Court Reporting is More High Tech than Ever!

Gone are the days when all a court reporter needed to take to an assignment was a steno machine and a pad of paper.  Today if you see a reporter en route to an assignment, you will see the reporter with a large case on wheels along with other ancillary luggage, briefcases and/or back packs.  Technology has its advantages, but it also has increased the load reporters must carry to be able to supply attorneys with the most accurate transcripts possible, sometimes on an instantaneous basis.  Demand for faster delivery has grown, especially on high profile and time-sensitive cases, and so it is the reporter’s job to not only keep his/her skills in top form but also to keep abreast of the latest innovations in this progressive profession.

Computers entered the picture in the early 1980s, and it changed the court reporting field forever.  The technology keeps evolving, and the learning curve continues to climb.  The mantra heard in all other industries rings true with reporters as well:  Embrace technology or be left behind.

Reporters who provide realtime services to attorneys are at the top of their game, and they have the credentials and experience to prove it.  They have an impressive ability to write long hours almost error-free on a wide variety of topics while under incredible pressure.  As if that weren’t enough, they must be knowledgeable about their software and versed in counsel’s equipment so that successful realtime connections can be made.  Attorneys have different types of devices – laptops, iPads, and tablets -- and there are different ways to provide connections:  serially, USB, or wirelessly.  In this digital age, the amount of information reporters need to absorb is enormous and constantly evolving, so much so that the National Association of Court Reporters has developed a program called TechCon to specifically connect reporters and other professionals in the legal field to discuss current technologies and evaluate growing trends in the marketplace. 

The next time you need a certified court reporter, call us!  Our reporters continue to invest in their skills, education, and equipment to provide the verbatim transcripts you rely on to try your case, and staying abreast of the latest technology is their priority.  Our reporters attend national and regional conferences to keep up with all the latest advancements.  The Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting, or STAR, on which Linda Fifield from this office is a board member, liaisons with software developers who are directly responsible for the programs court reporters use nationwide to edit and produce their transcripts. 

Time and time again research has shown that a certified court reporter bests all other methods of capturing the spoken word.  We are so proud to be a part of this elite group that plays such a vital role in deposition and courtroom settings.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM DORIS O. WONG ASSOCIATES, INC.

All of us at Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., would like to extend our very best wishes to all for 2013!   2012 was a notable year for us, as we marked our 45^th anniversary.  This gave us a chance to reflect on all that has changed in the court reporting field and how much our clients have contributed to our success.  For almost a half a century we have made it our mission to provide the very best in court reporting services, and we appreciate the trust you continually place in us to deliver the transcripts and products you need when you need them.

As we enter 2013, we look forward to the inevitable changes in technology that will affect our industry.  As always, we will continue to keep abreast of the latest products and inform you of their benefits to you in your practice.  And we will also continue to educate ourselves and sharpen our skills so we will be prepared for whatever challenging testimony will come our way.

We are pleased to be working with you, our valued clients, and we look forward to partnering with you again not only in 2013 but for many years to come.

We are sincerely grateful for your business.

Christmas in the City

The holidays are just around the corner and we hear about the hardships many families are facing.  In lieu of giving gifts of appreciation to clients, we decided our gift to them would be to donate to a special, local charity in need.

A few years back we were introduced to Christmas in the City.  It’s a wonderful non-profit organization run by Kennedy Brothers Physical Therapy here in Boston.   Their idea was to collect gifts for homeless children whose mothers have been abused and have sought shelter.  This organization provides a bit of cheer to those families by hosting a huge winter wonderland gathering full of fun games, great food, and, of course, Santa. 

For the second straight year, Doris O. Wong Associates,Inc., has requested names of children that we can sponsor.  The mother writes down three wishes for her child and we purchase a gift.  Gift wrapped with festive ribbons and bows, Santa presents to each child their special something during this party.  What a wonderful way to provide a bright spot in the eyes of a child.

What started out as a party for 165 children and mothers at the State House has now grown into a party for over 3,000 children and parents.  It’s simply amazing that this is run 100% by volunteers.

For more information about this wonderful organization, visit http://christmasinthecity.org/.

Happy Holidays from the reporters and staff at Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc.

HONORING OUR VETERANS - NCRF'S VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT

In 2013 the National Court Reporters Foundation (NCRF) will celebrate its 10^th anniversary in partnership with the Library of Congress on the Veterans History Project.  Reporters from around the country have volunteered to preserve the verbal histories of veterans by transcribing their memories of the conflicts in which they served.  So far over 2,600 veterans’ histories have been preserved and submitted to the Library of Congress where they will remain in perpetuity for the education and benefit of future generations.  The Foundation’s goal is to reach 3,000 submissions by Memorial Day of 2013.

The National Court Reporters Association is honored to play such an important role in the preservation of these invaluable first-hand accounts given by our living heroes to whom we all owe so much. 

We pay homage to all our veterans, past and presently serving, on this Veterans Day and thank them for their service and sacrifice.

THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERPRETERS AT DEPOSITIONS

From the court reporter’s standpoint, when a potential witness does not speak English as his first language or when he is difficult to understand, it would be wise to consider having an interpreter present at his deposition. 

When an interpreter does his job correctly, the deposition will proceed smoothly, unimpeded, and the final transcript will be readable, understandable, and useful.

Regardless of the reporter’s technical skills, more often than not she will enter the deposition room with no prior knowledge of the matter at hand.  If the reporter has to struggle to understand what the witness is saying, and having no history of the case as a frame of reference, it will be difficult, and sometimes impossible, to decipher the answers being given.  This is a scenario that can lead to misinterpretation and error.

The skills required of an interpreter at a deposition involve more than just language fluency.  He must interpret accurately and completely, switching gears from one language to the other with ease, interpreting in a verbatim manner the question to the witness, the answer to the questioner, and any colloquy.  This means speaking in the first person, not the third person, avoiding language such as “he’s asking you” or “she said.”  The interpreter must act professionally, remain impartial, avoid any conflict of interest, and of course he must hold his duties in strict confidence.  An interpreter who specializes in legal proceedings knows all of this and is prepared to meet your standards.

Please call Doris O. Wong Associates, Inc., when you need a qualified interpreter.  We can refer you to experienced interpreters in all languages who will make your experience a positive one.

Speed Kills

One of the greatest challenges facing court reporters, novice and veteran alike, is fast-talking witnesses and lawyers.  Speed instantly ratchets up the level of difficulty.  Believe it or not, reporting the testimony of a slow-speaking neurosurgeon can be easier than that of a fast-speaking lay witness. 

When one speaks at breakneck speed, clarity suffers.  Words can be misheard.  “September” sounds like “December.”   Little words such as “in” or “and” are difficult to hear.  Tenses become unclear.  It is hard to distinguish between “said” and “says,” “can” and “can’t,” and “did” and “didn’t,” especially when those words appear at the beginning of a question.  “Didn’t she say she killed her husband?” has a different meaning than “Did she say she killed her husband?”   Reporters also punctuate on the fly which becomes more difficult when the speaker is speaking so fast that his sentences seem to run together.

But speed is just one element.  If a speaker’s voice barely registers above a whisper, if he has an accent, if the testimony is technical in nature, or if there are other competing background noises, such as a noisy air conditioner or ongoing construction, the reporter will have a difficult time. 

Reporters ask lawyers and witnesses to slow down all the time, but it is difficult for a speaker to change his natural speaking pattern.  Some will make an earnest effort but will be unable to keep it up for long.

As reporters, our main goal is to make a verbatim record and to be as unobtrusive as possible, but there are times when an interruption is necessary.  If the reporter does not understand you because of excessive speaking speed, chances are the judge and jury won’t understand you either.  So when a reporter asks for your cooperation in making a clear record, be assured that there’s a good reason.