How Long Does it Take To Get a Transcript After a Legal Deposition?
After taking the testimony of a witness in a legal deposition, a question we are often asked is, “How long will it take to get my transcript?” I thought I would take the opportunity to answer this question here in case you are wondering the same thing.
When an attorney takes a deposition, the average time it takes a court reporter to finish a transcript and deliver it to you can be 7 to 10 days. Most court reporting firms have a set amount of time they aim to finish and deliver transcripts. Some out-of-state firms may take longer than the attorney is accustomed to. Some reporters are also known for their fast turnaround time.
How to Ensure You Get Your Transcript on Time
- Before leaving the deposition, request that a transcript be prepared. If this is not possible at the deposition, then as soon as you know you will need a transcript, call the court reporter to make the request. Once the request is made, then the reporter can plan his or her work schedule accordingly.
- If there is a specific date or if you need a deposition sooner than the normal turn-around period, be sure to notify your court reporter as soon as possible so that he or she can make adjustments to the schedule if necessary to allow enough time to finish your transcript by the due date.
- Follow up with the court reporter if you have any questions regarding the expected delivery date of your transcript.
- If you do not see your transcript within two weeks, you should contact your court reporter to inquire.
How Is a Transcript Prepared?
Understanding the transcription process may help you understand the issues involved in creating a timely transcript. When proceedings are over and a transcript is ordered, the court reporter returns to the office, accesses the digital file and reads through the entire proceedings to ensure accuracy. Any areas that did not translate correctly need to be edited. The reporter will compare steno shorthand notes to the translation to ensure accuracy.
Once finished editing, a court reporter then carefully reads through the transcript again to proofread for spelling or typographical errors.
Some reporters proofread the transcript a second time if the testimony involves a technically complex subject matter. Many reporters prefer to use a professional proofreader, so that they have a pair of fresh eyes reading over the material.
Now that the transcript is finalized, it can be printed, bound and mailed or delivered to the parties.
Because there are several steps involved in preparing an official transcript, a court reporter has several things to consider when a rush transcript is ordered. A reporter will often have other transcripts to finish before she or he can work on finalizing yours. Special arrangements need to be made to juggle transcript deadlines. That is why having advanced notice of a rush transcript order allows a reporter to make special arrangements to clear out his or her previous workload so your transcript can be finalized more quickly.
What If I Need My Transcript Sooner?
Court reporters understand there are circumstances under which you may need a transcript faster than the normal turn-around time. If we know you have a need for your transcript by a certain date, every effort will be made to meet your request. We are dedicated to getting you the transcript when you need it so that you can do your job efficiently.
If you would like to schedule your next deposition with Brown and Jones Reporting, click here to use our online Scheduling page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Susan Kay is a Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Brown & Jones Reporting, Inc. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Google+.
