Successful Freelance Court Reporting
"Successful Freelance Court Reporting" provides students with an invaluable resource on how to build a successful career as a freelance court reporter. This comprehensive text provides information about the process of becoming a freelance reporter, from finding the right court reporting school, to networking and interviewing for freelance positions. Students will learn how to obtain the appropriate equipment and work supplies, what kind of jobs to expect in the field, transcript guidelines,...
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"Successful Freelance Court Reporting" discusses the mechanics of freelance court reporting in a knowledgeable, easy to understand manner. It is an invaluable and informative guide for the student, as well as anyone considering or preparing for a freelance court-reporting career. Written by a seasoned professional, the book offers a variety of personal anecdotes and shares valuable "lessons from the field." From choosing the right court reporting school, to interviewing for freelance positions, to prepari Booknews Provides guidance to a career in freelance court reporting, covering court reporting school, examinations and certificates, and tools of the trade, as well as concrete details on filling out a worksheet, interviewing, managing the transcript, and what to do before, during, and after a deposition. General issues discussed include protocol, independent contracting, potential problems, and career changes. Includes a self-test answer key and a list of terminology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
PrefaceXAcknowledgmentsXVIAbout the AuthorXIXChapter 1A Career in Freelance Court Reporting1What Is Freelance Court Reporting?1Who Are Those Reporters in Court?1Why Do Some Prefer Freelancing to Official Reporting?2What Training Is Necessary to Become a Freelance Reporter?3What Attributes Do Successful Reporters Possess?6How Much Money Do Freelancers Earn?9Chapter 2Court Reporting School12National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) Requirements12Shorthand Theories19Conflict-Free Writing19Q&As, Jury Charges, and Literary Matter/Current Events19Developing Speed20Building a Dictionary21Scoping While Still in School22Maintaining Relationships with Fellow Students and School Staff22Finding a Mentor23Sitting In23Joining Court Reporting Associations24Becoming a Notary Public25Chapter 3Examinations and Certifications29Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) and Certified Court Reporter (CCR) Examinations29Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) Examination31Other Examinations/Certifications33Civil Service Examinations36Non-Civil Service Examinations36Chapter 4Tools of the Trade39Reporting Equipment39Compatibility42Writer Maintenance43Maintenance Agreements45Support Agreements45Equipment Accessories46Realtime Necessities48Additional Tools48Professional Attire60Chapter 5How to Fill Out a Work Sheet64Work Sheet Requirements64Venue and Caption64Appearance Section66Witness Information72Other Work Sheet Guidelines74Stipulations75Pursuant to Notice, Order, Stipulation, Subpoena, or Agreement76Work Sheet Legibility77Chapter 6Interviewing80When to Interview80Non-Civil Service Entities80Freelancing Versus Being on Staff with an Agency81Freelancer Versus Official Reporter82Special Needs and Work Restrictions83Experience and Education84Top-Notch Reporters84Finding Out Who Is Hiring85Initial Contact86In-Person Interview87Call-In Time88Page Rates90Appearance Fees93Bust Fees93Turnaround Time for Transcripts94Billing and Payment Schedules94Nature of Agency's Clientele95Subsidiaries95Reporter Incentives96At the Conclusion of the Interview96Chapter 7Different Types of Jobs Encountered100Depositions100Examinations Before Trial (New York)103Medical Malpractice Cases (Med Mals)103Legal Malpractice Cases (Legal Mals)104Maritime Reporting104Bankruptcies105Matrimonials105Estate-Related Cases106Class Action Suits106Celebrity Witnesses106Municipal Hearings107Examinations Under Oath107Interpreter Proceedings107Video Proceedings111Telephonic Proceedings112Interrogatories113Default Statements114Statements115Stipulations119Hearings and Arbitrations120Reporting Conventions, Seminars, and Conferences127Roundtable Discussions133Miscellaneous134Chapter 8Before the Deposition137Beginner Anxiety137Practice137Eat a Good Breakfast138Be Prepared138Arrive Early138Greeting the Receptionist139Obtaining Caption Information139Pregloballing139Setting Up140Courthouse Depositions141As the Parties Arrive141Resistance from Attorneys142Speaker Designations142Chapter 9Taking the Deposition145Beginner's Checklist145Change of Examining Attorney150Marking Exhibits150Use of Parentheticals154Part-Time Presence at Proceeding156Nonverbal Answers156Discussions Off the Record158Readbacks159Directions Not to Answer160Rulings160Motions162Requests for Documents or Other Information162Inserts162Breaks163Beginner's Checklist--Continued164The Final Frontier165Storage of Notes167Responsibility to Maintain Notes167Chapter 10For Your Information172Child Witnesses and Voir Dires172Spelling of Words and Names172Recording Numbers173Rules Regarding Numbers173Hyphens177Quotation Marks177Objections178Other Tips179Chapter 11Freelancer Protocol183On the Record Versus Off the Record183Missing Something That Should Be On the Record184Guidelines for Professional Practice185Spot Calls186When You Are Assigned an a.m. and a p.m. Job187Do Not Solicit Work187Things Not to Say on a Job187Neutrality188When Attorneys Take Your Order189Keeping Your Impressions to Yourself189Attorney Critiques189Stoic Expression and Calm Composure190Tape-Recording Proceedings191Conflicts of Interest192Agency Preferences193Chapter 12Beyond the Deposition196Dictating196Notereaders196Scoping the Job196Proofreading Transcripts200Paying Scopists/Notereaders/Proofreaders201Backup Disks203Sending Finished Transcripts to Agencies203Billing Agencies204Deleting Job Files205Ledgers205Continuing to Build Your Dictionary207Chapter 13The Transcript211Elements of a Deposition Transcript211Errata Sheets243Compatible Disks/ASCII Disks243Concordances/Keyword Indexes244Condensed Transcripts245Excerpts245Confidential Material246When Two Reporters Write Simultaneously251When There Is a Relief Reporter255Booking Testimony Together255Chapter 14Being an Independent Contractor259What Is an Independent Contractor?259IRS Form 1099259Estimated Taxes260Money Management260Tax Deductions260The In-Home Office261No Benefits262Tax-Free/Tax-Deferred Plans263Chapter 15Every Court Reporter's Nightmare265In Case of Fire265The United Parcel Service Strike265The IRS Investigation266The Burglary267Call in the EMS268Commotion at the Courthouse269An Awful Transcript270The All-Nighter271"Nondrowsy" Cold Medicine272Fast Fingers272A Real Realtime Fiasco273Reporter Freeze-Up275Here Comes the Judge276Communication276Chapter 16Making Changes279Switching Agencies279Networking281Chapter 17Other Forums for Your Skills287Information Reporting287Realtime/CIC Reporting288Realtiming to Assist in Education289Reporting Religious Services292Providing CART Services292Closed Captioning295Per-Diem Reporting in the Court System298Official Reporting in the Court System298Legislative Reporting299Pro Bono Work303Workers'/Workmen's Compensation304Speech/Voice Recognition304Political Activities306Public Speaking306Writing About the Profession306Outside Projects306Appearing on Television and in Films307Answer Key310Court Reporting Terminology318Index326
\ BooknewsProvides guidance to a career in freelance court reporting, covering court reporting school, examinations and certificates, and tools of the trade, as well as concrete details on filling out a worksheet, interviewing, managing the transcript, and what to do before, during, and after a deposition. General issues discussed include protocol, independent contracting, potential problems, and career changes. Includes a self-test answer key and a list of terminology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)\ \
