Professional Perfection in Court Reporting

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Professional Court ReportingSeeking Professional Perfection in Court Reporting

All businesses should seek perfection every day in even the smallest of tasks. From sending an email to presenting at a board meeting, perfection should be the ultimate goal. We at Kaplan, Leaman & Wolfe know that true perfection is impossible, but if you still strive for it, the drive and passion will show in your work to customers, clients, and co-workers. Were perfection possible it would start with these four key concepts; open and honest communication, treat everyone as equals, cross every “t” and dot every “i,” and constantly evolve.

Open and Honest Communication
In any professional or personal relationship, open and honest communication is a must. It will keep the relationship healthy and long lasting. When providing litigation support, a clear line of communication is key. If there is an area of conflict with a new client it is best discussed openly. Avoiding conflict or taking action behind a client’s back without their approval will only cause problems in the long run. People always appreciate honesty and will be more likely to listen to your suggestions.

Treat Everyone as Equals
The whole is only worth the sum of its parts. In order to be a court reporter you interact on a day-to-day basis with a variety of people. For a business to run at maximum potential, every part must run at its maximum potential which means working together in order to complete the task and seeing each other as equally valuable team members. Encourage everyone and make him or her feel that his or her efforts benefit everyone. Ensure that those around you know how valuable they are as clients or to the company, and as a friend.

Cross every “t” and dot every “i”
In order to be successful as a court reporting company, every detail needs to exceed expectations. Keep a keen eye on your progress with individual projects or customers to ensure that their deposition runs smoothly. While the big picture is most important, it’s the little things, the extra miles you go for the customer that they will remember. Not only fulfilling promises by their deadline, but also making sure that they’re always early is a great way to impress clients.

Constantly Evolve
Never settle for second best, second rate, or a second guess. Never allow yourself to think that there is only one way to accomplish a goal. The world of business is a constantly shifting and changing landscape where the unexpected often occurs. Don’t be afraid to step ahead of the competition and stand out. Listening to the pulse of your company will help you know what works. New players and new strategies may seem risky but allowing your business to stagnate guarantees eventual failure.

We at Kaplan, Leaman & Wolfe take all these lessons and apply them everyday for a successful work environment and quality client relationships. With over 35 years of experience we are professionals with a wealth of experience. Our service illustrates our constant strife for professional perfection and shows in the quality of our proficiency and dependability.

4 Questions You Should Ask When Choosing A Court Reporting Service

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Choosing a court reporting serviceBased on our experience, we at Kaplan, Leaman & Wolfe Court Reporters have compiled a list of 4 questions you should ask when choosing the best court reporting service. Today’s law firms can never be too cautious when choosing a service to meet all critical court reporting needs and requirements. Considering the technology available and the economic climate, the answers should help you determine if you’re receiving services at an affordable price.

  • How long has the service been in business? Having years of experience and an established reputation speaks well of a firm. A personal example are Kaplan, Leaman & Wolfe’s litigation support services which have been offered for 27 years. What is the firm’s reputation in terms of dependability, proficiency and professionalism? Check out local search engines for reviews, and ask peers for their recommendations.
  • Are the reporters recent graduates? Experienced court reporting services means a better understanding of your needs and the knowledge to accomplish the task at hand. How many years of experience does each reporter have? Are they certified?
  • Does the firm have technical specialists on staff to handle medical depositions or any other expert testimony? You should not have to spend your valuable time explaining or correcting technical information. In a deposition, the aim is to have smooth transitions from testimony to text and back again. Does the court reporting firm offer specialists in your required field to ensure that your transcript is absolutely accurate? Having a good staff and the latest technology will help ensure against errors. Are there extra fees involved for this service?
  • Is the firm really “full service”? While maintaining affordable prices, every court reporting firm should offer you 24-hour emergency service, rush service, affiliates across the U.S. and full service capabilities.

Once you have your answers you will be able to accurately evaluate the firm compared to the market.

7 Ways to Keep a Client in an Economic Crisis

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7 ways to keep your clients in an economic crisisAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of March unemployment in Philadelphia is at 9%. The speedy recovery everyone hoped for has yet to materialize, and budgets are still tight. There are no industries unaffected by the economic downturn and Philadelphia court reporters are scrambling to adjust and survive along with everyone else. As court reporters, we at Kaplan Leaman & Wolfe, are committed to continuing to provide affordable litigation support services that also improve the practice of law for years to come.

 7 Ways To Save Clients

Here is Kaplan Leaman & Wolfe’s top 7 list of ways to save your clients time and money while providing excellent service and staying in business:

 

  • Provide searchable, printable transcripts online at no additional charge thereby offering clients 24/7 convenience and easy access to transcripts online

 

  • Make costs transparent including all hidden fees

 

  • Offer free xeroxing, postage and delivery, ASCII disks, condensed transcripts, and more

 

  • Base court reporting rates on a declining scale; for example, the more counsel purchasing the transcript, the less expensive the page rate

 

  • Accept as many payment options as possible – Pay Pal as well as major credit cards

 

  • Invest in the latest technology – the more litigation support services you can provide online the more money clients will save on travel, printing and other expenses

 

  • Send gift cards to scheduling secretaries and paralegals as a thank you for their hard work, dedication and loyalty

Court Reporters Are A Rare Breed!

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The Court Reporter CareerThe career of a court reporter is very rewarding and challenging. In most instances, work-life balance is good and compensation is high. Why? Well, a court reporter is responsible for recording testimony with the utmost accuracy in a legal proceeding. The court reporting brain must process this testimony in real-time, and in many situations the vocabulary being used is highly specialized. This information is then simultaneously translated into court reporting language, which will be translated back at a later point.

Attributes of the Best Court Reporters

At the Court Reporting and Litigation Support firm of Kaplan Leaman & Wolfe, we have identified that the best court reporters possess the following attributes:

  • Excellent listening skills
  • High levels of concentration
  • The ability to multi-task
  • A passion about perfection
  • An inquisitive mind
  • Perfect communication skills

 

What Do The Experts Say About Court Reporters?

In a recent federal court matter, a neuropsychologist gave expert testimony as to the complexity of the human brain. In his testimony, he used the Court Reporter’s brain as an example. Here is what he testified to:

Neuropsychologist: “May I give an example of this?”

Counsel: “Sure.”

Neuropsychologist: “Okay. If you look — and the example is this: Our brains are a miracle. Okay? They’re a miracle that needs to be protected. And if you look at the court reporter right now, as an example, okay, this is a miracle in progress happening right before your eyes.

Let me just explain what she needs to do. I am speaking, so the information has to come in through her ear into her temporal lobe, and it has to go log itself into the language center. She has to be able to comprehend what I’m saying.

Then it has to get rerouted to the prefrontal cortex where it has to hold — she has to be able to hold the information, because, you know, I continuously talk so she has to hold it. Right? Then she has to analyze it, integrate it and synthesize it. Then it has to go back to the cerebellum and she has to be able to execute this, and she has to be able to then convert my words into those little squiggly marks. Have you ever seen court reporters have little squiggly language things?

So she has to convert it into a different language, and the white matter tracks allow her to reroute all of this information simultaneously without effort. Okay.

We take our brains for granted. She’s sitting here. I’m probably talking too fast for her, but she’s able to do this simultaneously. Seamlessly. Okay?

No animal on the planet can do this. All right? That’s why I believe court reporters will never be replaced. Because no technical — no technology could replace the beauty of that brain and the miracle of that brain.

And that’s why your brain should always be protected and you should take care of it. It takes a special brain to be a court reporter.”

Conclusion

As you spend time with family this Holiday weekend, you may encounter family members who are considering different career paths. Hopefully this blog article will provide you with some great insights on the career of a court reporter!

Kaplan Leaman & Wolfe is a court reporting and litigation support firm with its headquarters in Philadelphia, PA. We serve law firms, courts, and insurance companies in every state across the United States with their court reporting and litigation support needs.

How to Judge a Court Reporting Service

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Court reporting servicesWhen hiring or purchasing a service, quality is key. Having a keen eye and knowing as much as you can about what goes into their service will give you greater insight into the quality you are receiving. At Kaplan Leaman & Wolfe we take this to heart. Here are the standards we use to judge the skill of a court reporter.

Experience

Nothing prepares a court reporter for the field like experience. Experience is what separates naive rookies from battle-tested veterans. No recent graduate could understand a client’s needs as well as veterans and true masters of the trade. Earning the right to that title requires years of experience. We have provided top quality service for over 35 years, and have developed special expertise in medical malpractice, patent trademark, personal injury, worker’s compensation, environmental, product liability, commercial law, antitrust and complex MDL cases.

Range

If you were hiring a handyman to redo your roof, would you want one guy with a hammer or an entire crew prepared with the tools necessary for getting the job done? The court reporting service you choose should also be prepared with the tools to get the job done. Research what services they provide to see if they can really meet your needs.

To handle medical malpractice and scientific fields, be sure the firm has a technical specialist to ensure an accurate transcript. Finding a firm that will provide either a hard copy or electronic copy of your transcript, as well as the necessary video services allow you to know if they are technologically up to date, and will provide you with the latest and most convenient services. Check to see if there are limits to where they are willing to provide their services. A good list would include depositions, trials, hearings, arbitrations, conventions, meetings, round-table discussions, technical symposia, or any proceeding where a verbatim record must be kept.

You may be wondering if all these services will overwhelm you, and that’s why the greatest service of all is customer service. Make sure they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer your questions and help you get the service you deserve.

Leadership

We consider it a priority for a court reporting service to have a face, a name and a history tied to it. Our managing owner is Gregg B. Wolfe, and he represents the firm as a leader. He has held a distinguished career with the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and has been a court reporter for the Honorable Louis H. Pollack and J. Curtis Joyner, among others, for over 30 years.

Gregg B. Wolfe has reported numerous high profile cases, along with Multidistrict Litigation matters including, but not limited to, Fine Paper, Japanese Electronics and Pedicle Screw. He has the experience in all phases of litigation support services that has guided his court reporters to be the premiere court reporters that they have become.

Availability and Accessibility

Some services only offer certain hours for calls that can waste your valuable time while you wait to have your questions answered and your needs met. A service that provides professional, proficient and dependable staff on call 24 hours a day is best. You should also consider how fast and accurate you receive your requested transcript. If it is the same day or real time option that you’d prefer, not all court reporting services offer this so check to make sure. Something else to consider is where your deposition is going to take place. We, at Kaplan Leaman & Wolfe, can arrange for your deposition anywhere in the world.

When it comes down to judging the skill of a court reporter you must consider four things. How much experience does the reporting service and its reporters have? What range of skills do they possess? What types of cases do they cover? How available and accessible are the reporters to their clients?