Mailbag Question From A Court Reporter... Which Agency To Work For?

mailbag1.jpgFrom my mailbox this weeks comes a question from a newly licensed CSR inquiring about which court reporting firms are reputable...

This e-mail is for Todd Olivas. My name is ##### #####. I was a student at South Coast College, and I was also in class one of the days he came and spoke to the school. I passed the CSR in 2006, and I have been working in the L.A. area. I am writing today because I have some questions regarding finding the right agency and some other questions regarding agencies.

-New CSR in LA

Dear New CSR in LA:
Thank you for writing to me. First off, a huge CONGRATULATIONS for completing the monstrous task of becoming a CSR. :) Way to go! telephone. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this!

Second, you have so much going for you:
  • You have a CSR license!
  • Court Reporters are in huge demand!
  • You live in one of the busiest litigation hubs in the United States! (Los Angeles)
  • You're smart enough to ask people's advice about what to do next. (If only everyone did that)
If I were in your shoes, here are the agencies that I would get in contact with: Questions To Ask When Working With A Court Reporting Agency:
  • What kind of work/clients do they have?
  • As a new reporter, do they provide lots of TLC in the beginning?
  • What are their rates? Not only page rates but late cancellation fees, appearances, waiting time, mileage, per diems, after hours...
  • When are the pay dates and cut off times?
  • Do they have integrity within the industry? (Ask for court reporter references)

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Author
Todd Olivas

Todd Olivas is a court reporter and entrepreneur.
He founded TO&A in 2003.

  Comment by Leslie Brocoff | Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Dear Mr. Olivas ~

I, too, am a graduate of South Coast College of court reporting. I was licensed in 1986, worked for 12 years, and then took a rather long hiatus to stay home and raise my children. After nine years, I have re-entered the work force. I have recently completed a two-month stint of going back to school to build up my speed. The skill is still there, yeah! I have made a hefty investment in all brand new equipment (Elan Mira paperless writer, and CaseCatalyst, as well as a new Dell laptop). I have been back to work for the past three weeks, and I’m happy to say that it feels as though I never left the profession.

I am, however, having trouble getting study work. Any advice would be helpful. I am at a place in my life where now I can work any time, any day, any where, and I can’t get the work! Is this the sign of the times, or just the time of year?

Frustrated ~

Leslie Brocoff


Leave a Comment


Your Name (Required)


Your Email (Required but will not be posted)


Please enter the following letters into the box:
(This is to help fight against spam. The letters are NOT case sensitive.)