Should I Hire a Court Reporter?
It is by no means an easy task to find and to retain a high-quality court reporter. The abundance of available choices can leave one feeling overwhelmed, particularly if a certified court reporter is required. For those who aren’t legal professionals, a court reporter is often considered to be no more than an additional cost, or an unimportant afterthought.
However, as insignificant as it may initially seem to have someone discreetly sit at the front of the room, documenting all that is being said, the court reporter is as vital as are many of the other key components in legal proceedings. A professional court reporter can actually help a litigant save time in the foreseeable future: that saved time can be spent on other pursuits, some of which may well be income-generating.
What to expect:
Training and knowledge
Upon completing their training, court reporters must join the Court Reporters’ Association of Ontario, which administers mandatory testing and certification processes. The Association verifies each court reporter’s familiarity with legal terms, legal documents and how court cases progress. This familiarity helps the court reporter generate accurate transcripts and increases the overall quality of the services provided.
Court reporters produce accurate, official transcripts of all that said during examinations, negotiations and court proceedings. They are crucial to an efficient after-the-fact review of the proceedings.
Impartiality and discretion
Court reporters will do their utmost to be as inconspicuous as possible during proceedings. In fact, until proceedings have concluded, most litigants forget that the court reporter is present. They are in a position of trust and are required to maintain strict confidentiality over all aspects of the legal matters on which they are reporting.
Exceptional accuracy and professionalism
Court reporters pay attention to, and precisely record, every spoken word. They are accustomed to dealing with regional accents, distinctive pronunciations, special circumstances and unanticipated interruptions. Their training and their familiarity with legal proceedings enables each Ontario certified court reporter to use best practices and to focus on the task at hand.
How we can help
At On The Record Court Reporting, we provide our clients with reliable and professional court reporting services. We provide accurate court transcripts in a timely manner. We pride ourselves on our unparalleled professionalism and on our comfortable, welcoming environment. Our reputation speaks for itself.
Call one of our locations today, conveniently located in Whitby and Barrie. We look forward to discussing your court reporting needs.