You and your client have at least one thing in common. You’re both very busy. Thankfully, this post-pandemic “new normal” is learning to embrace the type of work flexibility that legal technology can provide. It’s a change that’s becoming clearer when discussing remote depositions, remote court appearances, and the need for alternative approaches to deposition reporting amidst a national court reporter shortage. What was once seen as a temporary fix to accommodate social distancing has now become a path to increased productivity and efficiency. And while the legal profession debates whether this is just a phase or the start of something new, individual states have begun to weigh various proposals on the best path forward. Although some states have reverted to the status quo, legal technology remains a valued option throughout the country.
Look no further than the West Coast to see how legal technology has worked its way into the fabric of our judicial system. In what might serve as an example for the rest of the country, Washington’s Supreme Court issued an order in late October 2022 sustaining its presumption for remote depositions, a move that seemingly validates faith in and paves the way for the use of remote technology. Over on the opposite coast, Massachusetts has considered a proposal to expand state rules of civil procedure to provide structure and protocol for remote depositions, a move made in response to strong support from attorneys in the Commonwealth. The Midwest has also incorporated legal technology. At the start of the new year, Illinois repealed and replaced State Supreme Court Rule 45 to allow circuit court participants, with judicial discretion and certain exceptions, to appear remotely for civil and criminal matters without prior court approval. Finally, in what may be yet another sign that states are willing to put increased trust in legal technology as an alternative method to capture testimony, the Indiana State Supreme Court ordered that stenography is permissible so long as audio recording requirements are also satisfied.
But these are just a few examples. Whether it’s remote depositions, remote court appearances, or alternative means to capture witness testimony, there is a willingness to embrace legal technology, particularly after it served such a crucial role in providing sustainability and flexibility during the pandemic. The focus and pace of change may differ from state to state, but signs appear to point towards the future. Technology proved that justice did not stop for COVID-19. And in doing so, the profession discovered alternative ways to provide certainty in uncertain times. Consider this the next time you schedule a deposition.
Your deposition service should provide the tools to leverage technology in a way that makes life easier. Your deposition experience should be empowered by a modern vision for productivity and efficiency, not limited by ways of the past. Readback is the first remote, non-stenographic deposition service to offer Active Reporting, a human/tech approach that provides luxury benefits such as certified transcripts in one day, rough drafts in one hour, and access to near-time text during the proceeding, all at low, flat rates. Want to see Readback in action? Visit our website and join a live demonstration. See how Readback is the tool to help attorneys maintain the very flexibility their clients deserve.
*Disclaimer: Readback is neither a law firm nor a substitution for legal advice. This post should not be taken as legal opinion or advice.
