5 Things You Didn’t Know About Court Reporters

In the digital age of communication, we receive information in real-time across platforms like email, social media, and live streaming. While you may not realize it, court reporters are needed in legal, business, and everyday settings like community meetings.

Our experienced reporters are trained to record what is being said and provide an accurate transcript and related exhibits to our clients. While most of our clients are part of legal teams, our skills aren’t limited to one industry. The term court reporter encompasses so much more than legal proceedings!

Here are 5 things you didn’t know about court reporters:

Freelance Life

While there are reporters who work full-time in the courts, there are many who work as freelance court reporters. That means they can work as much or as little as they want based on their own preference. Some choose to work one big case for many hours and days so they can take time off while others work a steady book of cases. The choice is theirs and many find it a better option to their former lives in corporate America.

Closed Captioning

When I work out at the gym I plug in my headphones, tune in to the television, and exercise, sometimes while reading the captions. Do you know who is typing them? A court reporter!

Closed captioning is performed by specialized live captioning reporters who are certified based on speed and accuracy. It’s not a skill all reporters have making them sought after to provide accessibility services to the hearing impaired and others, like me at the gym!

Webinars in Remote Locations

Did you know a court reporter can be in Pittsburgh transcribing a meeting just about anywhere in the world? As long as the WiFi is strong, we can be part of your meeting and provide a transcript. More than 90% of our clients opt for electronic transcripts. For those than require a hard copy, we provide it on 30% post-consumer recycled paper.

Transcription Takes Time

While we strive for high quality and fast turnaround, transcription takes time. We’re working from a raw document that required proofreading and editing. Then we provide a copy to our client for review and feedback. We revise based on their recommendations and then deliver the final copy. The processing time varies depending on the complexity of the job. It’s our goal to not overload our reporters so they can work as efficiently as possible.

Any Meeting

Court reporting skills extend well beyond the legal field or business setting and can be applied to anything from Homeowners’ Association and Board of Education meetings to town hall meetings or church services.

Whether you need a court reporter for an upcoming deposition, board meeting, or webinar, Constance Lee & Company is here with an experienced team! Contact us today.