Different elements will make or break your case. The critical component of all trials, regardless of their magnitude, is adequate preparation before facing the jury. Without a well-done report of different witness statements and court proceedings, this feat will be virtually impossible. Court reporters are, therefore, a vital element of all court cases. After the report has been collected through methods such as stenography, voice writing, and electronic methods, the report is transcribed.
There are different formats in which court reporters in Phoenix, AZ and other locations in the U.S. can deliver your report. This has been made possible with various technological advancements. The following are the most common transcript formats for court reports.
This has quickly become the standard digitized format for court reports since most browsers support it. PDFs are versatile, need no formatting, and allow the reporter to send fillable forms, images in black and white or color, and high-quality text. They are also the ideal choice if you want to preserve the original content of the court report and have similar on-screen and printed documents. However, PDF files can’t be imported into other programs directly and are, therefore, not the best option for files that are meant to be shared.
PTX
This is an e-transcript file. PTX files are small, making it easy and fast to email them in their full transcript in condensed, full size, and word index forms. A few court reporting firms also offer the option of hyperlinking the exhibits in a PTX file. There are free E-transcript viewers online, which will allow your law firm’s staff to print out the emailed transcript effortlessly in whatever format you want.
Microsoft Word
This is a standard format for transcribed reports, and the report will look similar on screen and in print. Microsoft word court reports are editable; therefore, you can make revisions, create drafts, and highlight different sections of the report when sending it to your colleagues. Unfortunately, Microsoft word files are not as compatible as other file formats and sometimes editing might not be an advantage since some content can get lost.
ASCII
ASCII files are essentially the raw text files used by different programs for the creation of different formats. These files are small and have no formatting, making them hard to read. You will need a stenographer’s expertise to decode the file and then transcribe it into any format you want.
Court reporting is not as easy as jotting down a few words you deem essential. The above court reporting formats will include all the words that form a part of your case and give you a clear picture of the case. These formats can be emailed to your firm right after your day in court or a deposition, making them convenient for your trial’s preparation.
Most firms will assume that an in-house court reporter is the best choice to handle their trials and depositions. Outsourcing this crucial task is more cost-efficient and gives your firm access to the latest reporting technologies and the best people in the field of court reporting. This is a good way to ensure happy clients and healthy revenue.
