What You Should Know About Court Reporting
Court Reporters
Court reporters, also known as stenographers, are responsible for keeping written records of legal proceedings, whether in government, private settings or court. During a proceeding, the stenographer will capture everything that is said verbatim in order to protect the rights of each individual and to document all that is spoken. If you are in need of a professional and accurate stenographer, consider hiring a court reporter.
Credentials We Look For
Stenographers must complete appropriate postsecondary education. Typically, this is completed within 2 years and leads to an associate’s degree and/or certification. Our stenographers have completed the necessary schooling to make them well versed in areas of law, medicine, and using court reporting equipment. All of our stenographers are certified through the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) or the National Verbatim Reporters Association. These certifications include vigorous exams and having to type with a 95% accuracy. Typing speed is also measured and the average acceptable speed is 225 wpm.
Types of Court Reporting
There are several different services that we can provide for your particular need:
- Stenographic: This type of service is accomplished by using a stenotype machine, a specialized typewriter or chorded keyboard that allows for shorthand use. Using this machine can increase word speed to 300 wpm and helps to capture what people are saying quickly and accurately.
- Real-time court reporting: This service allows for the court reporters notes to be translated to English text in real-time. This makes it possible for notes to be instantly translated or displayed on a computer monitor or large projection screens. The best attribute to this service is that provides the attorneys and judges with instant access to the court notes.
Benefits of Hiring a Court Reporter
There are several benefits of hiring a court reporter, some of which include:
- Real-time translation of testimony: stenographic reporters are able to record verbatim what is being said in real-time. In this service, the stenotype machine is connected to a laptop that is designed with specialized computer-aided transcription (CAT) software. This allows the shorthand from the stenotype machine to be transcribed into full sentences almost instantaneously.
- Reading testimonies back during deposition: It is not uncommon for a portion of the testimony needing to be read back during the proceeding. San Francisco court reporters are trained to accurately and quickly look over the notes and locate the requested segment and read it back.
- Accuracy and professionalism: Stenographers maintain professionalism and have a high percentage of accuracy. You will want a stenographer that you can trust, who will be unbiased, and have the necessary skills.
Whether you are wanting to achieve written documentation of a court proceeding, governmental work, or in a private setting, stenographers will perform outstanding services.