This History of Transcription and Law Firm Productivity

Whether documents reside as paper in a client?s redwell or as electronic files in a computer, the process of their creation has changed little over time - someone types them. In fact, along with dictation, typing has been a business process mainstay of not just the legal industry, but corporate America, for decades.

Up until the 1970?s, the dictation to transcription process generally meant a secretary sitting in the same room with her ?boss?, physically writing down every word uttered into a notebook using shorthand. After this time consuming task, she would then travel to her desk and typewriter and transcribe her notes as a first draft. The attorney would make revisions by hand and the document would be retyped from scratch on a new sheet of paper until final ? when it was typed one last time from scratch onto letterhead, usually with several carbon copies. I?m sure anyone who was raised in the PC era can?t even imagine typing the same base document over and over ? but that was how it was done!

In the late 1970?s, the introduction of two pieces of office automation dramatically improved on the document generation process: the cassette recorder and the electric word processor.

Instead of tying up a secretary for hours, a cassette recorder allowed attorneys to dictate to a tape which was then handed to their secretary for transcription throughout her day or, for larger documents, to the firm?s word processing department. With the introduction of recorded dictation, law firm productivity soared! Secretary?s could answer phones and handle administrative tasks as they transcribed and attorneys enjoyed the new freedom of being able to ?work? independent of their secretary and even office -- so long they had their portable recorder, batteries and fresh tapes they could produce and get the ?work? done.

The next improvement to the process, or electric word processors, removed the double entry work of documents created on typewriters and law firms adopted this ?new fangled? technology with arms wide open. Leading the way was Corel?s WordPerfect? which was created specifically for law firms and DOS, long before Windows and the far inferior (IMHO) Microsoft? Word were even a thought. To this day, WordPerfect?s Fkey functions remain etched in my memory and it?s Reveal Codes feature make it an ?intuitive? application for most beginners.

The next improvement to the document generation process will undoubtedly be recognized as the jump from analog to digital dictation and the options that then become available.

Hard to imagine, but this one relatively minor change in how dictators produce the work, can provide heaps of benefits for everyone ? from the ability for dictators to work from any internet connection or telephone; to the ability of HR personnel to track and monitor the actual work in progress at a firm; to the flexibility to send files ?in house? or to lower costs, to a transcription provider or Virtual Assistant.

While it is true that in today?s world many attorneys draft their work while sitting behind their keyboards, if an attorney is fairly computer literate and can type at a decent rate using all fingers (ok, 8 is ok too!), then through cutting and pasting of previously created documents and other software enhancements, this method of document creation can be an efficient use of time. However, since all attorney time is usually billable, the argument could be made that less than proficient attorneys should not draft documents through keyboarding, otherwise clients end up paying for administrative tasks at attorney?s rates. Also, one needs to pay careful attention to meta data (the hidden information in documents) when cutting and pasting.

Just as music and video have moved away from ?tapes?, so too will dictation. The dictation/transcription process remains the best method to get the work done and upgrading to digital is actually inevitable. Word on the street (aka LegalTech NY) is that analog transcription machines will shortly become scarce then the little tapes will start going up in price. If you see that, you know the time draws near to investigate digital equipment. Also, if your current equipment breaks, really consider upgrading to digital. Everyone in your firm will be happy you?ve made the switch ? including you.

My recommendation are products by Olympus ordered through Bret Williams of www.novuscript.com. Bret is an Authorized Olympus Dealer who is happy to provide preferential pricing and free shipping on orders over $200 just for mentioning ?LegalTypist?. ;)

While I try to follow the motto my dear ol' mom instilled in me as I was growing up: ?If you don?t have something nice to say ? don?t say anything at all,? I do feel constrained to caution would be upgraders away from Sony? products. I have had nothing but trouble with their proprietary file types and dictators report their buttons and functions are almost impossible to understand. In comparison, the same associate handed an Olympus DS3000 was able to create and process digital dictation files with very minor effort. For the hard core partners who really resist change, I recommend the Olympus DS4000 as it is the only digital recorder on the market with a slide switch -- so it feels just like a tape unit but without the tape!

Andrea Cannavina, CEO of LegalTypist, Inc., http://www.legaltypist.com, provides custom digital dictation and initial drafts transcription solutions to attorneys, law firms and those who work with the legal industry. Andrea is an EthicsChecked Master Virtual Assistant with over 15 years legal administrative experience. LegalTypist opened its virtual doors in April 2001 and since has assisted dozens of firms and businesses with the implementation and configuration of customized digital workflow.

For a free copy of Andrea?s 20 minute podcast ? Digital Dictation 101, send an e-mail podcast@legaltypist.com.

Transcription Jobs

Medical transcription and data entry are two popular jobs that come to mind when you consider the word telecommunication. Transcription jobs are more or less very similar to data entry type of jobs. Both require good typing skills on part of the employee, accurate typing, basic knowledge of computer and reliable Internet connection speed. Irrespective of many similarities between transcription jobs and data entry jobs still one can say that the former requires more training and good understanding of English language.

Transcription Jobs v/s Data Entry Jobs

Transcription is basically a process whereby the transcriber receives dictation by tape, digital system or voice file by doctors and other others related to the industry. The basic job description of a transcriber is to listen to the recording of the information and accordingly type it in document form for future reference. Transcription jobs require high quality training on part of the transcriber so as to ensure a steady and positive job. Medical and legal transcribers are more professional and specialized as compared to local data entry operators. Medical and legal transcriber requires appropriate and adequate training on part of the transcriber. A little bit of carelessness on part of the transcriber can lead to future flaws for the company.

The basic pay rate for a transcriber is anywhere around $0.06 to $0.12 on per line basis. The development of the Internet has seen a tremendous rise in demand for medical transcriber all over. Many employers are now seeking the services of a transcriber to get their work done more efficiently and accurately.

Home-based medical transcription is also on a rise considering the rapid growth of Internet all over the world and people find dealing online more secure than what it used to be in the past. As a result of this boost many people are now opting for freelance transcription services over the Internet.

Data entry jobs on the other hand are not as specialized and popular as compared to transcription jobs. The basic criterion of a data entry job is to be familiar with your standard keyboard skills and also with the ten numerical keys. The pay for a data entry job is far less as compared to transcription jobs. Data entry type of jobs, pay anywhere around $8 per hour to start with.

If you are seeking for a professional and a high rewarding career then Transcription jobs would be a better option as compared to data entry jobs.

This article may be reproduced as long as the following resource box remains intact:

For complete help and advice on transcription, read the E-book ?Home Based Transcription Guide - How to make Money Listening to Words!? created by Nathian Jackson. This E-book will give you complete details about transcription, and teach you the ways of earning money through transcription without spending a single penny. This E-Book can be found at www.transcriptiontips.co.uk

Nathian Jackson

Home Based Transcription

Home-based medical transcription is basically a process whereby the transcriber receives dictation by tape, digital system or voice filed by doctors and others. The dictation that has to be typed by the transcriber includes history and physical reports, clinical notes, office notes, x-ray reports, operative notes, consultation notes, pathology reports and so on.

Basic skills and knowledge required by a home based medical transcriber

If you?re looking to make a decent living, enhance your life and create your own standards then becoming a home based medical transcriber is probably the best option. There are some basic skills and knowledge that one needs to have in order to become a successful medical transcriber. It is not very easy to start your own home-based medical transcription business nor is it very difficult to start one. If you are of the view that having a computer at home and good typing speed is enough to become a successful medical transcriber then I am afraid, it is not.

Here are some basic skills and knowledge required on part of the home based medical transcriber

? Taking a good online Medical Transcription training course. You can also attend a good school college trade or vocational school course.
? Having good listening skills
? You need to have excellent computer skills
? Superior research skills
? You need to have high quality speed with great accuracy
? You need to have some foundation in Physiology, Medical terminology, laboratory tests, Anatomy, Pharmacology, & medical equipment & procedures.
? You must have the ability to work under pressure and also sustain deadlines for different projects.
What's The Initial Investment Needed To Do Medical Transcription? If you are planning to start your own home based transcription business then there are some initial investments that you have to incur on order to ensure a safe start. Your four major purchases will be your medical transcription training, transcriber, computer and reference books so your investment will be very minimal to get the business of the ground.

? Firstly you need a home office especially if you are starting from scratch.
? You need to have a formal Medical transcription training
? You need to have a complete medical dictionary to make sure that the work is done accurately.
? You also need to have the necessary software programs like the medical spell checker and the abbreviation system such as PRD or Smart type to complete the job more professionally.

This article may be reproduced as long as the following resource box remains intact:

For complete help and advice on transcription, read the E-book ?Home Based Transcription Guide - How to make Money Listening to Words!? created by Nathian Jackson. This E-book will give you complete details about transcription, and teach you the ways of earning money through transcription without spending a single penny. This E-Book can be found at http://www.transcriptiontips.co.uk

? 2006-2009 Nathian Jackson

7 Steps for Becoming a Website Translation Provider

Translators have to be flexible when building their translation business. By being flexible, they are able to better adjust to changes in the industry and take advantage of any new opportunities that will arise.

One of the new opportunities that has come up in the last few years is the need that businesses have for website translation. This is a perfect opportunity for translators to take advantage of the (relatively) new technology of the Internet. More and more businesses are looking for ways to globalize, and one of the easiest ways for companies to do that is to have their publicly accessible information translated into other languages. The easiest way to do this is to have their websites translated. That is where you as a translator can come in and take advantage of the situation.

At first, it might be a little intimidating for a translator who has never worked in website translation to add that dimension to their business. However, it isn't as difficult as it may seem.

Here are seven steps (in no particular order) to adding website translation to your list of translation services:

1) Take a class about the Internet
If you don't know anything at all about the Internet, take a class. There are a lot of classes you can take that will give you a brief introduction. A good place to check is your local library.

2) Build and translate your own website.
Nothing will build credibility like showing potential clients that you have your own website and that it is the face of your business online. A business will be less likely to trust a translators that doesn't have a website.

3) Know the difference between text and images.
There is a big difference between translating the textual information on a website and translating words that are part of an image. If a company wants me to translate their website, I will translate the text and then send them translations for the text in the images. Make sure that the client doesn't want you send back the translated images. Doing that goes beyond the price for just translating the information.

4) Get a book on HTML.
When clients want their websites translated, they can either send just the text or the actual HTML files that includes both the content and the code. An HTML book can help you figure out what the code is and what it represents.

5) Start small.
Websites come in all shapes and sizes. Some are thousands of pages while some are only a few. Until you get familiar with the way website translation works, it's best to stay with the smaller websites and then gradually work your way up to more complicated websites.

6) Don?t be afraid to ask questions.
Especially if you're just starting out with website translation, always be willing to ask questions about things you might understand. If you're not comfortable asking the client, there are many translator forums you can visit where people are more than willing to help out other translators.

7) Just go for it.
You'll never be able to take advantage of this new opportunity if you don't go for it. It can provide you with an additional income stream, which is always a good thing.

Clint Tustison is a translator interested in helping other translators improve their businesses. His website, Spanish-translation-help.com is filled with information regarding the translation industry, and his monthly newsletter Translator Techniques is filled with tips and techniques for translators.

Professional Transcription and Your Business

Professional Transcription and Your Business

 by: Kate Smalley

Got stacks of audio tapes that need to be converted to a more user-friendly format? Professional transcription services may be the answer.

Professional transcriptionists can take standard or micro cassette tapes and produce a typed version of the text in a format that's clear, consistent and correct. They can create transcripts of taped meetings, training sessions, seminars and conventions, as well as dictated letters, reports and manuscripts. Once the information is transcribed, you can easily email, fax or post it to a Website.

Accuracy Is Essential

Transcribing actually covers a variety of services. It can include whatever editing is necessary to make a report or letter 'flow'. It can also include the tweaking sentence syntax, adjusting paragraphs, removing redundancies, and repairing general grammatical errors.

For some professions, a high degree of accuracy in transcripts is crucial. For example, medical transcriptionists must carefully listen to dictated recordings made by physicians and other healthcare professionals and accurately transcribe them into reports, correspondence and other administrative materials that eventually become part of patients' permanent files. Their ability to understand and correctly transcribe patient assessments and treatments reduces the chance of patients receiving ineffective or even harmful treatments and ultimately ensures high quality patient care.

Accuracy in transcripts is equally as important in other fields. In legal matters, it's essential because all testimony must be rendered exactly as it's spoken. Likewise, police detectives require precise transcripts of statements by suspects and witnesses. In the corporate arena, letters, meetings and training sessions must be properly transcribed for the sake of effective education and communication.

Requirements For A Good Transcriptionist

Whether you need medical, legal or general transcribing for your business, accurate transcribing requires a unique set of skills. But if your staff lacks the expertise or time to transcribe materials in house, an outside company can easily fill the void.

Working with an outside vendor offers a variety of cost-saving benefits, including:

• No cost of special equipment.

• No hourly employee downtime. You pay only for production.

• No Social Security, payroll or unemployment taxes.

• No medical insurance benefits, paid vacations and sick leave

But before you run out and hire the first transcription company available, make sure it has the skills to meet your needs. The outsourcer you choose should be:

• Well-versed in the English language

• Knowledgeable of the rules of grammar

• Familiar with your industry

• Easily accessible for questions

  For more information about professional transcription services, contact Kate Smalley, Connecticut Secretary, at 203-641-3739 or mailto:kms@connecticutsecretary.com

  Connecticut SecretaryFreelance Secretarial and Transcription Services
  http://www.connecticutsecretary.com
  203.641.3739 mailto:kms@connecticutsecretary.com