Legal transcription can frequently be done from home, either working directly for an attorney’s office or for an outsourced legal transcription service. The requirements are very similar to medical transcription, and many outsourced transcription services offer both.
What is legal transcription?
The legal system in the U.S. creates a tremendous amount of documentation. Everything that takes place requires hard-copy documentation. Attorneys generate numerous, sometimes lengthy, documents and correspondence. Formal and informal hearings and meetings may be recorded, as well as interviews. Police reports and interviews may also be recorded for documentation. Court proceedings and depositions are typically recorded by a court reporter; court reporting is not the same as legal transcription.
Transcription is required to create a hard copy. A legal secretary may perform many of these duties, but many offices prefer to have the secretary do scheduling, court filings, assist with preparation for trial, etc. The legal transcriptionist typically only transcribes.
What do I need to know to become a legal transcriptionist?
Like medical transcription, legal transcription is very specialized. The terminology and formatting are very specific to the legal system. You also need to have excellent English grammar and spelling skills. Computer proficiency is becoming a requirement in almost any job in today’s market, and legal transcription is no exception. Legal transcriptionists must be familiar with word processing software, as well as digital audio file formats and how to play them using a footpedal control on the computer. For offices still using analog dictation, use of a transcriber with footpedal is required.
Even when you are paid hourly, production is essential, so keyboarding is important. Most legal secretary and transcription jobs require a typing speed of at least 80 wpm. If you aren’t a fast and proficient typist, you will not make as much money if you are being paid by the piece. If you work in an office and you are paid hourly, you will be expected to produce a sufficient volume of work to meet document deadlines. Fast and accurate typing will be essential.
A good legal transcriptionist needs to:
- Listen to a phrase or meaningful word group, key those words, and listen again before completing the first group of words
- Understand legal terminology and use it correctly
- Analyze what is being dictated and listen to the dictator’s tone of voice as a guide to aid in correct punctuation
- Produce transcribed copy that is set up attractively and is free of spelling, punctuation, grammar, or typographical errors
- Transcribe legal reports at a minimum rate of 45 correct lines in 30 minutes
- Review documents for weak areas and make improvements by studying rules and examples
- Proofread transcripts with 100% accuracy.
- Use information found in the appendix, roots, prefix, and suffix sections of legal reference texts and materials
- Identify, define, and produce a variety of transcribed legal records and reports
How much can I make?
If you work as an employee in an office, you can expect to make between $15 and $25 per hour, depending on where you work.
If you work as an outsourced contractor, you would typically charge by the piece. This can be by the line, the page, the recorded minutes or any other means of measuring production that is agreed upon between the parties. You may also choose to charge by the hour. If you work directly for your clients, this is something you will negotiate. If you work for an outsourced transcription service, you would most likely be paid by the piece. How much you earn would depend on how much you produce.
Legal transcription is in demand and there are legitimate work-at-home opportunities. If you have or are able to acquire the requisite skills, this may be a good career to pursue.
