CLT Communication & Stakeholder Engagement 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A court reporter contacts you requesting collaboration on a lengthy multi-day hearing transcript. What communication step is essential before dividing the work?
- Begin transcribing immediately to save time
- Align on formatting standards, speaker identification conventions, and handoff procedures (Correct answer)
- Let each transcriptionist use their own preferred style
- Refuse collaboration to avoid liability
Correct answer: Align on formatting standards, speaker identification conventions, and handoff procedures
Aligning on standards before dividing collaborative work prevents inconsistencies that would require extensive revision.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'active listening' in the context of a legal transcriptionist's client intake call?
- Transcribing everything the client says verbatim during the call
- Asking clarifying questions, summarizing requirements back, and confirming understanding (Correct answer)
- Remaining silent to avoid interrupting the client
- Taking notes only on billing information
Correct answer: Asking clarifying questions, summarizing requirements back, and confirming understanding
Active listening involves clarifying, summarizing, and confirming to ensure complete and accurate understanding of client needs.
Question 3: An attorney calls to say the transcript you delivered contains content he believes was off-the-record. What is the correct immediate response?
- Argue that the recording did not indicate an off-the-record session
- Immediately withdraw the transcript from circulation and escalate to your supervisor (Correct answer)
- Tell the attorney to file a formal complaint with the court
- Delete the transcript entirely without documentation
Correct answer: Immediately withdraw the transcript from circulation and escalate to your supervisor
Removing potentially protected content from circulation immediately limits liability while escalation ensures proper handling.
Question 4: What is the purpose of sending a transcript delivery confirmation to a client after completing an assignment?
- To request additional payment beyond the agreed rate
- To create a record confirming receipt and starting any revision request clock (Correct answer)
- To solicit reviews of your transcription services
- To remind the client of future available dates
Correct answer: To create a record confirming receipt and starting any revision request clock
Delivery confirmations establish a documented record of receipt, which is important if revision deadlines or disputes arise.
Question 5: When a non-attorney legal professional (e.g., a legal administrator) asks you to bypass a required attorney approval step, how should you respond?
- Comply since the administrator manages workflow
- Politely decline and explain that the approval process exists to protect all parties (Correct answer)
- Report the administrator to the bar association immediately
- Ask the administrator to put the request in writing, then comply
Correct answer: Politely decline and explain that the approval process exists to protect all parties
Maintaining required approval protocols protects confidentiality, accuracy, and legal compliance even under internal pressure.
Question 6: A client requests that you sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before receiving audio files. What does this indicate about client expectations?
- The client doubts your professional credentials
- The client expects strict confidentiality and formal legal protection of sensitive information (Correct answer)
- The client intends to delay payment by adding paperwork
- The NDA is optional and can be declined without consequence
Correct answer: The client expects strict confidentiality and formal legal protection of sensitive information
An NDA request signals that the client prioritizes formal, legally binding confidentiality protections for their sensitive matter.
Question 7: During a deposition transcript review call, the defending attorney and the noticing attorney disagree about a disputed word. What is the transcriptionist's role?
- Side with the noticing attorney as they arranged the deposition
- Provide the audio timestamp for the disputed word and let the parties and/or court resolve it (Correct answer)
- Change the word to match whichever attorney sounds more confident
- Refuse to participate in any review calls
Correct answer: Provide the audio timestamp for the disputed word and let the parties and/or court resolve it
Providing the audio reference is the transcriptionist's appropriate role; final resolution of legal disputes is not within their authority.
CLT Communication & Stakeholder Engagement 3
A court reporter contacts you requesting collaboration on a lengthy multi-day hearing transcript.
What communication step is essential before dividing the work?