president of GMR Transcriptionthat provides accurate transcription services to court reporters, researchers, companies, etc.
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A statement is an important part of the litigation process and transcribing it is useful in cases where it is necessary to refer back to the proceedings. A high-quality transcript of the statement enables you to accurately record and present essential information, adequately preparing you for further legal proceedings and bringing both parties closer to a fair trial.
If your transcript does not accurately represent the content of the original audio or video recording, it could lead to misunderstandings and legal disputes over the accuracy of the transcript and its use as evidence. Additionally, if the transcript contains errors or omissions that result in harm to an individual or organization, they may be able to take legal action for damages.
During the remote or video deposition, it becomes even more important to get everything right, as you can’t stop the deposition every time something isn’t clear. In addition, the only reference your court reporter has is the video of the statement. It is therefore important that your statement is accurately transcribed.
Here are some tips to help you meticulously execute your deposition transcription plan.
Table of Contents
1. Speak clearly and pronounce correctly
By speaking clearly, you can record an accurate statement of good quality. It also helps speed up the process because the court reporter doesn’t have to pause or rewind the recording multiple times to understand what you’re saying. A helpful tip is to speak slowly, pronounce each word correctly, and spell out complicated jargon or names of people or locations out loud. You must spell each syllable of the word clearly so that the court reporter or transcriber has no problem understanding what you are saying.
2. Outline your questions and be clear
Having a scripted plan for the questions you will ask can lead you to focus on your next question while the witness is still answering. This means you miss opportunities to follow up on important points or gain clarity if the witness’s answer is a bit complicated. By making a sketch, you can adjust your question if the witness deviates or opens the door to a question you may have asked later.
Asking questions as clearly as possible is also essential for generating clear testimonials that are easy to quote and write, which can increase the effectiveness of your persuasion. This includes avoiding using double negatives or too many filler words, such as “um” or “like.” This also saves time and effort for the transcriber as they do not need to include such words in their transcription.
3. Be an active listener
Statements tend to be long and technical, so it’s vital to always pay attention to what the witness is saying. Being a good listener works to your advantage—and yields better transcription—because it allows you to understand responses and follow up appropriately if the deponent isn’t clear enough. It also helps you keep the demand line focused. A witness’s story should be easy to understand, and if you don’t listen, you could confuse important details. If the whole process goes smoothly, the transcriber will find it easy to reproduce the recording.
4. Observe and record the witness’s mannerisms
An effective impeachment trial attorney will hold his head up long enough to observe a person’s behavior and mannerisms. Noting body language and facial expressions can help determine what a person actually meant when testifying. This allows you to ask follow-up questions that you might not have thought of. While making these observations is internal work that won’t be reproduced in the final transcript, it helps you verbally introduce more context.
5. Always identify cordon participants by their correct names
At the beginning of the proceedings, list the names of everyone involved, including yourself, the deponent and the other lawyer, and state the case name. In the case of a recorded telephone or video transcription, you must always identify yourself before speaking. Also refer to each exhibit by its identifying characteristics, including name, date, and unique ID or number. Accurate identities are essential to avoid confusion during the transcription process.
Optimizing your transcripts is essential
The process of generating the best legal transcript often begins with the audio/video deposition itself. You must be thorough in recording witness statements and asking the right questions so that you can get an accurate interpretation of the recorded evidence. These tips will help you prepare for a successful transcription.
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