Legal transcription is a growing industry that requires transcriptionists not only to be accurate and have a solid understanding of legal terminology, but also to have a deep commitment to integrity and confidentiality. It is of utmost importance to find legal transcription companies that have a dual focus on quality and ethics. Lawyers should expect the same level of rigour and integrity from the legal transcription services they dedicate to their own clients. In addition to taking notes, conference calls have two ways to record them for later review – by audio recording and transcript of conference calls. Unfortunately, listening to an audio recording can take longer and be difficult to digest – it would be harder to find the specific information you`re looking for, especially if the particular call lasts for hours. Transcripting your conference call is a better alternative – it not only makes it easier to review everything that`s been discussed, but also takes less time. There is so much going on in law firms that you can save time, money, and a lot of energy when you can outsource time-consuming tasks. Legal transcription services are fast, cost-effective and therefore reliable. We understand that a single mistake in certain situations can derail an entire case, and we take that very seriously. Hiring a reliable agency with specialized services and high safety standards is the right way to go, and we are happy to offer it to all our clients. Not only do you save time, but you also reduce overhead. The average cost of a legal secretary can be about $20 to $25 per hour, and the cost of a paralegal is about $25 to $32 per hour. They`re undeniably valuable members of your team, and you pay accordingly, so it makes sense to get the most out of their work by working on tasks you can`t outsource.
Because law firms are always busy, these team members may work on more important day-to-day administrative tasks than you would otherwise have to do yourself (or hire someone else to do it). Of course, one of the most important and obvious reasons to use legal transcription services is that it will save you incredible time. Instead of trying to search audio files for snippets of information you need or hiring someone else to do so, you get a unique, easy-to-scan document that contains everything you need. Memoranda describe the terms of the contract or contain written references describing certain details of legal transactions. In the past, many lawyers have relied solely on court reporters and the transcripts they provide, unaware that there were other options available to them in addition to these specific services. When law firms and other lawyers are looking for a transcriber, it`s important to choose an agency that actually specializes in legal transcription and offers it as a one-time service, rather than just hiring a generalist. Court transcription services require intensive training and certification, which is different from general transcription. In addition to the operation of a stenotype and the emphasis on legal terminology and understanding, stenographers must have a good understanding of court policies and procedures. Many states accept a minimum level of certification from associations such as the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), which issues certification as a registered professional journalist (RPR). Some states require additional approval according to country-specific standards. In all cases, however, training and authorization are stricter and specific to judicial reporting. Knowledge and knowledge of legal terminology are important assets of legal transcription companies, although legal transcriptionists do not have the same licensing requirements as stenographers.
Legal transcribers can complete a one-year certification program focused on legal terminology and keyboard skills. Associations such as the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT) offer separate certifications for court reporter and legal transcription. However, some states do not require certification for legal transcribers. In contrast, legal transcription services can generate almost any other type of legal transcription. Most of them are created with audio or video recordings after the live event. Transcribers must be proficient in typing and be extremely thorough in their work because, unlike court reporters, they have the luxury of pausing and playing the recording as many times as necessary to ensure accuracy. Some transcribers use speech-to-text software to create transcripts that they can then edit thoroughly, but others prefer to transcribe the entire recording directly, especially if it contains a lot of audio difficulties. Do you already know that you need legal transcription services and want to get started? States may have more specific requirements for the formatting of legal copies, particularly when they are presented as evidence in a case. However, these guidelines tend to be much stricter for court reporters than for other types of legal transcribers. For example, the Massachusetts court system publishes the uniform transcription format.
This document sets out expectations for formatting down to the last detail, such as acceptable color and paper weight. As a transcriber, you need to know your client`s expectations and whether there are any legal formatting guidelines that need to be strictly followed. For example, emergency rates cost more if you need the file within one to two business days, while extended plans give you a discount if you can wait up to six to ten business days. Once the transcript is complete, it is reviewed and proofread by at least one other person to ensure that grammatical accuracy and integrity are maintained. At Transcription Outsourcing, we guarantee an accuracy rate of at least 99%, and we strive (and consistently achieve) that perfect 100%. Legal transcription is a fairly simple and straightforward process that is divided into three main steps. Here is your checklist “How to transcribe a legal document”. We offer a variety of turnaround times for our legal transcription services. In most cases, legal acts are completed within twenty-four to forty-eight hours. We even offer urgent options for selected projects that can guarantee a turnaround time in just four hours. You also pay more for more or less, depending on the complexity of the audio file.
One-on-one interviews or standard one-on-one interviews, for example, both fall under “Category A” in the table above and are offered at the lowest prices. However, audio with four or more speakers, or those interested in scientific terminology, thick adoption, focus groups, or roundtables, often fall into “category C” and have the highest per-minute rate. Since the cost of transcription is much cheaper than hiring a member of your team (costs between $1.50 and $5.00 per minute of recorded audio), you`ll save significantly along the way. The legal transcription industry is booming, and that`s because it`s a solid investment of time and money for law firms of all shapes and sizes. Experienced transcribers will also be fast. You are used to transcribing documents quickly and you have the right tools to do it accurately.