Stenos: Robots Won’t Take Our Jobs

Posted bystenoimperiumPosted inCourt Reporting, Legal ServicesTags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In the age of rapid technological advancement, concerns about automation and artificial intelligence (AI) displacing human workers have become increasingly prevalent. However, amidst these discussions, there remains a profession that seems resistant to the threat of automation: stenographers, otherwise known as court reporters. Despite the advancements in speech recognition technology and AI, there are several reasons why automated systems are unlikely to fully replace stenographers in the legal sector.

First and foremost, stenographers, serving as officers of the court, hold the crucial role of the Responsible Charge. They offer an eyewitness account of proceedings and bear the responsibility for crafting the transcript from inception to completion. This involves administering the oath at the outset and concluding by affixing their wet ink signature to the certificate. In their capacity as the Responsible Charge, court reporters frequently enlist the assistance of scopists and proofreaders to aid in transcript production. They oversee the work of these subcontractors and subsequently ensure the accuracy of the transcript by meticulously reviewing and compiling it. With this responsibility, court reporters assume ultimate liability for any potential errors, necessitating errors and omissions insurance coverage to safeguard against potential litigation.

Secondly, the complexity of legal proceedings demands a level of accuracy and contextual understanding that current AI and ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition) technologies struggle to achieve. Legal terminology, nuanced language, accents, and dialects present significant challenges for automated transcription systems. Stenographers, trained professionals skilled in shorthand writing and legal terminology, possess the ability to accurately capture proceedings in real-time, ensuring an exact record of court proceedings.

Moreover, stenographers offer more than just transcription; they provide a human touch to the legal process. They can interpret non-verbal cues, such as tone, emphasis, and emotional nuances, which are crucial for understanding the context of statements made during trials or depositions. This human element is invaluable in legal settings, where the nuances of language and behavior can have profound implications for the outcome of a case.

Additionally, stenographers are adaptable and versatile professionals who can quickly adjust to various courtroom environments and challenges. They can navigate interruptions, overlapping speech, and technical difficulties with ease, ensuring uninterrupted transcription of proceedings. In contrast, ASR systems often struggle with background noise, multiple speakers, and technical glitches, leading to inaccuracies and incomplete transcripts.

Furthermore, stenographers offer a level of confidentiality and security that automated systems may struggle to match. Confidentiality is paramount in legal proceedings, where sensitive information is often discussed. Stenographers are bound by strict codes of ethics and confidentiality agreements, ensuring that the information they transcribe remains secure and protected. In contrast, the use of AI and ASR systems raises concerns about data privacy and security, as these systems may store and analyze sensitive information without adequate safeguards in place.

Another critical factor is the human element of trust. Judges, attorneys, and clients often prefer the presence of a human stenographer, whom they can trust to accurately capture and document proceedings. Human stenographers provide reassurance and confidence in the accuracy and reliability of the transcript, which is essential for the integrity of the legal process.

Furthermore, the cost-effectiveness of automated systems is often overestimated. While AI and ASR technologies may seem initially cheaper than hiring a human stenographer, the hidden costs associated with inaccuracies, technical issues, and the need for human oversight can quickly add up. In contrast, the expertise and reliability of human stenographers justify their cost in ensuring accurate and reliable transcription.

In conclusion, while robots, AI, and ASR technologies have made significant advancements in various fields, they are unlikely to fully replace stenographers or court reporters in the legal sector. The complexity of legal proceedings, the need for accuracy and context, the human element, confidentiality concerns, and the importance of trust all contribute to the continued relevance of human stenographers in the legal profession. As technology evolves, stenographers may incorporate automation tools to enhance their efficiency, but the indispensable role of human judgment and expertise in legal transcription ensures their continued relevance in the face of technological advancement.

Published by stenoimperium

We exist to facilitate the fortifying of the Stenography profession and ensure its survival for the next hundred years! As court reporters, we've handed the relationship role with our customers, or attorneys, over to the agencies and their sales reps.  This has done a lot of damage to our industry.  It has taken away our ability to have those relationships, the ability to be humanized and valued.  We've become a replaceable commodity. Merely saying we are the “Gold Standard” tells them that we’re the best, but there are alternatives.  Who we are though, is much, much more powerful than that!  We are the Responsible Charge.  “Responsible Charge” means responsibility for the direction, control, supervision, and possession of stenographic & transcription work, as the case may be, to assure that the work product has been critically examined and evaluated for compliance with appropriate professional standards by a licensee in the profession, and by sealing and signing the documents, the professional stenographer accepts responsibility for the stenographic or transcription work, respectively, represented by the documents and that applicable stenographic and professional standards have been met.  This designation exists in other professions, such as engineering, land surveying, public water works, landscape architects, land surveyors, fire preventionists, geologists, architects, and more.  In the case of professional engineers, the engineering association adopted a Responsible Charge position statement that says, “A professional engineer is only considered to be in responsible charge of an engineering work if the professional engineer makes independent professional decisions regarding the engineering work without requiring instruction or approval from another authority and maintains control over those decisions by the professional engineer’s physical presence at the location where the engineering work is performed or by electronic communication with the individual executing the engineering work.” If we were to adopt a Responsible Charge position statement for our industry, we could start with a draft that looks something like this: "A professional court reporter, or stenographer, is only considered to be in responsible charge of court reporting work if the professional court reporter makes independent professional decisions regarding the court reporting work without requiring instruction or approval from another authority and maintains control over those decisions by the professional court reporter’s physical presence at the location where the court reporting work is performed or by electronic communication with the individual executing the court reporting work.” Shared purpose The cornerstone of a strategic narrative is a shared purpose. This shared purpose is the outcome that you and your customer are working toward together. It’s more than a value proposition of what you deliver to them. Or a mission of what you do for the world. It’s the journey that you are on with them. By having a shared purpose, the relationship shifts from consumer to co-creator. In court reporting, our mission is “to bring justice to every litigant in the U.S.”  That purpose is shared by all involved in the litigation process – judges, attorneys, everyone.  Who we are is the Responsible Charge.  How we do that is by Protecting the Record.

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