Legal Transcription Definition

What is a legal transcription?

Most definitions of legal transcription services define a legal transcript as a typed record of spoken words.

In a court room setting the transcription task  is usually performed by a stenographer on a stenotype typewriter. A stenotype is a typewriter that types  words in short form as opposed to the letter for letter typing of a normal typewriter.

Legal transcription can also refer in a more general sense to any transcripts used in the legal field.  Such as, transcripts from interviews with witnesses or clients, or simply dictation by lawyers of a legal nature.

It is usually understood that legal transcription  is a technical skill - requiring not only the standard skills of a transcriptionist but also considerable knowledge of the legal industry.

If the transcripts are not required during a courtroom proceeding many legal secretaries carry out the task of legal transcription.

Courtroom Stenotype