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Depo International is now Lexitas. In the coming months, this page will automatically re-direct to: www.lexitaslegal.com. For more information about our new name, click here.
The legal process is changing. Since 2020, almost every state has passed rulings allowing for the remote collection of witness testimony.
When your trial can cost thousands of dollars in legal fees, you want to make sure you have the best means of collecting your evidence. But if you aren’t used to remote depositions, you could be making a lot of mistakes. Here are some simple and easy tips for scheduling your remote deposition.
At the very most basic, a deposition hearing is a sworn, out-of-court testimony given by a witness in a civil lawsuit. Functionally, it is a question and answer session between lawyer and witness, and serves to both gain information, as well as create an accountable legal record of witness testimony.
The pandemic has changed a lot of how interactions between people occur. As we transition globally into more and more remote use services, we see shifts in procedure within all sorts of fields, including the legal system.
Remote depositions are one of those shifts. But these forms of interview present unique challenges for the legal teams involved in the process.
Technical issues are a pain in the butt. Nothing can flatline your Deposition hearing like a bad signal, or a lack of necessary equipment.
There’s a couple of important things to check for in that regard. Firstly, are you all going to be in a Zoom call, or are some of you going to be socially distanced in a single location? Does the Deponent have access to a functioning computer or tablet with which they can connect to your call or video chat?
Another technological concern of remote deposition is transcription. You’ll want to inform the court reporter and their team ahead of time to ensure that you have your transcript in as short a time as possible. You should also talk to them about whether or not you will require a real-time feed ahead of time.
You can also hire a remote deposition service to help you handle these concerns and more.
Documentation is an important part of the legal process. In the face of the current climate, getting ahold of those documents can often take more time than you might expect.
Make sure to request any documentation you require well ahead of time. Remember that even digital copy can often be a little delayed to safety procedures in the current climate.
This also applies to exhibits! Keep a tech support agent on hand, and coordinate with them ahead of time to ensure a timely and proper display of exhibits at request.
You are the greatest and most important tool in your arsenal. There’s a number of ways you can prepare yourself ahead of time for your remote deposition to get the edge on your opposition.
You know what happens at a deposition hearing normally, but how does a remote deposition differ? Check the local and state laws well ahead of time to ensure you know what changes you may need to make to your setup.
Familiarize yourself with your platform – how is it used, what can it do, what are its limitations? You can also try performing a mock deposition through the platform with a colleague. Remember to adjust your questions and communications styles for a virtual environment!
If you want to make preparing for your remote deposition a breeze, contact our team of trained professionals. Depo International is a service built for litigation and provides comprehensive services for your legal needs.
Check out our blog for more helpful tips!
Depo International is the Trial Lawyer’s Choice for depositions across the United States and abroad. We provide top-notch court reporters whether doing business here in the land of the free or overseas.
Click below for more information on our DepoRemote™ solution to learn how we can help you continue to execute depositions remotely!
