proofreading services for court reporters

proofreading services for court reporters

The Importance of Professional Proofreading for Court Reporters

1. The Role of Proofreading in Ensuring Accuracy

We often think of a proofreader’s role as looking for any errors, small or large, to make the legal transcript as polished as possible. However, changes to the transcript’s content can also arise while a court reporter is doing her proofreading. Proofreading often leads to discoveries of missing text, misstrokes, and inconsistencies. Certain transcription errors have the potential to alter a reporter’s original intended meaning, and it is only with the necessary time given to proofreading in the first place that court reporters realize these errors and can make the appropriate corrections. Remember that even one tiny word can greatly affect the message of a sentence.

Accuracy is crucial in court reporting. As court reporters, we are responsible for transcribing every spoken word that takes place during legal proceedings, and we must guarantee that the legal transcript we produce is verbatim, meaning it contains no errors. Reliable technology and professional court reporting training in using that equipment help produce an excellent record, but it is up to each court reporter to edit and proofread her transcript carefully to ensure its accuracy. A great court reporter will make the right choices in setting up her writing equipment, using her dictionary and translation table effectively, and punctuating correctly, but nothing can replace a hardworking and capable court reporter who takes the necessary time to proofread her work, checking not only for spelling and grammatical errors, but also for missing text, misstrokes, and inconsistencies. After all, we are each our own first proofreader and editor.

2. Common Errors in Court Transcripts

Despite a court reporter’s proficient capacity to write realtime and computer-aided translations, transcribers read shorthand notes, spell names and record physical markings or gesticulations correctly. Punctuation is essential, permitting the reader to fully grasp the testimony better. No matter how meticulously you write, a document that may be read certain ways needs to be punctuated for the reader. The discussion or spoken command in a record may require clarification elective word snatches commonly require special types of punctuation or changes. Software aids the current writer and enhances us in producing a substantial amount of written explanation. However, each transcript should be outrode in a final process to be better for the final client, the individual who creates its documents.

The obvious need for court reporting professionals to proofread might sound counterintuitive given the procedure of certified shorthand reporting. However, totally accurate translations of the spoken word are the result of a responsible translation review by the CSR. Translators into English as well as transcribers of the spoken word deal with a number of complex issues not faced by other professionals in other professions. Speakers in court don’t always speak clearly or in recognized terms, are interrupted, speak inaudibly or with an accent. In addition, our language is a changing one and the standards of grammar and punctuation are a matter of preference rather than governing rules. All these can be complicated when speaking small words written as one-word noun/verb combinations (backhand; setoff). These differences can create passages that seem incorrect in final transcript form. Be aware that the reporter may be using personal dictionaries when writing. There will inevitably be instances in which the reporter’s translation does not wholly equate with the original language. Nonetheless, the final transcript is the reporter’s statement that she had offered the best achievable translation.

3. Benefits of Hiring a Professional Proofreading Service

Professional proofreaders are willing and able to complete touché files. Proofreading services completely abide by NCRA rules and guidelines regarding touché files. Court reporters are not encouraged. There is a reason judges and attorneys trust a proofed touché file. Many different eyes proofing a document always result in a more polished final transcribed record. The touché file basically reflects the size of the professionals who work on the transcript. Folks never go to the lengths and vision of the court reporter to classify the nature of the transcription. Professional proofreading services are beneficial for any issues concerning electronic filing. The importance of proofreading is tenfold as a rule because the files are part of the official court record. Assign the touché specialist to do the touché EFM. Hire the proofreader to perform the final touché EFM proof. Simply put, many court reporting professionals can spot the touches, but they’re just too close to it, tired, and time-pressed to do that. And ATF-proofing an EFM is not required by law in Illinois.

Proofreading service professionals understand and are up-to-date with the official US English court reporting dictionary. They follow the appropriate dictionary in proofing your verbatim record. Court reporters are not provided with a comprehensive, up-to-date legal dictionary to refer to during the proofreading process. They are not invested in purchasing the official professional reference library. Professional proofreading service is “neutrally based” and does not rely on the Federal Reporter and Illinois Reports in proofing your transcript. When proofreading a transcript for another reporter, they must use a professional resource library. Court reporters want their proofreading completed by a proofreading service and not another court reporter for this very reason.

4. How Professional Proofreaders Improve Court Report Quality

A professional proofreader does one thing and one thing only. They concern themselves only with the precision of the final certified transcript product. They do all of the proofreading work so the reporter/court does not have to. That means to the court and obtaining attorneys that the final product is of the highest quality because the court reporter has not personally scrutinized the transcript after its production. The proofreader approaches the final transcript with a fresh set of eyes but most importantly with professional document proofreading expertise, a prerequisite for the better quality of the final transcript product.

There is another aspect of producing these court documents that requires prompt attention. That is professional proofreading. The court reporter is extremely busy with the nuts and bolts production of setting up, taking down, and overseeing the components required to produce that final transcript for the court. The court process demands constant updating and oversight, preparation, and services such as Real Legal and others require attention to detail.

The skill it takes to be a court reporter is great, and the job can be overwhelming because being an excellent court reporter is difficult. As good as court reporters are, they are still human and they still make mistakes in both steno and writing. The court reporter undoubtedly knows these things, and they take precautions to cover this aspect of their product. They do this by editing their work before they turn in the final product to the court. This has been the process of court reporting, basically from the beginning.

5. Conclusion: Enhancing the Credibility of Court Transcripts

As a whole, proofreading is valued again. It should be evidence that it improves the overall credibility of the transcript. Incorporating a review of rough brackets and French characters are foundational proofreading methods. After all, the tasks of table bands and cataloging simple formatting are inconsequential if the trial transcript does not add value to the parties affected by the proceeding. Professional proofreading of trial transcripts is therefore essential for this limited purpose. If the final product is neglect, both the party and the judicial system as a whole can be affected. Proofreading helps to verify accuracy, fairness, completeness, understanding, and utility. Proofreading should consist of the necessary elements to emphasize the importance and to comprehend the integral nature of proofreading for an agreement in all matters. By using the acronym we discussed in the article, we will be reminded.

Court reporter educational programs are conducted in a classroom environment, and graduates from these programs undergo testing to demonstrate that they are capable of accurately capturing spoken words in real time and creating a transcript for legal proceedings. This extensive training emphasis on full-time employment in the legal field can provide excellent experience, so court reporters can learn even more when they work with a knowledgeable proofreader and have the opportunity to correct institutional errors. Undoubtedly, an educated trial reporter with many years of experience has more background related to the profession than someone not in the profession. Cases that require an on-time transcript from a proofreader who has formal proofreading training and experience may not permit a court reporter a meaningful opportunity to review a significant portion of the transcript. Jurors and judges expect accuracy from the reporter of the trial, and random inaccuracies in the grand jury transcript are added during the proofreading process. When court reporters deal with a judge and lawyer who value accuracy, transcripts may be reviewed in depth, and they may not fully comprehend the extent of proofreading. Even if a court reporter emphasizes quality every day, proofreading must form a link in the quality chain. Courts must convince law firms and attorneys that the determined cost value is reasonable. Whether the verdict is appellant-friendly or awards for appellant depend not only on the quality of the transcript, but also on the final argument or sanctions. Recalculation of the updated report may increase the cost of the error. Therefore, money will be valuable if professionals help properly weight objections or arguments if pricing values to avoid unnecessary release of confidential information.

While it is theoretically possible for court reporters to proofread their own transcripts, professional proofreading by a proofreader who has subject matter expertise in the context of the legal field can generally produce a more accurate transcript. Court reporters and proofreaders have different educational backgrounds and professional backgrounds, and this combination of different backgrounds can infuse a level of reliability in the trial transcript.