The purpose of this page is to briefly describe the services I provide to court reporters. Please contact me if you wish to see my current list of rates. I do all my work using Case CATalyst Version 16.02. I also firmly believe in open, honest, and consistent communication. I will never leave you wondering whether or not I've received your file or how long it will take me to return the completed transcript to you. I understand the trust it takes for a court reporter to work with a scopist. That is why I will always treat your transcript as if it were my name that appears on the final copy.
Scoping: Involves editing a transcript from a court reporter to match, verbatim, the audio recording. This includes:
Scoping does not include creating cover pages, exhibit pages, examination pages, etc. If a reporter's transcript needing to be scoped already includes these pages, I do not charge for these extra pages. Also, I will gladly help with exhibit pages by inserting page numbers or generating an indexed page using the software's automated Build Index feature.
Proofing (or proofreading): Involves editing a transcript that has been scoped, either by the reporter or by another scopist. To assure the least amount of errors possible in a transcript, I do NOT recommend having the same person proofread and scope the transcript. Proofreading includes carefully reading the transcript and making any necessary changes the scopist might have missed (see above description). Unlike most other proofreaders, I can make these changes directly in the CAT software, saving the court reporter a lot of time. I also flag any changes I have made so the reporter can decide whether or not to accept the proposed changes.
Scoofing: A slang term meaning doing more than proofreading but less than scoping. This usually includes proofreading a transcript that has already been scoped while listening to the entire audio recording, a service reporters may find helpful in the case of videotaped depositions.
Whether I'm scoping, proofing or scoofing, I always run two sets of spellchecks: once with the CAT software and once with Microsoft Word. It's truly amazing how many errors come up in Word that the CAT software completely dismisses! Examples of such words include acquited, argumentive, diabilities, sytem, and unlikelyhood. I also generate a core list, a feature in Case CATalyst, to verify whether proper nouns and names are consistently spelled.
Flagging: Includes inserting a symbol such as a caret ^ or asterisks ** (depending on the reporter's preference) to call attention to a confusing area. I usually reserve these for areas where I suspect a word may be missing. If I suspect a certain word is incorrect, I highlight it with a scan stop and in some cases include a hidden text note explaining why I've flagged the word.
Turnaround times: Typically, my normal turnaround time is three to five days but may be longer depending on the length of the transcript. Expedited transcripts are usually returned within one to three days. I do not currently offer daily services, but I do work on realtime transcripts using Work Units.
Add-ons: Most of the time, I don't charge extra for certain things that may take a little extra time because I don't believe in nickel-and-diming my clients. However, there are some circumstances where it is necessary such as with expert witnesses who use a lot of terminology and transcripts with a high number of dropped, mistranslated, or untranslated words. Also, unlike many scopists, I don't charge extra for weekend work as I understand this is a 24/7 industry.
Please feel free to contact me for my list of rates.
Scoping: Involves editing a transcript from a court reporter to match, verbatim, the audio recording. This includes:
- Listening to the entire audio recording and adding missing words, deleting extra words, and correcting any untranslated, mistranslated or misspelled words to match what was actually said
- Researching terms and proper nouns for correct spelling and formatting
- Adding, deleting, or changing punctuation
- Paragraphing in order to make the transcript more readable
- Flagging areas of confusion for the court reporter to review
- Adding any missing bylines, exhibit numbers, parentheticals, and examination headers
- Checking any formatting preferences outlined by the court reporter by using a preference sheet
Scoping does not include creating cover pages, exhibit pages, examination pages, etc. If a reporter's transcript needing to be scoped already includes these pages, I do not charge for these extra pages. Also, I will gladly help with exhibit pages by inserting page numbers or generating an indexed page using the software's automated Build Index feature.
Proofing (or proofreading): Involves editing a transcript that has been scoped, either by the reporter or by another scopist. To assure the least amount of errors possible in a transcript, I do NOT recommend having the same person proofread and scope the transcript. Proofreading includes carefully reading the transcript and making any necessary changes the scopist might have missed (see above description). Unlike most other proofreaders, I can make these changes directly in the CAT software, saving the court reporter a lot of time. I also flag any changes I have made so the reporter can decide whether or not to accept the proposed changes.
Scoofing: A slang term meaning doing more than proofreading but less than scoping. This usually includes proofreading a transcript that has already been scoped while listening to the entire audio recording, a service reporters may find helpful in the case of videotaped depositions.
Whether I'm scoping, proofing or scoofing, I always run two sets of spellchecks: once with the CAT software and once with Microsoft Word. It's truly amazing how many errors come up in Word that the CAT software completely dismisses! Examples of such words include acquited, argumentive, diabilities, sytem, and unlikelyhood. I also generate a core list, a feature in Case CATalyst, to verify whether proper nouns and names are consistently spelled.
Flagging: Includes inserting a symbol such as a caret ^ or asterisks ** (depending on the reporter's preference) to call attention to a confusing area. I usually reserve these for areas where I suspect a word may be missing. If I suspect a certain word is incorrect, I highlight it with a scan stop and in some cases include a hidden text note explaining why I've flagged the word.
Turnaround times: Typically, my normal turnaround time is three to five days but may be longer depending on the length of the transcript. Expedited transcripts are usually returned within one to three days. I do not currently offer daily services, but I do work on realtime transcripts using Work Units.
Add-ons: Most of the time, I don't charge extra for certain things that may take a little extra time because I don't believe in nickel-and-diming my clients. However, there are some circumstances where it is necessary such as with expert witnesses who use a lot of terminology and transcripts with a high number of dropped, mistranslated, or untranslated words. Also, unlike many scopists, I don't charge extra for weekend work as I understand this is a 24/7 industry.
Please feel free to contact me for my list of rates.