What’s the difference between a deposition and an arbitration question? How about the difference between an administrative hearing and a public hearing transcript? Going beyond the definitions, we must consider what’s needed in one transcript and what’s unnecessary in the other. Many transcription providers think knowing legal transcription is no different from general transcription- but this is not the case. Legal transcription companies with relevant experience, like Ditto, know the different types of legal transcription and their different requirements.
So, let’s talk about them and why knowing them is necessary to meet client-specific needs.
In this article, you’ll learn how:
- There are many different types of legal transcription. The most significant ones involved emergency calls, court proceedings, legal dictation, wiretaps/surveillance, depositions, interrogations, medico-legal, and transcript review.
- Quality legal transcription preserves every detail – background noises, pauses, and verbal cues can be crucial evidence.
- Current AI transcription services only achieve 86% accuracy. This means human transcriptionists are essential for legal precision.
What Exactly is Legal Transcription?
Lawyers and everyone working alongside them typically have much on their plates, regardless of their legal field or specialty. Many work long hours reviewing essential documents, interviews, and court audio and video recordings.
While legal transcription can mean many things to different companies, the fact is, legal transcription is the act of converting a legal document or proceeding from the spoken word (including audio files) into a digital, written document. By leveraging legal transcription, professionals can save themselves countless hours of research, and rather focus on the more important aspects of their job.
Also, in practice, transcripts are the generally accepted documentation in a legal proceeding. Here are just some of the reasons why legal transcriptions are important for cases:
| Aspect | Why Transcription is Important |
| Accuracy and Record Keeping | Provides a reliable record of proceedings, ensuring no details are overlooked. |
| Evidence Preservation | Captures testimony and rulings verbatim for appeals and case reviews. |
| Appeals and Reviews | Allows higher courts to review lower court decisions for fairness and accuracy. |
| Transparency | Ensures all parties have access to the same documented account. |
| Preparation for Litigation | Aids attorneys in strategy by analyzing prior testimony and arguments. |
| Dispute Resolution | Provides an unbiased record to help resolve conflicts or inconsistencies. |
| Legal Precedents | Serves as a historical record to establish or reference precedents. |
| Protection Against Misrepresentation | Prevents distortion of facts by providing an exact account of proceedings. |
Different Types Of Legal Transcription
The legal process has many branches and pathways which are among the most convoluted in the world. Regardless, the process leads to a final decision in court (if it reaches that stage). Any transcription service provider worth their salt should know that legal transcription isn’t one flavor of an ice cream cone. No, there is much more to it. So, we can say that legal transcription comes in many flavors and with different requirements. Here are some of the most common ones:
Court Official Proceedings
In our experience transcribing since 2010, we found ourselves transcribing court proceedings more than any others. Court reporters usually get the job done, however, it takes time for the results to arrive – sometimes as much as 30 days. Professional legal transcriptionists, like those we employ here at Ditto, can get the job done much faster.
Furthermore, the requirements for court proceeding transcripts are much stricter than other legal transcriptions. You’ll need to follow specific formatting guidelines, include proper speaker identification, and maintain perfect accuracy while dealing with complex legal terminology. Speaker identification can add tens or even hundreds of hours of work to any job.
Once the transcriptions are complete, they will become a permanent and integral part of the court record which can be referenced years later, if needed, in appeals or related cases. That’s why this line of work has no room for inaccuracy and wrong interpretation—two of the most common symptoms of AI transcription.
Legal Dictation
Legal professionals often dictate various documents, briefs, or contract points to save time. A transcriber’s job is to turn those recorded audio pieces into formatted legal documents. This type of transcription requires extensive knowledge of legal terminology and document formatting; we can’t just wing it like we do with our to-do lists.
The tricky part about legal dictation transcription is that you’re not just typing words—you’re essentially structuring complex legal documents. You need to understand legal document formats, know where to place pesky paragraph breaks, and figure out when “whereas” should be “WHEREAS” (yes, that matters in legal documents). Not to mention contending with different accents, speaking styles, and presentation of thought (which can be as orderly or as scattered as much as the next person’s).
Wiretaps and Surveillance Recordings
Surveillance footage and recordings are commonly used in court cases stemming from law enforcement efforts. Of course, they must be prepared for court, so court-approved transcriptionists must transcribe these wiretaps, surveillance camera footage, and other legally obtained recordings.
Here’s the thing, though: unlike in TV, these recordings aren’t scripted, the speakers talk over each other, and the recordings aren’t done in closed studios with little to no outside noise. Transcribing surveillance recordings without the relevant experience, skill, or audio equipment can be challenging.
And, even then, there’s only so much you can do for bad audio. So, you’ll occasionally have to type out things like inaudible mumbling or the sound of paper rustling because, in legal transcription, even the small details can be huge later.
Depositions
Deposition transcription is where all the human drama unfolds. Deposition transcribers are like the documentarians of chess matches. For example, every “I don’t recall,” and strategic pause needs to be captured perfectly because these transcripts can make or break a case during a trial.
You’ll be transcribing testimony given under oath outside the courtroom, and some of these sessions can get more intense than your favorite courtroom TV show.
However, making verbatim transcripts of depositions requires next-level concentration and excellent typing skills. You’ll need to catch every word, stutter, and “um” while simultaneously noting physical gestures or reactions when they’re relevant to the testimony.
It’s particularly fun when lawyers start talking over each other – like trying to keep track of four US Open commentators excitedly describing different plays simultaneously. You get the idea.
Interrogations
Interrogation transcription is where “good cop” and “bad cop” meet “fast and accurate typing.” These transcripts require capturing every nuance of police interviews and suspect questioning sessions.
Transcribers need to document everything from direct answers to those long, telling silences – because sometimes, what isn’t said is just as important as what is, especially in legal proceedings.
The challenge here is maintaining perfect accuracy while dealing with high-stakes content and often emotionally charged conversations. You’re not just transcribing words; you’re creating documents that could influence someone’s future.
And unlike crime podcasts, real interrogation audio isn’t edited for clarity. You’ll need to deal with mumbling, overlapping voices, and sometimes even the sound of handcuffs jingling.
Medico-Legal
Medico-legal transcription is where medicine meets the law. It’s a unique combination that requires a transcriber fluent in medical and legal terminology. A translator specializing in two languages simultaneously—except instead of French and Spanish, it’s “medical speak” and “legalese.”
These transcripts need to maintain the highest level of accuracy because they often involve details about injuries, medical procedures, or health conditions that could affect legal outcomes. – steer through complicated medical terms while ensuring the document meets legal formatting requirements.
And sometimes, you’ll find yourself googling how to spell words that look like someone just smashed their palm on the keyboard – that’s part of the fun.
Transcript Review
A transcript review is the final quality check in legal transcription, where you’ll examine timestamps, statements, citations, and formatting with detective-like precision.
It isn’t simple proofreading; you’ll conduct a thorough analysis that involves comparing audio files, checking speaker identifications, verifying legal terminology, and ensuring complete accuracy.
As a transcript reviewer, you’re the last line of defense before these documents become official records, and if anything is amiss, you’re also accountable.
In addition, working through transcript review means you’ll have to manage multiple tasks, such as cross-referencing original recordings, verifying technical terminology, checking formatting standards, and validating speaker attributions.
The role requires extensive knowledge of legal procedures and industry regulations because even small errors, such as a misplaced comma or similar errors, could impact a case’s trajectory.
Can You Use AI Software for Any Type of Legal Transcription?
Although AI has improved emails, content creation, coding, and many other fields, the legal field, in general, remains firmly in human territory. AI is like your intern: always excited to help but often misses important details, legal nuances, context clues, and specific terminology.
In the field, today’s AI transcription services are an average of 61.92% accurate, which might sound impressive until you realize that this means dealing with pronunciation errors, misheard statements, incorrect punctuation, formatting issues, and many more.
Let’s put this into perspective. In a 10,000-word legal document, an AI’s 61.92% accuracy means you’ll be looking at about 3,800 inaccuracies. That’s like trying to find not one, but 3,800 needles in a haystack, except these needles could seriously impact people’s lives and the entirety of the legal justice system.
Ditto Can Provide All Types of Legal Transcription Services
Focus on the most meaningful part of your job in the legal field. Don’t settle for automated tools with poor results, or do the work yourself. Ditto’s legal transcription service is the best in the industry.
Our services include:
- High Accuracy: Our professional human transcription service provides the highest possible levels of accuracy, as close to perfection as they come.
- Flexible Turnaround Times: Depending on the project, we can provide rush transcripts within one or two days for those who need things done quickly.
- Stringent Security Measures: Our CJIS compliance and robust encryption protocols will protect your confidential information optimally. We’ll answer any questions you have about our security and will be more than happy to provide proof of certification.
- Proven Track Record: We’ve provided high-quality transcription services to the legal industry since 2010. So, rather than relying on untested providers or fancy AI tools, put your trust in our long, proven history.
- Flexibility: Need timestamps or verbatim transcripts? Say the word, and we’ll get it done.
- No Long-term Contracts: Pay for what you need, when you need it, without worrying about getting tied up with long-term service commitments (though I guarantee your firm will be back for more.)
Let Us Help You With Our Legal Transcription Services
Do you need a legal transcriptionist who can produce the most accurate verbatim transcription?
Here’s a better option: refine your legal proceedings with Ditto Transcripts! Our expert team offers 99% accuracy, quick turnaround times, and top-notch security for all your transcription needs. With over 14 years of experience, Ditto Transcripts is your top choice for precise, high-quality, and affordable transcription services.
Ditto Transcripts is a Denver, Colorado-based, HIPAA, FINRA, & CJIS-compliant transcription services company that provides fast, accurate, and affordable transcripts for individuals and companies of all sizes. Call (720) 287-3710 today for a free quote, and ask about our free five-day trial.
