Why Remote Depositions Are Here To Stay

Why Remote Depositions Are Here To Stay 

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic slammed the door on in-person depositions, remote ones have become more popular and the norm. They are not going away any time soon, however. Lawyers and court reporters are now accustomed to conducting depositions remotely. It has proven to be more effective and convenient than ever. 

Remote depositions have become more popular/the norm because of not only their convenience but also due to the fact that they are less costly than in-person proceedings. Just as one example, lawyers are now able to focus on the deposition instead of spending time traveling, hauling files, and other things related to in-person depositions. And despite some initial pushback, a growing number of attorneys are embracing the use of this new technology. In addition to cutting back on travel expenses, remote depositions also allow for more flexibility when it comes to scheduling. This can be a big advantage if one of your attendees can’t make it to the deposition but still want to participate. Send them a link and they can join the deposition from their own home or office instead of having to come into your office.  

But despite the many benefits remote depositions have brought to the legal world, they do come with their share of challenges. Lawyers need to be familiar with the software used, have some practice, and ensure that they are comfortable with it. In addition, they need to be aware of state rules of civil procedure and notary rules that govern their use in each state in which the deponent resides. They also need to check whether their deponent’s jurisdiction allows remote oath administration. The biggest concern of all may be witness coaching, which can be a serious problem when attorneys cannot monitor their witnesses’ surroundings, off-screen activity, and/or other applications or functions on their computer during questioning. However, attorneys can thankfully mitigate this particularly concern by having their witness shut down all electronic devices during the deposition. 

Categorised in: Deposition Services, Legal Depositions, Remote Depositions, Video Deposition

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