Although I have heard grumblings at times from the reporting community on this requirement, I personally have never looked at this requirement as a burden.  As I’ve attended seminars all over the country meeting some wonderful reporters and vendors, I have always embraced this requirement and have been thankful for its existence.  With the ever-changing technology in the legal and reporting arena, I can’t imagine that it’s possible to work as a reporter and to stay current without spending some time in a classroom, at a webcast, or at some training session.   I must point out at this point that I could report in California without the RPR designation.  One only needs a CSR to work here.  

Well, I was thrilled last week to learn that Assembly Bill 671 has cleared the Senate floor.  AB671 was co-sponsored by the Deposition Reporters Association (DRA) and the California Court Reporters Association (CCRA).   The bill will enact continuing education requirements on California CSRs.   Hooray to DRA and CCRA!  This reporter thinks this bill is necessary and will make all of us in the profession stronger.

Well, I digress. Let’s talk about what I learned recently at the STAR conference for court reporters in Lake Tahoe. Well, first and foremost, I learned that when you volunteer for groups such as STAR, you meet and associate with the best of the best in the reporting industry. I want to thank and acknowledge President Mark Renzi, my fellow STAR board members, Executive Director Tina Kautter and her firm, and Rosalie Kramm, my co-chair on the conference. You all did a great job and the event was not only big fun but very informative.

Before I go any further, I don’t want to forget to remind you all that if you are a STAR member and if you order supplies from Pengad, you are not only entitled to a great discount, but when you buy more than $3,000 worth of merchandise, you will have your STAR dues paid by Pengad. For firm owners, that’s an easy mark to hit. I was thrilled to have my membership for this year paid by Pengad. Thank you, Pengad!!!

One of the first things I learned at the conference was that Stenograph is now keyless. If you have updated to CATalyst Version 12, you can now be keyless on three different computers. Of course, you can only use one computer at a time, but this makes life easier. To set this up, contact Stenograph at http://bit.ly/dT7TKZ. As a realtime reporter, this is one less thing you have to carry around with you. Great news, Stenograph!!!

In the meetings with Stenograph, I learned something new about their market share. And although I have always been a huge fan of Stenograph products and technologies, I am even now more convinced that students and new reporters should absolutely, positively purchase Stenograph software. With over 55 percent of the reporters on Stenograph, and with the other 45 percent split with other vendors, why would you do anything else? As a court reporter/firm owner, I know how much easier it is for our production department to have our reporters using this software. For students, you want to purchase equipment that you can easily learn about, have others familiar with, etc. And it’s a big investment, and why not invest in the best. And as for a steno machine, there is just no question that their machines are the best out there.

On the technology front, I must say that I love, love, love my new iPad.  I must say my favorite new app is GoodReader. GoodReader supports large PDF and TXT files. As a side note, it also can easily open the Wood & Randall portfolio. I can’t wait to pass that on to our techie clients. With the GoodReader app, once you open the file, you can read, annotate, and even email your comments right from your iPad.

Another app I like is Evernote. I’ve been using that for my many meetings. It’s great for writing notes. When you synch with your computer, you can even create files easily, and it’s a nice organizational tool.  I really need to thank Shelly Hunter for these two tips re the apps. I might note that she’s a fellow iPad junky as well.

As I’m finishing up this blog, I’m realizing how much more I have to say about what I learned. I guess that means next week’s blog may be a continuation. Until then, let’s all try to learn something new, and let’s try to learn it the easy way.

What brought me to this blog are a few things I have read recently on Facebook.   A real estate professional in my area went into a lengthy discussion about a real estate deal where she represented the buyers that wanted to back out of the deal.  This agent, on the Facebook post, went on to explain in detail the buyers’ problem with the property and how ridiculous, she believed, their concerns were.  To make this even worse, other real estate professionals chimed in lending their support to her dilemma.   In my mind she had been so specific that if the post had been read by these buyers or one of their friends or relatives, there would be no doubt who this “real estate professional” had been representing.  

Now, I know I’m up on my soap box, but what really concerned me was reading a post about a reporter who appeared at a deposition and then posted how rude personnel were at the law firm.  This reporter even shared the name of the law firm and described the receptionist.   That was shocking to me that a “professional” would do this.

I’m obviously using the term “professional” loosely here.  I just think a true  professional, either in the legal profession or otherwise, has a duty not to share  specifics. 

For a court reporter this burden is even greater.  We are officers of the court and should hold information about cases, law firms, judges, witnesses, et cetera,  in the highest regard.  I’m no prude and do chuckle when a colleague adds some levity through a post on some nondescript issue, but to go further, I believe, just crosses a line that a true professional should not cross.

Like I said, this is all just my humble opinion.  I would love to hear from others what they think is appropriate for a court reporter to share on a post. 

Studying for NALA’s Certified Paralegal Exam
by Makala E. Coleman, CP
I do not have a lot of experience as a paralegal; I’m just starting to get my feet wet in trying to figure out what a “paralegal” is. I went from being a file clerk, to a part-time secretary to one attorney (who I’m thankful was very patient with me), to working full-time for several attorneys.
I had aspirations of being a lawyer so landing a job with a law firm while I attended school was a dream to me. I soon found out that I did not want to be a lawyer, but I loved working within in the legal field. I loved the work, the challenge, the new story with every case. After going through the grind as a file clerk for several months, a co-worker took me under her wing, became my mentor and began to train me as a legal secretary. After I got out of school, I decided to work toward my certification. Since I do not have extensive experience and am still learning what it means to be a paralegal, I thought I would shed light on something I can actually help with: Insight on Studying for NALA’s Certified Paralegal exam.
The biggest challenge of the CP exam was trying to figure out how to study for it. The CP exam was more intimidating that the SATs were in high school. (Luckily, I did better on the CP exam than I did on my SATs.) Seeing the CLA Review Manual for the first time did not help. The book is huge! However, I highly recommend making sure you buy it and use it as a resource. Once I began to go through it, I realized how important the manual actually is. It includes all of the information needed for the exam, as well as practice questions for each section and a mock exam.
The most difficult sections for me were the Communication and Legal Research sections, however, several people needed to re-take the Judgment & Legal Analysis portion of the exam. For me, the Judgment & Legal Analysis section was more intimidating than it was difficult.
Communication. The Communication section focuses on spelling and grammar and includes multiple choice questions and a writing exercise. The Elements of Style by Strunk & White is a very helpful reference for not only the exam for a general brush-up for daily writing. What saved me on this section was the CLA Study Guide and Mock Exam, which includes numerous practice questions for those of you who need brush up on your grammar, spelling and vocabulary.
The Communication section also includes legal terminology and Latin. I wouldn’t spend an extensive amount of time studying the legal terminology or the Latin, but flash cards are the most effective study method. They are cheap, easy to make, and you can carry them around with you.
Legal Research. Since the exam is based on federal statues and rules, the Legal Research section of the exam was a challenge. Focus on this chapter in the manual! This was one of the few chapters I actually outlined because it lays out great examples of breaking down a citation. I always found that writing down what you are unfamiliar with will assist you in remembering it later. You can also use A Uniform System of Citation by the Harvard Law Review Association as a guide to Federal citations and practice citing cases and statutes based on that information.
The CLA Study Guide and Mock Exam is a great tool for those who need assistance staying on track. It breaks down the sections of the exam into several weeks, broken down by chapters, with a brief overview of the sections and a practice test at the end of each chapter. It also includes an additional mock exam so you can find out what the pace of the test will be. I spent several weeks on each section, but it gave me a rough idea of what schedule I should be following.
NALA also offers online courses and Short Courses that covers the material you are tested on. (www.NALA.org)

I spent about six months studying for the exam. It is a huge time commitment, but the reward of passing is worth the time. I carried my CLA Review Manual and CLA Study Guide around with me wherever I went with a highlighter and Post-Its for notes.

It’s also helpful to have someone else to study with. While I didn’t go this route, I wish I had. I cannot count the number of times I threw my hands up and said “I can’t do this, I’m done!” Just having someone else going through the same obstacles as you can help a great deal, but it always makes it easier to study with someone else so you can benefit from their strengths. Not only will they help keep you motivated and committed, but they can also help keep you sane through the process.

When Shanna Gibbs was nine years old she attended a trial with her father.  She was fascinated with the court reporter.  At a break in the proceedings, the court reporter took the time to demonstrate how her steno machine worked.  At that point this little girl decided she definitely wanted to be a court reporter when she grew up.  Shanna still lights up when she talks about that day in court.

When Shanna was fresh out of high school, she eagerly became a court reporting student at the Weill Institute in Bakersfield.  She attended for about two years, but because of family issues she had to quit before she had reached her goal.  In March of ’05 she was able to return to school.  She is currently in qualifiers and hopes to be able to take the test in either November ’06 or March ’07.  She’s still like an excited nine-year-old when she’s talking about her new career.  Her excitement is intoxicating.       

I had the pleasure of meeting Shanna when she sat in on a deposition with me.  I’ve been reporting 24 years, and I forget sometimes what it was like to be new to the field.  Shanna is very bright and inquisitive, and I tried to give her some tips that may make her transition easier.   

In my opinion, it’s not just about reporting the deposition and producing a great transcript, although those are a must, but it’s your confidence on the job.  The client must believe you are competent, and that begins when you walk through the door of the deposition. 

It’s all about attitude.  You are a professional now.  You are an important person in that room.  Dress and act like it!   Remember the old saying, “If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck”?    You’re a reporter, and now you need to act like a reporter.

An important tool here is wardrobe.  Use it!  Feel good about how you look.  You’re just starting out and you’re anxious and insecure and you need the confidence boost.   I suggest an investment in a few power suits and dress shoes.  They can be inexpensive and basic.  Sandals are seldom appropriate, and sleeveless shirts should only be worn under a blazer.  As for the men, ties are a must.    

Always arrive 20 to 30 minutes early and have your cell phone in the silence mode.  If possible, set up at the end of the table.  Of course always carry an extension cord for the hard-to-reach outlets.   I try to stay away from the coffee/water setup.  That can be a noisy spot during the deposition.

As the parties enter, confidently introduce yourself with a handshake and a look in the eye.  I always stay standing with my blazer on until I am completely set up and I’ve introduced myself to all and have cards and/or information from all those in attendance.  At that point I would sit down to signal that I am ready to go on the record.  If you sit down before that, you may have that rushed attorney commanding you to swear the witness.  That may fluster you and frustrate him when you are not ready.     

Exude confidence, be assertive, and smile!  It’s hard when you are new and scared, but fake it till you make it.  When you walk in that room, it’s show time.  People want to work with happy and confident people, not someone who is complaining or too timid.  They want to feel confident that the reporter at the end of the table is doing his/her job.   Leave your problems at the door and give the room your full attention.   

Make friendly conversation and try to fit in.  You are just as important as any person in that room.  Act like it!  Stay away from anything controversial like religion or politics.  Obviously you need to avoid conversations about the case.   In those instances it’s wise to excuse yourself.  No matter what you overhear, never repeat it.  Forget you heard it.

When reading back, do it with a loud and strong voice.  If you need to slow a witness down or have something repeated, do it confidently.   If you are timid in your request, they’ll think you are unsure of yourself and perhaps not able to do the job.   Remember, it’s your job to make the record.  Be in control and do not hesitate to protect the record.  

When marking exhibits, stay organized.  I keep track of the numbers on a pad, and I make sure to physically tag or number each exhibit.  Avoid the dilemma of figuring out which piece of paper on the table is your exhibit.  Keep the group organized.  The parties will truly appreciate it. 

Handle exhibits with care.  Don’t just shove them in your bag to be wrinkled or lost.  Use an envelope or folder to avoid any damage.  It will show the client you are organized and on top of things.

There is no question that this is a stressful time for even the best of writers, but you’ve proven that you are deserving of this career.  Believe in yourself!   Muster up all the confidence you can and walk – or even waddle — in there like you are the prettiest, brightest, and smartest duck in the pond.   Before you know it, you’ll be laying that golden egg!