You?ve been handed a case and need to hire a court reporter. Where do you go and what do you ask? While search engines may provide a start for your search, we encourage you to call and ask these questions. Just like with any important hiring decision, you want to make sure you?re onboarding the right candidate for the job.
What is your experience?
While court reporters are an average age of about 53 years old, that doesn?t mean they all have the experience you need for your case. In fact, they may be new or second career reporters so it?s important to ask about the type of cases they?ve worked. Rather than spinning your wheels trying to find a reporter, contact an agency like Herder and Associates who can match you with the right reporter, follow a process, and deliver a final transcript by deadline.
Are you certified and trained?
This is an especially important question for a couple of reasons. Arizona is a transient state meaning many people aren?t from here and they tend to move here and then to another state. Not all states require court reporters to be certified so it is important to ask. In Arizona and surrounding states, certification is a requirement. The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) offers certification and continuing education (CEU) so that reporters are up to date on technology and best practices.
How much advance notification do you need to schedule a deposition?
At Herder and Associates, we strive to provide the most qualified court reporters to all of our clients. While we?re always working to meet your timeframes, the more advanced notice you can give us, the better it is for us to be able to schedule the right court reporter for your case or project.
What is the cost and timeframe for transcript turnaround?
When you call to schedule your deposition, we will provide the cost and timeframe. If you need an expedited transcript, please let us know at that time. Prices may vary depending on how soon you need the final transcript. The more information you can relay to our team, the better we can provide the product and service you desire.
Before you hire a court reporter, ask these questions to be sure you?re getting the reporter that can work best with your legal team. Have more questions or need to schedule a court reporter? Contact us today.
You mentioned that it is important to ask what the turnaround time on the documents is. In doing this, you can know what to expect, and when you can continue your work. I think that it would be really interesting to shadow someone who does court reporting for a day, and see how the whole process works.