Credit: ABA Law Practice Today
Once a upon a time, all court reporting firms offered was just that: court reporting. Attorneys turned to these professionals for reliable, fast, and accurate reporting, and that was it.
The video above illustrates just how wildly the industry has changed. What was once a series of dots and dashes similar to Morse Code has grown into a system of shorthand reliable, computer-aided transcription machines. Reporters often work alongside videographers to produce a video with a transcript, and they can even deliver their transcripts to clients in real time.
But as the years have gone by and technology has come to be more advanced, attorneys have come to expect these diverse litigation support services throughout their cases. No one wants to have to hop between business to business to find the support they need.
Competitive court reporting firms don’t want their clients to have to do that either. They understand not only how much of the client’s time that search wastes, but how that search could be bad for their own business. If a client finds a different court reporting firm that offers all the services they need, chances are that they will lose that client. As a result, many firms have gone on to add the litigation support services that attorneys require.
As the one-stop-shop for all things litigation support, many court reporting firms go above and beyond to take that title further and provide additional legal resources. These resources are often designed to save an attorney’s time by answering any questions they might have before they are asked. For professionals in the legal sphere, any saved time is precious.
In a city like Las Vegas, this rings especially true. In a location like that, the legal scene is a bustling one. Attorneys often work on a plethora of diverse cases that require every ounce of their attention. They don’t have time to scour the internet in search of firms that can deliver upon their legal needs.
One of the leading firms in the area, Envision Legal, has set up their website with that in mind. In just two clicks, clients can see exactly which services the full-service litigation support firm offers. From there, turning to the site’s subheadings answers any questions clients might have about the specific service—from an F.A.Q about court reporters, information about realtime reporting, trial presentation, and more.
Under the “resources” heading, attorneys can find a broader scope of help. Whether in need of tips on ensuring a quality deposition or Nevada legal resources, all of that can be found in this section. When a client clicks through the site, it is abundantly clear that it is designed with client needs in mind.
“It was important to make things easy to navigate, and easy to digest,” firm president, Monice Campbell, says. “Attorneys don’t want to spend time reading thousands of words about a service. They want to know what the firm offers is of the highest quality from the get-go.”
It’s common knowledge that many attorneys work far past the hours of an average workday. According to a 2018 Legal Trends report, 75% of lawyers often work outside regular business hours, with 39% of them reporting that it negatively effects their personal lives. This is especially the case for those who live in larger cities. Between billable hour requirements, the catch-up cycle, and other client services attorneys often work long and hard hours.
This is one of the many reasons why court reporting firms do what they can to provide attorneys fast, reliable services every time. Both attorneys and their staff don’t have time to ho and hum over decisions. They need a firm that boasts a reputation of timeliness, as well as full-service litigation support.
On MSNBC, Rachel Maddow addresses just how important attorneys are to the court room on a specific case. “The court reporter in that case has been asked to do absolutely heroic work.”
Quality court reporting firms are chalk-full of professionals who make that happen. Whether working on a small interpersonal case or a case with a major organization, court reporters should do all they can to get attorneys what they need, exactly when they need it. That dedication should ripple down to each and every staff member. Successful, full service litigation support firms should offer:
- Legal videographers who utilize the best technology in the business for the clearest, crispest audio and visuals possible
- Diverse trial support options to fulfill anything attorneys need
- Remote deposition services that connect teams over a secure server no matter where in the world they are
- Realtime reporting professionals who are the fastest and most accurate in the business
- And more.
Speed and accuracy have always been driving factors of court reporting firms, and they will forever continue to be. By providing attorneys with the legal resources they need to perform properly, court reporters make a world of difference in one’s case. Quality transcripts get attorneys the results they need. Firms should make every step of that journey easier. With simple booking and a plethora of information to review, court reporters make the lives and work of their clients far more simple.
