Just as you wouldn't hire a mediocre attorney to try your firm's cases, you shouldn't hire a mediocre court reporter to support your firm's depositions. Although attorneys, judges and juries are often thought of as determining the outcome of a case, in terms of deposition quality, a court reporter can play a significant role in determining whether or not your depositions adequately support your legal strategies. As you search the Internet or question experienced colleagues, you'll find plenty of advice on how to find a court reporter that meets your needs. But when the advice seems conflicting, there are some time-tested principles that have helped numerous law firms find a court reporter that meets. We list them below.
Consulting with a Reputable Court Reporting Agency
All reporting agencies present an image of reputability. But an agency's value ultimately lies in how well it screens its candidates. At some agencies, the screening process consists of verifying credentials, references and work history. But the best agencies also put reporters through a rigorous screening process that reveals their personal proclivities. For example, a reporter who has a short temper or no tolerance for boredom isn't a reporter that you would want recording a deposition where a deponent is surly, takes excessively long pauses or gives meandering answers that go nowhere. Although a reporter's objective skills are always the first matter of concern, hiring a reporter who has the right personality is crucial as well.
Thoroughly Interviewing Freelance Reporters
Law firms decide to hire a freelance reporter for a variety of reasons, but usually because the reporter is willing to under bid reporting agencies. Hiring a freelancer instead of an agency reporter doesn't mean that you'll receive less talent. But it does mean that you'll have to put the reporter through the same screening process that an agency would. Two mistakes that law firms frequently make when hiring freelancers are: not evaluating the reporter on a personal level and not asking for references in addition to the references listed on a reporter's resume. Contacting several of a reporter's unlisted clients and then balancing their reports against the reports of listed clients often tells the true story of a reporter's quality.
Implement a One-Strike Rule for Major Errors
After hiring a court reporter, your concern will be ensuring that the reporter continues to work at a high level. Due to the technical nature of court reporting, all court reporters occasionally make errors, most of which are corrected before a transcript reaches your desk. But it's the uncorrectable errors that you have to worry about, such as a reporter rudely interrupting a witness, losing his or her temper during a deposition or skipping a deposition. Such errors could easily compromise the strength of your case and should not be tolerated even once.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4199555
Consulting with a Reputable Court Reporting Agency
All reporting agencies present an image of reputability. But an agency's value ultimately lies in how well it screens its candidates. At some agencies, the screening process consists of verifying credentials, references and work history. But the best agencies also put reporters through a rigorous screening process that reveals their personal proclivities. For example, a reporter who has a short temper or no tolerance for boredom isn't a reporter that you would want recording a deposition where a deponent is surly, takes excessively long pauses or gives meandering answers that go nowhere. Although a reporter's objective skills are always the first matter of concern, hiring a reporter who has the right personality is crucial as well.
Thoroughly Interviewing Freelance Reporters
Law firms decide to hire a freelance reporter for a variety of reasons, but usually because the reporter is willing to under bid reporting agencies. Hiring a freelancer instead of an agency reporter doesn't mean that you'll receive less talent. But it does mean that you'll have to put the reporter through the same screening process that an agency would. Two mistakes that law firms frequently make when hiring freelancers are: not evaluating the reporter on a personal level and not asking for references in addition to the references listed on a reporter's resume. Contacting several of a reporter's unlisted clients and then balancing their reports against the reports of listed clients often tells the true story of a reporter's quality.
Implement a One-Strike Rule for Major Errors
After hiring a court reporter, your concern will be ensuring that the reporter continues to work at a high level. Due to the technical nature of court reporting, all court reporters occasionally make errors, most of which are corrected before a transcript reaches your desk. But it's the uncorrectable errors that you have to worry about, such as a reporter rudely interrupting a witness, losing his or her temper during a deposition or skipping a deposition. Such errors could easily compromise the strength of your case and should not be tolerated even once.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4199555
1 comment:
Thank you for sharing the valuable information, as hiring a expert and experienced court reporter is important.
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