Below is an email sent by Kim Heaton, owner of A&L Legal Video.  I asked her for permission to publish it.  In my opinion, this is right on point and great advice for all legal videographers.

Subject: A&L Expectations

 

Hi Guys,

 

I hope this email finds you are doing well. 

 

It’s high time I sent this email out to each of you.  I have had numerous issues lately.  So I’m going to spell out my expectations and nip this stuff in the bud.  If any of you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me or respond to this email. 

 

1.     DON’T EVER WEAR JEANS TO MY DEPOS.  Please dress and conduct yourself professionally.  Keep your comments about the case to yourself.  Never use swear words or tell off-handed jokes.  If you do not conform to this request, you will no longer cover videos for A&L Legal Video.

 

2.     When an attorney stipulates confidential or attorneys’ eyes only, you are to mark the DVD, and the FRONT of the paperwork *CONFINDENTIAL*   or *AEO*  and the time span.  Do not write it on the back of the worksheets.  If the media is not marked accordingly, and is sent out to the client(s) it can potentially be a liability issue…If you do not conform to this request, you will no longer cover videos for A&L Legal Video.

 

3.     When you experience technical issues; audio, video, etc…MARK IT ON YOUR WORKSHEETS.  Mark the time it happened and what went wrong.  If you don’t, you will no longer cover videos for A&L Legal Video.  I’m done with spending a lot of my time fixing problems and taking a lot of heat from my clients.  I’m done with being blindsided by my clients about issues because I wasn’t told of it by you.  I understand there’s going to be tech issues…it happens…However, I won’t tolerate not being informed of it.

 

4.     Wear your headphones at all times.  If there are any noise issues; cell phone interference, master gain too high, audio too low, FIX THE PROBLEM  RIGHT AWAY!  Do not use table mic’s in a normal depo setting.  Table mic’s should only be used if you’re in a depo with more than the average amount of attorneys.  Leave the table mic volume off until someone (who is not mic’d) starts to speak.  When they’ve finished speaking, turn the table mic all the way down.  Table mic’s are notorious for picking up ambient noises and will drown out the examiner, witness, etc.   If you do not conform to this request, you will no longer cover videos for A&L Legal Video.

 

5.     I would appreciate your invoices in a professional and logical format.  Not on an email!  The information I want on your invoice is: Case Name, Case No., Witness name, Volume No., Job No. (if any), Name and address of depo location, hours (time of arrival to off the record), lunch time, # of tapes used, parking (if any) with receipts, shipping cost (if any), TOTAL

 

6.     If you are covering a depo for one of my clients and shipping everything to them, you are to mark on the worksheets any costs such as parking and/or shipping.  That way, they can bill their clients accordingly.  If it’s not on the paperwork, don’t bother billing me for it.  Some of my clients have had to eat the parking/shipping costs because they’ve billed their clients prior to getting my invoices.  (I’m having to wait on you to get it to me).  Please email or fax your invoices, to me, within two days of the depo.   

 

Some of you have worked with me for years.  I apologize if I sound harsh and authoritative.  I am at the end of my rope with some of these issues.  It’s not fair that I have to go through this, let alone, my clients.  My business, my reputation, and my clients are ALL very important to me.  Please take heed to my requests/expectations.  Questions, comments, feedback are all welcome.

 

Thank you for your consideration.

 

Kim Heaton

A&L Legal Video

 

rosalie@kramm.com

There are a lot of things to think about when traveling as a court reporter flying to different deposition destinations.  The first thing to decide is if it is possible to bring your steno machine, computer(s), and personal items all as a carry-on – no checked luggage.  One has to anticipate the exhibits that might get marked.  Typically, for a one- or two-day deposition with no streaming, I can get away with carrying everything on the plane.  I have a double-computer Swiss Army computer bag that can hold a purse, a plastic bag of toiletries, and a couple of blouses along with my laptop. 

 

I love my travel gadgets, including my Bose headphones, IPOD (with Frank Sinatra singing “Come Fly With Me”), and electrical charger made for airplanes.  (See September 2008 blog.)

 

If I fly Southwestern, I make sure I get a low enough number, 60 or less, so there will be no chance of running out of luggage space up top for my steno machine.  It takes discipline.  Set an alarm so you check in 24 hours before your scheduled flight time.  The few times there has been a lack of bin space, I carry my machine on my lap and let them check the bag.  Stenograph (www.stenograph.com) has a cool “Jet” bag that is made just to fit your machine so it is easy to carry your steno machine separate from your case.  If you fly from Chicago to Milwaukee, you will need the “Jet” bag because the plane is so small, no bags are allowed.

 

Flying first class is the ticket.  All I can say is gather miles, miles, miles.  Use a credit card to buy everything and stick to one carrier.  It is easy to buy a coach ticket and upgrade to first class.  It takes some planning and often a phone call.  I have my miles with American Airlines.  Rather than booking online, I spend the extra $25 to talk to a service agent.  Service agents know the airline business inside and out.  They can make suggestions and create opportunity that might not be available online.  A little charm on the phone goes a long way.

 

If you travel first class, there is always room for your bags, the security lines are shorter, and you have space to work on your computer and edit jobs.   You will get to your deposition destination relaxed and ready to go. 

 

I love flying to work in other cities around the country.  It is super fun to be walking the streets of Chicago, New York, San Francisco and being a part of the commerce energy.  Compare that to adventure of being in Houston, Jackson Hole, and Tucson.  As a court reporter, the world is your oyster.  If you are great at what you do, you can go anywhere.  Be ready.

rosalie@kramm.com