take place, the interests of all involved should be on preserving a good record. For this reason, try to avoid interrupting or talking over others wherever possible, even in heated moments, to allow for better transcription of what is said.
For more on how you can help make things a little easier for your court reporter, or to learn about any of our certified court reporting services, speak to the pros at Phoenix Deposition Services today.
