The Legal industry is a very fascinating yet intimidating sector to work with. As a translation company or a translator, you would have the opportunity to work with Criminal Lawyers,Family Court Lawyer, Defense Ministry, the Police, accused personnel, Juries,Insurance people and more. A legal transcription is encrypted from recorded audio footage or even live speakers. For example, if an attorney is dictating notes, it can be recorded and transcribed for police or legal administrators on later stages of their interrogation. Every case does not have a court reporter who can pen down every last detail. So, law firms or the court hires transcription companies who can decode the audio and convert it into a textual format.
Legal documents are mainly imperative for securing data and keep track of all the records that may be of use in future. Legal transcription also does not mean just court room depositions. Even patent, copyright issues, financial law, business law, company law etc. can be covered under the wide umbrella of legal. Legal transcription companies hiring translators would expect them to have a basic knowledge on subject matter. Competence while transcribing audios or videos can determine your efficacy. While you transcribe for legal industry, you must be mindful of a few parameters. Here are some useful and major rules to remember while transcribing for the Legal Industry:
Do not correctGrammar
As much as it is tempting to correct grammar of the speaker whose audio you are transcribing,you do not have the freedom to do so. The main purpose of Verbatim Legal Translation is to transcribe the exact details without changing any word or meaning of the sentence spoken. For example, if someone in the audio speaks as lang and says ‘wanna’, ‘gonna’, ‘cuz’, you must transcribe it the way it is.Legal transcription is a serious business when it comes to transcribing audios or videos since it is an evidence or important information about a particular case. You must not change the meaning or misinterpret by any means which could lead to confusion or defamation.
Importance of Non-verbal communication and Background noises
Legal Transcription involves even the smallest noise that happens in the background.It is very important that the transcribers use background noises, cough, cry,clearing of throat and more. Beyond words there are a few actions and communications that need to be necessarily included in the legal document. If a person is speaking to the judge, even the smallest of their reactions, head shakes, hand movements and gestures have to be documented. These cues that are non-verbal can turn out to be important sometimes in a few cases. The transcriber or the professional transcription company must be mindful of these little prompts while working for a legal client.
Inclusion of filler words
When you transcribe a business audio call, it does not come as a very important parameter to note down the fillers in them. It is fine if you give it a miss. But in Legal transcription, mainly in transcription type like the intelligent transcription, encrypting even fillers makes your document legitimate and right. Words like ‘ummm’, ‘eh’, ‘ah’, ‘shiish’ should definitely not be avoided. These sounds are legit and filler words can just mean a lot more than what it sounds. It can probably even say a lot more than what one thinks. Lawyers can use it to their advantage, and it helps them determine the nervousness of the accused. It can also help them determine as to how bold, prepared, hesitant or right the person is while being interrogated. This will definitely have a huge impact in a legal case. Filler words can never be given a miss while transcribing.
False starters to be a part of the document
A rule by legal transcription says that every small false starter or stutters have to be transcribed without missing out on them. These include ‘I… I…’ or ‘I didn’t, I mean, I did’ etc. This might not mean much to normal audience but for lawyers, this could mean a lot. Let us say that a person working for a corporate is sued and has to answer questions from the lawyers of the company. During interrogation, experts would easily be able to read their face, mind and tone.These parts of speech have to be transcribed into the document to decide if the false starts or shutters are meaningful or not in the later stages.
Looking for Legal Transcription services in New York? Scripts Complete has an answer for all your legal transcription doubts and queries. If you are a transcriber looking for a job, then we are your best legal transcription company to work for.
