During a litigation process, court reporters are crucial. Their primary role is to jot down witness testimonies during trial and depositions. Due to the technicality of the job – legal knowledge, attention, and professionalism are integral. Therefore, it would be ideal to be working with the right personnel, such as Naples Court Reporters.
The court system depends wholly on accuracy. The decisions made rely on the evidence tabled. Thus, a court reporter works to observe accuracy in the entire process. Wouldn’t it be great, then, if you chose a highly-trained court reporter? Because if you pick an untrained reporter, then you might witness the following mistakes:
1. Lack of Technological Know-How
A competent court reporter needs to be tech-savvy. He or she should have the latest software in the industry, and be highly trained in using them. This helps to prepare beforehand for any technological troubles.
He or she should come with a personal computer (fully charged). In addition, an alternative would be in order, in case the personal computer fails. This helps to avoid any distractions, and only focus on the job at hand. Naples court reporters come ready with all the equipment needed for the trial or deposition.
2. Failure to Control Emotions
As humans, we all have emotions – good and bad. Therefore, it is perfectly normal to experience different feelings, depending on the matter present. However, the problem normally arises in how we control our emotions. It wouldn’t be right to allow your emotions to take control of you. Self-awareness and emotional regulation are important in this line of work.
Persons in a litigation process are bound to experience difficult emotions. This cuts across everyone from the court staff to the legal counsel. Mostly, emotions spruce up from the witness statements. Some of these events appear tragic, upsetting, and disturbing. Nonetheless, in the court setting, professionals shouldn’t let these statements get to their heads.
Part of the commitment to the job involves not being overwhelmed by emotions, as a court reporter. This is the case, even though some statements may be moving. You may feel sad, disgusted, or even sympathetic from within, but need not show it.
A seasoned court reporter shouldn’t be biased and should remain focused and calm at all times. To ensure proper and accurate recording of all elements of the trial, professional decorum is fundamental. Showing emotions is a clear sign that a court reporter can’t strike a balance between personal feelings and their duties.
3. Failing to Review Industry Technology
Arguably, court reporting is a technical and complex profession. Therefore, a competent court reporter should understand the different terminologies used in distinct contexts. Advanced knowledge of industry technology and terminologies is crucial. This improves the accuracy of the information they record during trials.
Using the right phrases, abbreviations, and words is a skill that comes after understanding related terminologies. Many attorneys look for this level of accuracy when hiring a court reporting service like Naples Court Reporters.
A seasoned court reporter will not find it difficult to record fine details, even on technical industry terms. Therefore, he or she needs to have typical acronyms that’ll help improve the accuracy of the recording process.
4. Eating During Trial
Court processes go for long periods without breaks. Thus, it can be tempting to carry food and eat during the proceedings. There’s only one problem with a court reporter doing this – it’s highly unprofessional.
An experienced court reporter should easily gauge how long the testimony might last, and eat well beforehand. This is part of the planning process for a court reporter. It isn’t just about getting working tools ready, but also getting the body ready.
While the witnesses are tabling evidence, they should be given undivided attention. Unfortunately, snacking doesn’t go well with concentration – as many psychologists would argue. This might even affect the respective counsel’s image, and the court officials are perhaps not going to appreciate that.
Lastly, a court reporter needs to use his or her hands frequently while recording statements. Imagine a scenario of a court reporter with messy hands after snacking – that will most definitely hurt performance.
5. Failing to Show Up On Time
The saying that time is money isn’t false. A court reporter failing to show up on time will cost the client money. For instance, when you go to court, you’ll probably have different professionals on your team. They work on different terms, and some do so hourly. You may have a costly expert paid by the hour in your team. Any delays mean that the expenses shoot up.
In court, everyone values their time. This includes court officials and opposing counsel. People may not like it when they’re kept waiting and waste their time. Therefore, punctuality is vital for all court reporters, and the best Naples court reporters know this very well.
Final Thoughts
As you can see above, it is costlier to hire the wrong people than to hire the right ones. Thus, consider only competent teams to avoid any lapses in cost and efficiency.