3 Things New Attorneys Need To Know About Hiring A Court Reporter
Hiring a court reporter is incredibly important in many situations. If you are a newly practicing attorney you might be wondering what you should do to get the most out of court reporting services. Here are some things you need to know about hiring a court reporter.
1. Hire Them Early, As Soon As The Depositions Are Scheduled
One of the main reasons that people hire a court reporter is for depositions. It can take a long time to get all of the depositions scheduled since you have to work around many individuals' schedules, this includes the court reporter. Don't assume that the court reporter will be wide open. It is best to schedule them before you even start calling witnesses and those who are going to be deposed. The reasoning for this is that if you fail to get a court reporter you cannot continue with the depositions, so you will have to reschedule the whole thing anyways. Thus, schedule the court reporter first, and then move from there.
2. Your Court Reporter Might Have Facilities To Use Or Will Charge For Travel
Many court-reporting firms have conference rooms that they allow you to use if you need space to do the depositions. In some cases this is cheaper because you don't have to pay for the travel of the reporter. In addition, it may be easier to do the depositions at a neutral setting if there is a lot of contention between the two sides.
If you don't use the facilities of the court reporter you should expect to not only pay for their time, but for any travel. Your law firm can either cover this, or you can bill it to the clients. In some cases, both sides split the cost of the court reporter.
3. Ask About How Long It Will Take To Get The Records
Lastly you should ask the court reporter, before they start, to estimate how long it will take to get the transcripts from the depositions. Some firms will have a quick turn around, while others may take a long time to get it to you. You will save money if you wait, but in many cases you will need the transcripts immediately. You should ask about the standard turnout time before you hire any court reporter.
By understanding these things before you hire a court reporter you can be sure that you are getting the best reporter for your needs. Talk to a company like Farrell Court Reporting to learn more.
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