A few short days after my last post regarding networking with court reporters, a court reporter colleague shared a recent experience she had after she referred an assignment to another reporter because of calendar conflicts. The day of the deposition, the attorney client called and advised that the assigned reporter was late to the doctor’s deposition. Her tardiness was because she was not familiar with the area and got lost. Of course, this situation can happen to the best of us; right? The attorney was very understanding and got the testimony of the doctor.
When he received the transcript, he was shocked and amazed when he opened the envelope. In addition to the transcript, exhibits, and invoice were several marketing materials from the assigned reporter’s agency. The loyal attorney client then advised his regular court reporter (referring court reporter) that he received these materials.
The following additional tip will ensure success in building a client relationship with a referring court reporting firm and/or court reporter.
- When you accept an assignment from a court reporter or an agency, send ONLY the transcript and invoice to the attorney client. You would not want someone to solicit your clients, so afford the same courtesy to the referring agency to ensure a long-lasting and trustworthy relationship in the future.