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How Much Is It To Transcribe Court Proceedings?

gavel, hammer, justice gavel, hammer, justice

Wondering how much it costs to transcribe court proceedings? To be sure, costs aren’t everything. When it comes to statements made in front of a judge or jury, having an accurate court transcription is crucial because every word counts.

Every word spoken during a trial or hearing is captured in court transcripts. They contain all statements made by witnesses and other participants in a case, as well as any arguments made by counsel or other parties.

If there are any questions later on, the transcript can be used as proof. For instance, if one side considers that testimony offered during the trial was incomplete or inaccurately reported, a transcript can answer the question. A transcript can also be used to support appeals or petitions for reconsideration that are being made after a judge or jury panel has reached a decision. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about how much it costs to transcribe court proceedings.

The cost for transcribing court proceedings ranges from $1.50 to $5.00 for every audio minute. The number of speakers, audio quality, and turnaround times plays a role in determining the final cost.

Transcription Services Rates for court proceedings

Transcription Rates Categories

To transcribe court proceedings, our standard transcription rates are divided into groups A and B.

Category A:

  • Digitally recorded single-person story or typical one-on-one interview (i.e., note-taking for active or prospective cases you may be working on).
  • Once a hearing is over, you can use a smartphone app to dictate notes outside the courtroom, and we’ll get it transcribed for you immediately or within a few days.
  • Your client may be the subject of a one-on-one interview or even a meeting to prepare for a deposition. These would also include any other two-person meetings or interviews, whether formal or informal.

Category B:

  • Any audio that includes three or more individuals, has a lot of background noise or features voices that are hard to understand (i.e., poor recording, soft voices, etc.).

Court hearings are included in this category. Also, other applications might include formal depositions involving your client and the opposing lawyer, a conference call with two other lawyers discussing a case, presentations involving highly technical language or speakers with thick accents, panel discussions, focus groups, or seminars with many attendees.

Also included is any audio where the quality is poor, making transcription take longer because we can’t hear the participants clearly. A loud background noise may be music, wind, or traffic noise coming in through an open window.

For an accurate price and same-day pricing, contact (720) 287-3710 to reach Ditto Transcripts. Without actually hearing the audio, these are exceedingly difficult to identify.

What Are The Advantages Of Getting A Court Transcription?

There are many reasons why having a legal transcription of a court case is advantageous, the following are some of the more important ones.

You can quickly locate relevant information

A transcript makes it simpler for lawyers, judges, and other legal experts to obtain pertinent facts for their cases swiftly. Using control F on your keyboard is faster than listening to and trying to find the right spot within an audio file.

You have insight into courtroom testimony and proceedings

Accuracy is essential when it comes to what was said in court since it can make all the difference in a case. Legal experts can evaluate the evidence, witness statements, and police-provided material without being concerned about mistakes or misinterpretations. And all this is thanks to digital court transcriptionists who provide accuracy and clarity regarding what transpired during court sessions.

Share with relatives and other interested parties who cannot attend in person

Occasionally, family members, interested parties, or stakeholders cannot attend court proceedings. They will know and have access to the same transcripts that everyone else does with a copy of the court transcription.

Even though their occupations may seem similar, court reporters and transcriptionists have unique roles and advantages for potential employers.

Legal transcriptionists are often 25–50% less expensive to hire than court reporters, have access to security measures and cloud hosting, and cover a more comprehensive range of legal specialties.

Court reporters (also known as stenographers) do not produce a real-time court transcript. Instead, they start a rough draft while the hearing is in progress. Then, they finish it at home or the office and deliver it within 30 days. However, transcriptionists can offer this service within 24 hours, though a typical turnaround time is 6–10 days. 

What Do Court Reporters Do?

A court reporter prepares a rough draft during the hearing, finishes it at home or in an office, and delivers it within 30 days. Usually, these reporters are employed directly by the court.

The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) is the industry leader in court reporting associations. Typically, it takes two to four years to complete the NCRA licensing program. The program will have classes on legal transcribing services, depending on the level of certification you are going for.

Not only that, when it comes to transcription, each court jurisdiction has their own sets of rules. For example, the Court Reporters Act mandates that a court reporter document hearings word for word (verbatim). For their transcripts, court reporters and transcribers may charge and receive payment. According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, there are 670 official court reporters employed by federal courts. Furthermore, different courts set different maximum per-page rates for transcripts. The first party to order a transcript pays the fee, while subsequent requesters pay a lesser fee per copy they receive.

Keep in mind each court jurisdiction will have set its own rules.

The goal of a legal transcriptionist is to create a written document from an audio or video recording of an event. Depending on the requirements of the client and the state’s, this document can either be verbatim (written word-for-word, much like what a court reporter types) or lightly edited (ums, ahs, speaking pauses, etc.). Transcriptionists are typically independent contractors, some may also work full-time for the company.

Our legal transcriptionists can deliver your documents within 24 hours if you need a really fast turnaround. Most of our legal clients choose our 6-10 business days turnaround time in order to save some money, and because court cases usually take months and months so they have the time to wait for the longer turnaround time. 

Additionally, we offer transcription services in various industries, such as the medical, legal, academic, financial, and business sectors. 

Things To Consider When Choosing Court Transcription Services

A few crucial elements should be considered when choosing a court transcription services company:

It’s critical to be accurate

Any court proceeding requires accurate transcripts. To ensure there are no mistakes or omissions in the transcript, use a service that guarantees accuracy and offers proofreading as part of their services.

Services should be reasonably priced

Consider the price while making your choice because court transcriptions can be expensive. Search for services with affordable prices and convenient payment methods. You should also remember that you get what you pay for, so if you go with the cheapest company you will find your transcript will most likely not be 99% accurate or certified.

The turnaround time should be quick

Turnaround time may be a crucial issue when selecting a court transcription service, depending on the urgency of your case. Make sure your chosen service can fulfill your deadlines and deliver on your desired turnaround times.

Customer service should be available at all times

You need access to customer support to resolve any problems you may have with the service. Verify that the court transcribing services you choose provide round-the-clock technical help if you encounter any issues.

Ditto Transcripts is located in beautiful Denver, Colorado. We have General Liability, and Cyber Liability insurance policies. We are also a fully CJIS- and HIPAA-compliant transcription services company.

Court and Law Firm References

Don’t take our word for it. Simply ask some of our clients yourself. We would be more than happy to provide you with the contact information of our other court transcription services clientele to start earning your trust. Please feel free to call them and ask them about us.

All new clients will also receive a free trial so you can see our court transcription services in action with no obligation.

Pay As-You-Go Transcription Services

Feel relieved. You will not have to sign a long-term contract with us to take advantage of our industry-leading transcription services. We provide certified transcriptions in PDF format ready to be submitted to the court or used as evidence right away.

Feel free to call our office at (720) 287-3710 to discuss your legal transcription services options. We are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (MST).

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Ditto Transcripts is a U.S.-based HIPAA and CJIS compliant company with experienced U.S. transcriptionists. Learn how we can help with your next project!