March 11, 2015
What Does Punctuality Mean to Court Reporters?
By: Colleen Jilio-Ryan | Posted in: court reporter
Court reporters must make punctuality a core ethic of the profession. When it comes to anything involving the court system, showing up early is always better than showing up late. That’s why court reporters commonly make a point to arrive at a deposition at least 30 minutes early.
Here are the key reasons why punctuality comes with the job of court reporting:
When Reporters Show up Late
Showing up late to a deposition can hold up several people, including the witnesses. This can force all parties involved to delay the deposition and stay longer than expected. It can also lead to hurried questioning by an attorney, which can create an extra disadvantage for the court reporter.
It could lead to the attorney complaining to your agency. Ideally, a court reporter should always be early and well prepared.
Plan Ahead
The best way to avoid showing up late is to plan your entire day so that you know not to put yourself under pressure. Use Google Maps or MapQuest the day before the deposition and understand the amount of time needed to get to the event.
Do not wait until the last minute to rely on online tools because it is essential that you know where you will be in the hours leading up to the deposition. Allow yourself extra time to get to the destination to account for traffic jams or other inconveniences.
Protect Your Reputation
Since, punctuality is so important to a court reporter’s job, it’s best to think of it in terms as a given rather than a probability. You simply commit to yourself that you will take the necessary steps to show up to every deposition early.
Even one late appearance can hurt your reputation if word gets around. It’s best to develop a history of reliability.
Colleen Jilio-Ryan is the Owner of Jilio-Ryan, a Tustin based premiere law consulting firm. The firm along with its certified court reporters is dedicated to providing the highest quality deposition and litigation services to attorneys, insurance companies, and corporations. With her sincere efforts, Colleen is committed to meeting the highest standards of the legal industry, and is an industry leader when it comes to on-time court reporting and deposition scheduling.