Legal Technology Your Court Reporter Can Provide
Law firms today know they need to stay up-to-speed on legal technology to stay relevant. For most lawyers, survival will depend upon the ability to harness technology to deliver greater value to clients. If you’ve had your nose to the grindstone building your client base and career, then you may not have taken time to try out all of the new gadgets and software programs out there.
As court reporters, we also want to harness technology to offer great value to you, our clients.
Here are some simple technologies many court reporters offer that can make your litigation life easier:
Electronic Transcripts
An electronic transcript is a transcript format that includes a hyperlinked word index enabling you to scan the word index and click to the selected place in the transcript. An electronic transcript is easily delivered by email or FTP download. An electronic transcript imports seamlessly into almost all word processing and case management programs.
Transcript Repositories
A repository is a secure, web-based, password-protected online access of stored depositions and exhibits in electronic form which can be easily copied and shared. A repository is a virtual warehouse where digitized case records are maintained behind a password so that only those who are authorized can access.
Condensed Transcripts
A condensed transcript is a miniaturized copy of the original transcript printed placing four pages of transcript on a single side. Specialized software programs create condensed transcripts. These condensed transcripts take less volume and are convenient if storage space is limited, and are easy to carry when traveling.
Linked Indexes
With linked indexes, each index word is hyperlinked to the corresponding occurrence within the transcript. Clicking on the index word’s page/line entry immediately takes the reader to that page within the transcript. These hyperlinked page/line entries make the transcript easier to use and eliminates time-consuming flipping through pages trying to find blocks of testimony.
Linked Exhibits
With linked exhibit files, each reference to an exhibit is hyperlinked to the exhibit document and opens with a click. Each exhibit is also back-linked to each page the exhibit is referenced upon. This means not only is the transcript hyperlinked to the exhibit files, but also the exhibit files are hyperlinked back to all the transcript references. This makes it easy to move between transcript pages and exhibits.
Realtime Reporting
Realtime stenography is a computer-aided transcription system capable of translating a digital shorthand record and producing an unedited written document even as the record is being made. This unedited text can be viewed immediately and later corrected by the stenographer. The speed and quality of this type of system, known as realtime stenography, is very similar to the closed-captioned text of a live television program.
Video Deposition
A video deposition is a video recording of a deposition or sworn statement that is useful to view demeanor and body language of a witness while testifying. This is useful for playback in court. Another popular application is to give the video to expert witnesses to review, rather than just a paper transcript.
Streaming Video
Streaming video in court reporting terms means transcription by court reporters to deliver computer text of speech over the Internet within seconds of the words being spoken. Users can see the text and video from any computer with Internet access as the witness answers questions. Streaming video can be viewed from any computer, whether in the same room as the proceedings or viewed remotely from another location.
Technology can save you time and money, but first it’s necessary to be aware of what’s available. If you’re not taking advantage of some of these technologies outlined above, take a second look. Make it a point to try out the ones you’re not familiar with. It’s only by trying and testing that today’s law firm can find the best technologies that fit, provide greater efficiency and stay current in today’s fast-paced technology environment.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Susan Kay is a Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Brown & Jones Reporting, Inc. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Google+.
