BuyerZone Legal Transcription Fact Sheet
What is legal transcription?
Legal transcription takes oral dictation from legal professionals and records them as electronic or printed documents. The service may include briefs, testimonies, hearings summaries, trail proceedings, judgments, pleadings, legal discussions, consultation information, and more.
Who uses legal transcription?
Many professionals use legal transcription including attorneys, large businesses, non-profit and governmental organizations, banks, insurance companies, and more.
How does legal transcription work?
Legal professionals record information to a digital voice recorder or over an 800 number. They then send it to the transcription company in one of two ways: either by converting the file to MP3 format and sending the data by email or over a secure Internet connection, or by burning the data onto a CD and mailing it in.
The transcriptionist listens to the tape, transcribes the audio, and provides notes for the first draft according to your specifications. A proofreader then listens to an audio cassette or digital audio file. After eliminating obvious errors and noting which segments are inaudible, it’s sent to a senior proofreader for final quality assurance before it’s sent to the customer.
Do I need to purchase special equipment?
Most transcription services only require you to use a digital voice recorder. Some companies may provide the recorder or access to an 800 number as part of their services.
What is the general turnaround time for legal transcription?
Some companies have transcription agents who access files 24 x 7 x 365 and can guarantee turnaround times as quickly as 12 to 24 hours after submission. You may be able to get even faster service for an additional fee.
Can legal transcription companies provide other services?
Depending on the company, they may be able to offer document drafting and review, completing and organizing forms and files, reporting, and updates on particular cases or legal situations. Transcription companies charge considerably more for these services in addition their standard responsibilities.
Who provides legal transcription services?
Reputable transcription companies can deal exclusively with legal projects or offer a broader scope of transcription services for medical industries and other businesses. The transcriptionists can be trained legal secretaries, paralegals, or even retired law professionals. Transcription companies can also provide proper training to those with no legal experience at all.
How do transcription companies train their agents?
Most transcription companies train their agents to follow typical court guidelines and format them according to your needs. They make sure candidates understand legal terminology and can pass speed and efficiency tests before putting them to work. To ensure accuracy, these companies also employ more experienced quality assurance agents to review the work.
How do I select a legal transcription company?
Start by submitting a free legal transcription request for quotes and get matched with up to six different companies. Then compare each company’s prices and services before agreeing to work with one. In particular, make sure each company guarantees the confidentiality of your information and provides secure data transfers. Reputable legal transcription companies will also provide a free trial period so you can examine the quality of work they can offer.
How much does legal transcription cost?
Depending on the company’s pricing guidelines and the size of your project, you may pay:
- $0.08 to $0.25 per line
- $0.75 to $2 per minute of recorded audio
- $1.25 to $2.50 per page for large projects (you may have to pay a fixed rate for a minimum number of pages)
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