Court Transcription vs. Deposition Transcription: Key Differences & Best Practices

As a legal professional, you cannot function without transcription services, whether the subject matter is a court proceeding or deposition.

However, court transcription and deposition transcription are different things.

They differ significantly in terms of purpose, process, and requirements.

These differences are essential to lawyers, court reporters, and transcriptionists.

So, in this article, we will see the main differences between court and deposition transcription, the best practices for both, and why you need Verbalscripts for all your transcription jobs.

What is Court Transcription

Court transcription is the verbatim documentation of everything said during court proceedings.

It encompasses trials, hearings, and arraignments, among other legal events in a courtroom.

Court transcripts are official documents typically requested for appeals, law research, or case preparation.

The following are the main features of Court Transcription.

Court Setting: Court proceedings are formalized and followed by various legal codes.

Multispeaker: Transcripts must capture the words of judges, attorneys, witnesses, and sometimes jurors.

Real-time: Most court reporters transcribe live using stenographic machines for events and after-the-fact from audio recordings.

Court Transcripts Legal Admissibility: Court transcripts are official records and demand a very high legal standard.

What is Deposition Transcription

On the other hand, deposition transcription is the official record of the sworn statements of witnesses or defendants outside the scope of a legal context.

Often found in more casual environments like legal offices or conference rooms, it is key to the discovery process.

Key Features of Deposition Transcription

Noisy Environment: Depositions occur in informal settings, just like other informal court reporting situations where accuracy is necessary.

Few Speakers: Depositions usually have only the party deposed and opposing counsel reporting and an attorney.

During pre-trial use: They are used in trial preparation, refuting witnesses, or rendering a deal to settlement.

More Formatting Flexibility: Deposition transcripts may contain timestamps, speaker labels, etc., and more extensive custom formatting (unlike stenotyped court transcripts).

Court vs. Deposition Transcription — Key Differences

Court and deposition transcription are recorded spoken words; however, they differ when considering purpose, process, and requirements.

1. Setting

Court Transcription: Court transcription happens in a formal courtroom setting. It is the most formal of all forms, as everything is governed by legal protocols and procedures.

Deposition Transcription: Depositions, in contrast, are typically taken in less formal settings (law offices or conference rooms). They are official, certainly, but tighter than a court and much easier to type meticulously.

2. Purposes

Court Transcription: It aims to reproduce the record of legal actions in the courtroom. So, the transcripts are usually utilized for appeals, legal research, or case reviews. They are a lifelong record of what transpired in that trial or hearing.

Deposition transcription: Depositions are usually taken (except when there's a good legal reason not to) through deposition transcripts, which will be used at trial to impeach witnesses or even Discovery Truing. As opposed to court transcripts, deposition transcripts are not always meant for use in a courtroom, but they [the deposition transcripts] drive your direct fact witness case.

3. Speakers

Court Transcription: The court is being heard by several speakers (judges, attorneys, witnesses, and jurors in some jurisdictions). The transcriptionist must accurately identify and record each spoken speaker, even on dynamic and fast-moving systems.

Deposition Transcript: Depositions are generally not as multi-sourced as court transcripts.

It is marginally more effortless, but accuracy is key once again.

4. Timing

Court transcription: Typically, if a court reporter is using a machine (stenotype), it will take place in real-time when you communicate things. Alternatively, transcriptionists may pick up from the transcriptions after the fact.

Deposition Transcript: Depositions are usually done after the deposition. Real-time transcription is possible but much less common. Usually, deposition transcription comes from an audio or video recording after the deposition.

5. Formatting

The Court Transcription: As a legal document, court transcripts must be formatted strictly according to the law. Anything outside the specifications will likely render your transcript inadmissible in court.

Deposition Transcript: Deposition transcripts are more flexible, and you can format the document as you like. They may contain a timestamp, speaker labels, and other sheet props to make the client document much easier to read.

6. Legal qualification

Court Transcription: Court transcripts are official documents that must adhere to strict legal standards in order to be admitted as proof in court. Every mistake or omission, from mistrials to oral arguments, can lead to disaster.

Deposition Transcript: Sure, deposition transcripts are one of those legally binding things, but they are not that likely you wanna see presented in court.

Their main functions are case preparation and discovery. They can also be used to impeach a witness in court or as evidence if necessary.

Best Practices of Court Transcription

Use Official Court Stenographers: Make sure the transcribing individual is one of the legal transcriptionists.

Get All the Words: Court transcripts must be verbatim, which includes "um" s and extra filler words, pauses in speaking, and non-verbal exclamations like "[inaudible]" or "[crosstalk]."

Conform to Legal Specifications: Follow the court dictation regarding line numbering, margin sizes, and font styles.

Proofread: Since court transcripts are highly error-sensitive, proofreading is of utmost necessity.

Best Practices of Deposition Transcription

1. Ensure High-Quality Audio: Clear recordings help prevent errors and omissions during the transcription process.

2. Label Speakers: attribute each statement to its speaker. This eliminates any ambiguity about who said what in the transcript.

3. Add Time References: Insert timestamps throughout the document. These allow for the quick location of specific deposition segments.

4. Safeguard Confidentiality: Depositions often contain confidential and delicate information. The transcription service must employ robust security protocols to protect this data.

Verbalscripts: Your Top Choice for Legal Transcriptions

1. Precise Transcripts: Our expert transcriptionists deliver 99% accuracy regardless of the legal subject's complexity.

2. Skilled Experts: Our team includes court reporters and transcriptionists with certifications. They know the ins and outs of court and deposition work.

3. Quick Turnaround:  We have you covered should you need a deposition written in a day or a real-time court transcript. We offer fast service without loss of accuracy.

4. Safe and Confidential Document Management: Verbalscripts uses cutting-edge encryption and secure file transfer methods to keep your sensitive legal papers private.

5. Custom Formatting: We shape our transcripts to fit your requirements, from rigid court formatting to flexible deposition formatting that includes timestamps.

FAQs About Court and Deposition Transcription

1. Can you use deposition transcripts in court?

Though courts let you use deposition transcripts as evidence or to impeach a witness, they are most useful during discovery.

2. How much time does a court or deposition transcript require?

The length and complexity of the recording will determine the time frame.

3. What file types can I get for transcripts?

Verbalscripts gives you transcripts in several formats, such as PDF, Word, and text files, to fit your needs.

4. Can I get court transcription as it happens?

Yes, Verbalscripts offers real-time transcription services for court proceedings. This ensures an accurate record as events occur.

5. How do you keep things confidential? 

We use top-notch encryption and safe ways to send files to keep your information secure.

6. Can you deal with recordings with more than one person talking?

For sure. Our team knows how to spot and tag different speakers, ensuring every transcript is clear and correct.

Conclusion

Legal matters depend much on court and deposition records, but these documents have different uses and call for different handling.

While deposition transcripts record sworn statements during fact-finding, court transcripts try to produce official records of court proceedings.

Both must be accurate, pay close attention to details, and follow legal rules.

When you're picking a transcription service, Verbalscripts tops the list.

They have certified pros for quick delivery, and they prioritize accuracy and keeping your info private.

Verbalscripts is the go-to partner for all your legal transcription needs.

Verbalscripts delivers top-notch results every single time. Get in touch with them today and see what sets them apart!