Intro to Digital Reporting - Canada

Canada Version - This course is designed to give participants a thorough understanding of digital court reporting to cover examinations for discovery and other non-court proceedings.

90-Day Course

Equipment Requirements

Some assignments in the Digital Reporting course require the use of digital reporting (DR) software to complete. Any type of DR software can be used to complete this course. For students who do not have DR software, a 45-day trial of VCC-EE software is available through an industry partner. The trial software is compatible with PCs and will not function with other operating systems commonly used on computers/devices, such as Mac, Android, Chromebooks, or iOS.
- If using VCC-EE:
  - Minimum Requirement: Windows 11
  - Recommended (not required) Computer Specs: Current Generation Quad Core Intel Processor / 8GB RAM. (If using a desktop with no internal sound card, it may be necessary to plug in an external microphone.)
Most software companies in this industry are PC-friendly. You can use a Mac in this course; however, we do not offer support for Mac-specific questions. Additionally, you cannot use a Mac if you plan to use the trial DR software provided.

Individuals taking this course will learn about the Canadian court system, legal procedure, terminology, ethics, professionalism, and confidentiality. Students will learn how to work with DR (digital reporting) software and equipment, and they will practice annotating with DR software. There is no hands-on training with DR equipment.

(40 Hours / 4.0 CEUs)

Course content

Lesson Intro to Digital Reporting (Canada)
- Terms and Conditions Acknowledgement
- Course Introduction
  - Course Info
  - Canada / U.S. Content
  - Glossary
  - Assignment Breakdown
  - Audio Recording
  - Becoming a Commissioner of Oaths
  - Software Request Form
- Module 1 - The Legal System
  - Module 1 - Part 1 - The Court System
    - Jurisdiction
    - Types of Courts
    - Provincial Court Systems
    - The Federal Court System
    - Superior and Supreme Courts
    - The Federal Court of Appeal
    - Style of Cause/Title of Proceedings
    - The Tax Court of Canada
    - Case Law and Court Opinions
    - Administrative boards and tribunals
    - Burden of Proof: Civil vs. Criminal
  - Module 1 - Part 2 - Life Cycle of a Case
    - Types of Parties
    - Lawyers / Legal Representation
    - Self-Represented or On Own Behalf (OOB)/Also Present
    - Appearances - Crossword Puzzle
    - Pre-Suit and Filing
    - Discovery
    - Interrogatories
    - Hearing vs. Trial
    - Order of Proceedings
    - Post Trial
    - Life Cycle of Case Activity
    - Court Proceedings
    - Types of Witnesses
    - Type of Witness Match
  - Module 1 - Part 3 - Laws
    - Federal Rules
    - Statutes
    - Common Law
    - Case Law and Court Opinions
    - Doctrine
    - Administrative Law
    - Equity
    - Remedies in Law
  - Module 1 - Part 4 - Types of Proceedings
    - Rules for Proceedings
    - Discoveries & Questionings
    - Examination Under Oath (EUO)
    - In Aid of Execution and Statements
    - Proceedings Exercise
    - Alternative Dispute Resolutions
    - Conferences and Meetings
    - Medical Examinations
  - Module 1 - Part 5 - Types of Court Reporters
    - Digital/Electronic Court Reporter
    - Court Monitor
    - Voice Writer / Mask Reporter
    - Stenographic Reporter
  - Module 1 - Part 6 - Litigation Support Services
    - Certified Transcript
    - Original / Copy Transcript
    - Expedited Transcript
    - Rough Transcript
    - Realtime Transcript
    - Remote/Hybrid Proceedings
    - Legal Video
    - Interpreters
    - Lit Support - Crossword
  - Module 1 Test
- Module 2 - Hardware and Software
  - Module 2 - Part 1 - Sound and Hardware
    - Analog vs Digital
    - Capturing the Audio
    - Compression & File Size
    - Audio Channels
    - Polar Pickup Patterns
    - Pattern Hunt
    - Microphone Types
    - Microphone Size
    - Microphone Hunt
    - Audio Connections
    - Audio Cables & Maintenance
    - Connection Hunt
    - Recorders
    - Audio Interfaces
    - Headphones and Earbuds
    - Sample Equipment Setups - Conference Rooms
  - Module 2 - Part 2 - Additional Equipment
    - The Computer
    - Power
    - Recording Media / File Size
    - External and Archival Storage
    - Additional Supplies
    - Equipment Maintenance
    - Equipment Testing & Troubleshooting
    - Audio Recording
  - Module 2 - Part 3 - Software
  - Module 2 - Part 4 - Annotations
    - Annotations
    - Purpose of Annotations
    - Abbreviations
    - Speaker Designations
    - Time Stamps
    - Initial Annotations
    - Index Items
    - Critical Annotations - Prioritizing
    - Playback & Annotations
    - Proper Noun Annotations
    - Objections
    - Off-the-Record Discussions
    - More Annotations
    - Annotation Clean-Up
  - Module 2 - Part 5 - Annotation Practice
    - Annotations Walk Thru-Exercise
    - Your Turn to Annotate
    - YouTube Practice 1
      - YouTube Practice 1 - Submission
      - YouTube Practice 1 - Self Assessment
    - YouTube Practice 2
      - YouTube Practice 2 - Submission
      - YouTube Practice 2 - Self Assessment
    - Additional Practice
  - Module 2 - Part 6 - ASR
    - Automatic Speech Recognition
    - Priority Shift
- Module 2 Test
- Module 3 - On the Job and On the Record
  - Module 3 - Part 1 - Before the Proceeding
    - Before the Job Starts
    - Being on Time
    - Reading Your Paperwork
      - Read the Job Sheet
      - Read the Notice/Appointment Sheet
    - Accepting a Job
    - Customer Service
    - Emergency Add-On
    - Microphone Placement
    - Types of Rooms
    - Equipment Setup
    - Conference Table Setup
      - Seat at the Table
      - Seat at the Table 2
      - Seat at the Table 3
    - Meeting Participants/Housekeeping
    - Appearance Info
  - Module 3 - Part 2 - During the Proceeding
    - Going on the Record / Read-On
    - Swearing in the Witness
    - Multiple Witnesses
    - Confidence Monitoring
    - Performing Playbacks
    - When to Interrupt
    - Equipment Malfunction
    - Nonverbal Events
    - On and Off the Record
    - Off the Record Conversations
    - Marking Exhibits
    - Marking Exhibits Continued
    - Transcript Orders
    - Ask for Spellings
  - Module 3 - Part 3 - After the Proceeding
    - Exhibit Log and Submission
    - Retaining Exhibits
    - Case Information Sheet
    - Archiving Audio and Notes
    - Proper Noun List
    - Proper Noun Identifier Activity
    - Research Tips
    - Search Engine Tips from Google
    - Proper Name Activity
    - Proper Noun Activity - Exhibit Research
    - Providing an Estimated Page Count
    - No Shows & CNA
  - Module 3 - Part 4 - Remote & Hybrid
    - Best Practices - Remote & Hybrid
    - Audio Quality / Echo
    - Location of Remote Proceeding
    - Remote Appearances
    - Remote Oath
    - Exhibit Handling on Remote Proceedings
    - Marking Electronic Exhibits
    - Air Gap & Direct Connect
    - Remote - Direct Connect: Videoconference
    - Remote - Direct Connect: Telephonic-Only
    - Hybrid - Direct Connect
    - Hybrid - Additional Direct Connect
    - Hybrid - Air Gap
  - Module 5 - Part 5 - Beyond Basic
    - Covering EUOs
    - Working Video - Web Camera
    - Basics of Legal Videography
    - Digital Reporter and Videographer
    - Interpreters in a Proceeding
- Module 3 Test
- Module 4 - Professionalism in the Legal System
  - Module 4 - Part 1 - Professionalism and Decorum
    - Professional Attire
      - Attire Game
    - Decorum
    - Being Professional
  - Module 4 - Part 2 - Ethics
    - Court Reporting Ethics
    - Professional Etiquette and Interactions on the Record
    - Client/Colleague Relations
    - Conflict of Interest
    - Avoiding Bias and Gift Giving
  - Module 4 - Part 3 - Maintain Confidentiality
    - Confidentiality
    - Audio Requests / Jurisdictional Rules
    - HIPAA
    - Encryption and Passwords
    - Transmission of Information and Avoiding Viruses
- Module 4 Test
- Graded Annotation Assignment
  - Graded Annotations - Video
  - Graded Annotation - Submission
- Final Test
- Course Conclusion
- Course Evaluation