Who uses court reporting firms?
Court reporting firms are set up to provide a reliable staff to clients either locally, nationally, or internationally. They act as an agency, representing their staff to clients and providing a high-quality level of support to legal professionals. Law firms, international agencies, and even the President use court reporting firms to provide them with the high level of service they have come to expect.
Court reporters, also known as stenographers, are responsible for recording court proceedings. In the past, a traditional stenograph machine was used to input information using shorthand. Each key pressed represents a specific word. This process could often be quite slow; although reporters were trained in speeds of up to 200 words per minute, reports needed to be typed up at the end of proceedings and then delivered to clients and those involved in the case.
Nowadays, stenograph machines or software that link directly to a PC are used, allowing those in the courtroom and remote viewers to see the input information in real time as it is being typed by the Court Reporter. A court reporting firm can usually provide individuals qualified to use a traditional stenography machine if your company does not utilize real-time technology yet. Court reporting firms also employ videographers that can provide video footage of judicial proceedings; these can sometimes be synced with the court reporter’s findings.
Many court reporting firms hire their staff on a freelance or contracted basis. Most firms expect staff to have a qualification in the field or, at a minimum, to have knowledge of shorthand and a fast, accurate typing speed as well as excellent listening and English language skills. Fluency in a foreign language is a bonus, although most courts will provide translation services for those whose primary language is not English.
Firms can provide staff for the following services:
- Depositions
- Working with hearing impaired adults or children, for example: classroom assistance or closed captioning
- Mediations
- Arbitration
- Trials
- Company meetings
- Video conferences
As you can see, the opportunities to undertake a range of work abound. Most law firms and clients prefer to use an agency or court reporting firm to hire staff; this way they can ensure that they receive the best service from the most highly qualified and skilled staff that have been thoroughly background checked.
Acuscribe is a court reporting firm based in Austin, Texas. They are one of the largest and most reliable court reporting firms in the area, aiming to provide a high quality and efficient support service to legal professionals in Texas and the surrounding states.
