However, what was once just a stopgap measure quickly became the standard. Remote depositions are projected to continue to be the standard for both court reporting firms and attorneys even as limits loosen and more in-person activities start to occur again. In fact, 83% of lawyers surveyed said they anticipate at least one party participating remotely in every trial.
Remote depositions not only provide various benefits and advantages—but they also help assure that you can receive the reporter coverage you need to preserve the record and generate a transcript in the face of labor scarcity. Let us first understand why depositions are essential and then understand the advantages of making remote depositions the new normal.
What Are Depositions?
An interview conducted under oath outside of a courtroom before a trial is called a deposition. The lawyer for the opposing party may have you give a deposition if you or your company are a party to a lawsuit. This procedure is a part of discovery, which is the exchange of information and documents between litigants that will support their claims or defenses at trial.
Benefits of Remote Depositions
1. Tackles The Issue Of Court Reporter Shortage
Getting coverage for an in-person deposition just when you need it is no longer a guarantee of the current court reporter scarcity and pandemic-related health issues with in-person meetings and events. By choosing remote depositions, you'll have a much better chance of getting court reporting service and a lower probability of delays and unavailability.
It might be possible to conduct depositions remotely, which could lessen the need for in-person court appearances and lessen the pressure on court reporters in Atlanta.
2. Remote Depositions Are More Convenient For Everyone
The fact that there is no need for anyone to physically travel to court is probably the most evident advantage you'll discover when assessing the advantages of remote depositions.
People will be much more at ease if they can conduct the deposition from home, reducing stress and facilitating the procedure in a much more ideal and pleasant situation. People tend to be less defensive when comfortable, which can make a virtual or remote deposition go more smoothly.
Remote depositions also have the advantage of making all exhibits, such as documents, transcripts, videos, and so on, easily accessible to all parties on a single platform. Having digital copies of the files is also a tremendous bonus because it significantly lowers the likelihood that something will be forgotten or lost.
Additionally, since everything is in one accessible location, there is no need for legal teams to fax, mail, or email documents back and forth. The cards are on the table, and everything is completely transparent, which may or may not be a good thing depending on the particulars of the deposition.
4. Saves Both Time And Money
The cost of remote deposition is significantly lowered, which is one of its main advantages. Less money is spent on staff salaries to organize the deposition's many components and travel costs. There are additional travel costs and the time to go to and from the client's location if the lawyer needs to travel to meet with them. The loss of premium time from other clients can result from these lower-level expenses building up over time. Virtual depositions allow lawyers to cut the cost of an in-person deposition by up to one-third.
It also saves time for the witnesses. Traveling to the chief attorney's office for a witness requires time and money, especially if it is farther than a few hours away or in another city altogether. The witness can be deposed farther away from their residence via remote depositions. This reduces the amount of time and money spent on extraneous expenses, allowing the lawyer to concentrate on the case of their client. An attorney doesn't have to devote more time away from their other clients to keep a tight timetable.
Conclusion
Remote deposition offers a fantastic foundation for an environmentally friendly legal process, from cost and time savings to reduced energy use and resource waste.
While remote depositions were technically possible for decades, they were rarely used. The legal profession was then abruptly picked up by COVID-19 and put in a new location, where remote depositions are the standard method for gathering witness testimony and competent remote deposition conduct is expected of litigators.
If you want to manage your remote depositions in the best possible way, contact Elizabeth Gallo Court Reporting, LLC. We have years of experience and can offer you the best transcripts and remote video depositions. Our professionals are dedicated to giving our customers the absolute best service possible.