Remote Depositions During the COVID-19 Crisis

April 6, 2020 7:22 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

COVID-19, or coronavirus, has shut many of the nation’s courthouses down, and as people are transitioning to work-from-home environments, remote deposition services in Phoenix, AZ are more important than ever. Since we’ve all been cautioned to stay home to avoid the spread of COVID-19, lawyers have to get creative to avoid losing time and clients.

For many attorneys, it’s hard to break the familiar habit of deposing witnesses while you’re in the same room. Most have been trained to follow a specific procedure—and procedural rules—that don’t always translate well to remote conferencing. However, if you consider this an opportunity to try remote depositions, you might be pleased with the time- and money-saving benefits of not needing to travel.

Navigating remote depositions

Remote depositions are increasing in popularity across the nation, and this was the case even before the COVID-19 crisis. They save money and time on travel, which is particularly great when you’re coordinating deposition witnesses in multiple faraway locations. Here’s how to navigate this new territory:

  • Notify all parties ahead of time: Chances are, opposing counsel knows that you want to conduct a remote deposition, but you still need to formally notify them, as well as all witnesses, of your intention. Depending on the state, there may be additional civil procedure rules to follow—research these ahead of time. Be prepared to get a stipulation on the record that all parties agreed to the remote deposition.
  • Hire a remote court reporter: Hiring a remote deposition service in Phoenix, AZ is the next step. Look for a court reporting firm that specializes in remote court reporting and videoconferencing services. They’ll guide you through the process of setting up the call and any necessary test runs.
  • Email exhibits ahead of time: If you plan to use exhibits, email them to the court reporter as well as opposing counsel ahead of time. This allows the reporter to mark the exhibits and save time and enables your opposing counsel to review. You may also choose to use an app with a screen-sharing function.
  • Mute your microphone: Just like during conference calls, if you’re not actively speaking during the deposition, mute your mic.
  • Avoid wi-fi when possible: If you can use a hardwired internet connection, such as ethernet, it will help you avoid technical malfunctions that can occur on wi-fi.
  • Give your court reporter plenty of time: Because this is an unusual practice, be patient and flexible with your court reporter. Give them enough time to record appearances, ask questions and get acclimated.

With a little practice, remote depositions can become second nature.

Remote deposition service in Phoenix, AZ

Bartelt | Nix Reporting, LLC has been at the forefront of court reporting innovations since 1972. Our team of highly-trained court reporters is also skilled at appearing at and recording remote depositions, videoconferences, and more. Let us help your firm navigate the COVID-19 crisis with our quality court reporting service in Phoenix, AZ—in any circumstance. Call us today to learn more about our remote depositions and other services.

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