By Suzanne Quinson
Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA. Image by Suzanne Quinson.
Hailing from South Philly as I do, Rocky Balboa has been a hero of mine since I was a little girl. In my tween years I became obsessed with Rocky, and boxing in general, reading up on Rocky’s own hero, Rocky Marciano (whose knock-out punch, a right uppercut, was nicknamed the Suzy-Q, thank you very much). It struck me recently that preparing for depositions, and legal matters in general, is not unlike Rocky preparing for the big fight with Apollo Creed back in 1976. Granted, I can tie Rocky into just about any topic, as many Philadelphians can, but read on and decide for yourself.
Setting the goal
Rocky is doubtful he can beat the champ, even when Mickey signs on board to train him. However, he decides he will at least go the distance, something no fighter has ever done against Apollo. This is his goal, and it spurs him on in his intense and unorthodox training (punching raw meat in a freezer?!), even when he is discouraged by the media’s portrayal of him as a loser. In the same way, paralegals and attorneys set a goal with each case, coordinate the details with their client, and work doggedly to win. The filing of notices, motions, preparations for depositions, etc., all lead up to “the fight.”
Assemble a team
Rocky has Mickey, Paulie and, of course, his beloved Adrian, to train and support him as he gears up for his big day. Similarly, attorneys have their paralegals and their court reporting team. It’s critical that the team works together, each providing his or her expertise. The reporter provides realtime, instant rough drafts, and the final transcript, while maintaining confidentiality and providing redacted files as needed. The videographer provides the high-definition video of the proceedings, with excellent audio quality, which can even be synced to the final transcript if requested. The videographer can assist with video clips to be used as exhibits in a deposition as well. Additionally, the team can assist with additional tasks such as printing (and shredding!) of exhibits. Interpretation may be required, and the trusted court reporting agency is an obvious choice to provide the best available interpreter with subject matter expertise and relevant experience.
It’s all about hard work
Training for a fight against the world heavy-weight champion is no joke, and neither is winning your case. It takes committed professionals putting in the time and effort. Reporters use any prep materials provided by paralegals to put together word lists, familiarize themselves with the terminology, etc., as do interpreters. The court reporting professionals strategize to ensure they are at the location early to allow ample time for set-up, guaranteeing no delays in the proceedings. They deliver on time to ensure the legal team delivers on time. When an expedited transcript and video are needed, this is no problem for the best-in-class court reporting agency.
For your own knock-out depositions, contact Planet Depos. You can schedule online, or email schedulenow@planetdepos.com or international@planetdepos.com to reserve coverage.