Audio and video recordings of all proceedings are of paramount importance in the world of law. They can serve to carry out justice in the best possible way. The only problem is that it takes a lot of time to scan audio or video files to identify important items that need referencing. This is where legal transcription comes into play. Any type of legal proceeding, whether audio or video recording, can be converted into document format. The legal transcriptionist listens to the file and types out the spoken words, creating a carefully-formatted text document. Equally, transcriptions may be generated by a software program and later edited by a human transcriptionist.
As a rule, legal transcriptions are done in-house, but it’s not uncommon for law firms to outsource this overwhelming task. Many of them have realized that it’s beneficial to their practice to hire legal transcription services. The service provider focuses on the task, so the transcription gets done faster and it’s more precise. The question now is: How are legal transcriptions used? Well, transcribed documents make it easy to review depositions, share vital pieces of evidence, and study past cases. But not only. Here are other uses a law firm might have for transcriptions.
Deciding what questions to ask the witness during a trial
If the case goes to trial and the parties have given their opening statements, it’s time to question the first witness. They will be asked to sit down and ask the questions, which are relevant to the matter in dispute. The questions are either direct or cross-examination. By having word-for-word documentation from legal proceedings, depositions, in particular, the lawyer can formulate a set of questions. Basically, they can decide what questions they want the jury to hear and which ones they’d rather let the opposing counsel ask. With the transcription of the audio/video files, the lawyer can immediately find the right information and come up with questions.
Keeping family members informed on what is going on
Family members that can’t attend trials or hearings can keep up with court proceedings by reading the legal transcriptions. They will know if things are going well or the exact opposite is happening. Legal transcriptions enable family members to understand what was said and done during the court session. If anyone suffers from a hearing disability, the legal transcription is an added benefit because they’ll be able to follow the court proceedings.
Creating a plan for appeals
The jury is the cornerstone of the criminal justice system. This institution will remain the default form of trial for serious crimes under the state law. It’s the responsibility of the court reporter to transcribe the proceedings of the courtroom. No matter what method is used, the words eventually become the official record. Legal professionals can take notes on the ruling. Since text is easier to work with, it’s easier for the lawyer to get a better understanding of the jury’s decision. The lawyer reviews the transcript and creates a plan for appeals. They know how to get the attention of the appellate court.