Category Archives: Legal Services

These are just a few of the names in the fight to preserve stenographic court reporting, an industry under siege by the rise of digital recording and artificial intelligence. While automation is often heralded as the inevitable future, stalwart professionals are proving that there’s a human element to this industry that cannot be replaced.

The court reporting industry, despite being predominantly female, faces significant gender-based challenges, including wage disparities, underrepresentation in leadership, and persistent biases. Women’s contributions are often undervalued, limiting career advancement and economic equity. Addressing these issues requires policy reforms, mentorship programs, and greater advocacy for fair compensation. By challenging stereotypes and promoting inclusivity, the industry can pave the way for a more equitable future for women in the profession.

Court reporting agencies exploit reporters through unfair pay structures, hidden fees, and delayed payments, leaving many struggling financially. Reporters often work long hours without guaranteed pay, while agencies take excessive cuts from transcript fees. Blacklisting and lack of legal protections further suppress complaints. To combat this, transparency, regulation, and collective action are needed to ensure fair compensation for these essential professionals in the legal system.

Freelancing as a court reporter offers flexibility, independence, and high earning potential. Unlike full-time court reporters, freelancers can choose their assignments and set their schedules. Opportunities extend beyond courtrooms to depositions, board meetings, arbitrations, and captioning services. Income varies based on experience and specialization, with top professionals earning high six-figure incomes annually. Success requires networking, marketing, and ongoing skill development in this dynamic and rewarding career.

The concept of “Responsible Charge” has safeguarded the integrity of the engineering profession by ensuring direct oversight and accountability. The court reporting industry can adopt a similar framework to reinforce ethical standards, accuracy, and public trust. By requiring court reporters to take direct responsibility for their transcripts, oversee technological processes, and commit to professional development, the industry can enhance its role as a critical pillar of the judicial system.

California’s new Freelance Worker Protection Act (FWPA), effective January 1, 2025, mandates written contracts and ensures court reporters receive payment within 30 days of invoicing. Signed by Governor Newsom, the law protects freelancers from late payments and unfair treatment. Court reporters should familiarize themselves with these provisions to safeguard their earnings, enforce timely payments, and maintain compliance with this important legislation.

AI in court reporting is often praised for speed and efficiency, but its risks outweigh its benefits. It lacks human judgment, misinterprets legal nuances, and threatens confidentiality. Court reporters provide accuracy, cultural awareness, and ethical oversight—qualities AI cannot replicate. Over-reliance on automation endangers legal integrity and jobs. Instead of replacing professionals, the legal system must prioritize human expertise to ensure fairness, precision, and security in legal proceedings.

Court reporters are critical to the legal system, but there’s a growing trend to minimize our work by referring to it as a “gig.” While some report high earnings, many of us face fluctuating incomes, high self-employment costs, and no stable salary. Flaunting our earnings risks undermining our profession and could lead to more support for automation. We must emphasize the expertise and dedication that make our work valuable beyond just the pay we receive.

Many businesses assume they can bypass U.S. tax laws by hosting events abroad, but this is a misconception. If operations, planning, or transactions occur within the U.S., tax obligations may still apply. Non-compliance can lead to legal penalties, reputational damage, and even classification as a transnational criminal organization. Understanding federal and state tax laws is essential to avoiding serious financial and legal consequences.

AI is transforming industries by enhancing efficiency and accuracy, including in court reporting. While AI cannot replace the expertise of court reporters, it assists with legal research, terminology verification, and managing attorney contact details. AI streamlines workflow by automating routine tasks, allowing court reporters to focus on accuracy and transcription quality. This collaboration between human skill and AI ensures reliable, high-quality transcripts essential to the legal system.

Stenographers remain irreplaceable in the legal field, ensuring accuracy, trust, and confidentiality that AI cannot match. Unlike machines, they adapt in real time, discern context, and uphold the integrity of legal records.

California’s ongoing debate over electronic court recordings centers around the failure of SB 662, which sought to legalize such systems, and the CCRA’s legal victories. The Los Angeles Superior Court’s controversial decision to implement electronic recordings despite Government Code § 69957 raises concerns about accuracy, legality, and fraud. With implications for the future of court reporting, this issue could spark a constitutional crisis with nationwide repercussions.

The Los Angeles Superior Court’s recent move to replace licensed court reporters with electronic recording systems violates California law and threatens the integrity of the legal process. Critics argue the decision is part of a manufactured shortage of reporters. The California Court Reporters Association calls for an immediate reversal to no response from the court.

Steno imposters are infiltrating the legal profession, posing as qualified court reporters while lacking the necessary skills or certifications. These fraudsters use forged credentials, tech tools, or subtle errors to deceive clients and legal professionals, compromising the accuracy and integrity of transcriptions. Vigilance and verification are key to detection.

An imposter has infiltrated the stenography profession, deceiving industry professionals and clients while exploiting unpaid volunteers and engaging in unethical business practices. Reports link her to financial misconduct, organized crime, and intimidation tactics against whistleblowers. Additionally, she has issued dubious legal threats to silence critics. This scandal underscores the urgent need for industry reforms to safeguard the integrity of court reporting.

Court reporting agencies are abandoning skilled stenographers in favor of digital alternatives, prioritizing profits over accuracy. This shift endangers the legal system, leading to transcription errors, security risks, and compromised justice. As private corporations push for cost-cutting measures, courts face delayed appeals, flawed records, and frustrated attorneys. The legal industry must act now to preserve stenographers’ role and protect the integrity of judicial proceedings.

The push for digital court reporting threatens the accuracy of legal records and the integrity of democracy. Despite claims of a stenographer shortage, the real crisis is the corporate-driven agenda replacing skilled professionals with flawed automated systems. Errors in digital transcription risk wrongful convictions and manipulated records, undermining justice. Preserving human stenographers is essential to safeguarding transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in America.

Christopher Day’s article critiques the NCRA’s failure to standardize certification and licensing for stenographers across all states. He argues that adopting a unified “CSR” license could have strengthened the profession against digital transcription. Day suggests the current system leaves the industry vulnerable to exploitation, potentially opening the door for antitrust action.

In the realm of court reporting, the dichotomy between Steno Meritocracy and Social Connections presents a perennial debate. On one hand, the profession prides itself on a meritocratic ethos, where success is ostensibly determined by skill, dedication, and proficiency in stenography. However, the importance of social connections cannot be understated. Networking and fostering relationships withinContinue reading “Steno Meritocracy versus Social Connections”

Veritext shareholders have mandated a 50% split between digital and steno services in all offices nationwide, focusing on profits. Weekly meetings track the digital business, which has to meet the target. A reward of $1,000 is offered for documentation proving the mandate. The policy may have legal ramifications, especially in California.

In the fight against tyranny, stenographers serve as vital guardians of the judicial record. As Lord Acton famously warned, “absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The role of court reporters is crucial in protecting the truth, ensuring accuracy, and preventing corruption. Their independence from judges ensures the integrity of the legal process. The removal of human court reporters, as seen in Waukesha County, risks undermining justice and opening the door to tyrannical abuses.