Court Reporting Agency Perspective: Choosing a Court Reporter
Choosing a court reporter can be complicated, but knowing what to look for in a first-rate court reporter can make the selection process easier. There are a few essential skills that a quality court reporter should have. There are also a few intangible skills to look for in a high-quality court reporter, however, and knowing how to look for those skills can help in the search to find the best in the business.
The Basic Skills
A court reporter will have a set of fundamental skills that include:
- Minimum speed of 200 words per minute
- State certification
- Information organization and processing skills
- Computer skills
- Research skills
- Proofreading and editing skills
You wouldn't want to put a newbie court reporter on a difficult, multi-party construction defect case with tons of experts; right? Along with the essential skills, there are a number of specific skills that a court reporter will exhibit expertise in, depending on the nature of the case. There are different proficiency standards for different types of legal proceedings, so be sure to examine the full set of credentials before making any hiring assessment.
Choosing the Best from the Rest
Hiring the best court reporter can be quite a bit different from hiring a good quality court reporter. Anyone needing real-time translating services, whether in a legal capacity or not, realizes the significance of hiring the best in the field to provide the ultimate service. For this reason, there are a few components to look for in order to hire the very best.
The best court reporters will consistently present the following attributes:
- Reliability
- Professionalism
- Poise
- Precision
- Respectfulness
Court reporters that constantly demonstrate those attributes can be counted on as among the best in their field. If a court reporter is tardy, is dressed inappropriately, and presents an anxious demeanour, it's hard to have assurance in the work. The best court reporters know that time is significant and that a good impression can go a long way as to promoting their skills in the marketplace.
Reputation Matters
One final way to make certain that the best court reporter is hired for the job is to check his or her reputation. Ask to discuss earlier deposition work, talk to references, and don't be afraid to ask other agencies for opinions. This will help afford groundwork to the skills and attributes, providing confidence in the potential court reporter and sealing the deal for a working relationship based on quality service and professionalism.