Over the past three years, the legal industry in the United States has undergone significant changes, driven primarily by the global pandemic, technological innovations, and evolving business needs. One of the most notable shifts has been the widespread adoption of virtual meetings, hearings, and depositions, particularly through platforms like Zoom. This shift has not only changed the way legal professionals work, but has also impacted stenographers, the essential service providers who transcribe courtroom proceedings. In this article, we will explore how Zoom has affected the stenography market in the legal sector and consider how emerging technologies such as AI and voice-to-text solutions are poised to further shape the future of legal transcription.
The Rise of Zoom and Virtual Hearings
When COVID-19 hit in early 2020, the legal industry, like many others, faced a sudden and dramatic shift to remote operations. Courtrooms closed, in-person meetings were canceled, and hearings were postponed or rescheduled. Legal professionals, including attorneys, judges, and court reporters, had to quickly pivot to virtual platforms like Zoom to continue serving their clients and maintaining judicial functions.
Zoom became the go-to platform for remote hearings, depositions, and other legal proceedings. Its ease of use, reliability, and video and audio capabilities made it ideal for conducting hearings remotely. For court reporters and stenographers, the shift to Zoom presented both challenges and opportunities.
The Effect on the Stenography Market
Reduced Demand for In-Person Court Reporting
Before the pandemic, the stenography market in the legal industry was relatively stable, with court reporters transcribing live proceedings in person. Court reporters used shorthand methods (stenotype machines) to provide an accurate, real-time transcription of what was happening in the courtroom. However, when the court system switched to Zoom and other remote platforms, the need for in-person stenographers decreased significantly.
Virtual hearings presented several logistical challenges for stenographers. While many stenographers were used to working in person with minimal technological interference, remote hearings required adapting to new tools and working environments. This shift meant that stenographers had to learn how to operate in virtual settings, manage different types of digital audio, and ensure their equipment was working effectively in a less controlled environment than a courtroom.
Additionally, many legal professionals saw virtual hearings as an opportunity to save costs. Remote hearings reduced the need for travel, allowed for faster scheduling, and, in some cases, allowed parties to hire freelance court reporters remotely. The reduced demand for in-person reporting translated into fewer jobs for stenographers, especially those in smaller markets.
Impact on Court Reporting Agencies and Stenographers’ Income
Stenographers traditionally operated as independent contractors or through court reporting agencies. With the rise of remote hearings, the work dynamics changed. Some agencies that specialized in in-person services had to quickly pivot to offering virtual reporting services, while others struggled to maintain their client base. This caused a decline in the income of many stenographers who were no longer able to secure regular work in courtrooms.
Furthermore, as virtual hearings became more common, attorneys and other legal professionals started to question the necessity of traditional stenographers. While some continued to appreciate the accuracy and reliability of live transcription, others sought cheaper alternatives, including AI-powered transcription services or voice-to-text tools that offered a more budget-friendly solution.
AI and Voice-to-Text Technologies in the Legal Industry
In recent years, the legal industry has seen rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and voice-to-text technology. These tools have begun to challenge the traditional model of stenography, offering legal professionals an alternative to human transcribers. With these innovations, law firms, courts, and legal departments have been exploring how AI-driven transcription can impact costs, efficiency, and accuracy.
AI-Driven Transcription
AI transcription services use natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms to convert speech into text in real-time. These systems are trained on large datasets of legal language, which allows them to understand and transcribe specialized legal terminology. Major players in this space include companies like Prevail, Verbit, and Otter.ai, which have made strides in providing transcription services that rival the accuracy of human stenographers.
The primary advantage of AI-powered transcription is speed and cost-effectiveness. AI can transcribe vast amounts of content within seconds or minutes, at a fraction of the cost of a human stenographer. For law firms, courtrooms, and other legal professionals, this offers significant savings, particularly when managing large volumes of transcriptions or when handling routine proceedings that don’t require high levels of precision.
However, the widespread use of AI transcription services has raised concerns about the future of the stenography profession. While AI tools have become proficient in transcribing straightforward proceedings, they still struggle with understanding nuances, accents, complex legal jargon, and unclear audio. Human stenographers, with their deep understanding of context and legal terminology, can still produce more accurate and nuanced transcriptions.
Voice-to-Text Technology and Legal Practice
Voice-to-text technology, which is commonly used in smartphones and other consumer devices, is also making its way into the legal industry. Tools like Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Google’s Speech-to-Text, and Microsoft’s Dictate feature enable legal professionals to dictate documents, emails, and other texts hands-free. For busy attorneys and legal assistants, this can be a time-saving tool that enhances productivity.
While voice-to-text systems are highly accurate in dictating general language, their application in the legal domain still requires careful consideration. Legal documents are filled with specific terms and precise language, which can sometimes lead to errors or misinterpretations when using voice-to-text technology. Even though these tools are improving, they are still not a perfect substitute for human oversight.
Hybrid Models: Combining AI and Stenographers
Rather than completely replacing stenographers, many experts suggest a hybrid model will become more common in the future. In this scenario, AI could assist stenographers in real-time by providing initial transcriptions that a human court reporter can then edit and verify. This approach could help stenographers focus on quality control and accuracy while reducing the time spent on routine transcription tasks.
For example, AI-powered tools could be used to transcribe large parts of a deposition or hearing, but the stenographer would still provide oversight to ensure accuracy, particularly with regard to legal terminology, context, and any unclear speech or background noise. This could allow stenographers to work more efficiently while maintaining the high standards of accuracy that legal transcriptions demand.
The Future of Stenography in the Legal Industry
The legal transcription market is at a crossroads. The widespread adoption of platforms like Zoom has shifted the demand for in-person stenographers, while AI and voice-to-text technologies are changing the landscape of transcription services. For stenographers, this shift presents both challenges and opportunities. Those who embrace emerging technologies and develop a more flexible skill set will continue to play an important role in the industry.
At the same time, AI and voice-to-text tools will likely become more integrated into the workflow of legal professionals. They can complement human stenographers, making the transcription process more efficient while allowing stenographers to focus on tasks that require human judgment and expertise.
Ultimately, the future of stenography in the legal industry will likely involve a combination of traditional and cutting-edge technologies. As legal professionals embrace new tools, stenographers who can adapt to these changes and maintain their expertise in legal transcription will continue to be an indispensable part of the justice system.
Source Data:
- Zoom’s Impact on Legal Industry:
- “How Zoom and Remote Work Transformed the Legal Industry” – Various articles by legal industry publications like Law360, Above the Law, or The National Law Review.
- Official Zoom case studies or blog posts related to how the legal industry adapted to virtual hearings.
- Court Reporting and Remote Work:
- National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) publications and studies on the impact of virtual hearings on the court reporting profession.
- Reports from the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) on how state courts adapted to remote proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- AI and Voice-to-Text Technology:
- AI and Automation in the Legal Industry – Articles from publications like Artificial Lawyer, Law Technology News, or LegalTech News discussing the adoption of AI in legal processes.
- Research papers or reports from companies like Verbit, Otter.ai, and Sonix about AI-driven transcription services for the legal market.
- White papers from leading voice-to-text companies such as Dragon NaturallySpeaking or Microsoft’s Speech-to-Text API.
- Legal Transcription and the Future of Stenography:
- Articles on the evolution of the stenography profession from sources like Court Reporter, Journal of Court Reporting, or The Stenographer magazine.
- Insights from the International Stenographic Association and other professional bodies in the court reporting field.
- General AI and Speech Recognition Trends:
- Books and research papers on AI, NLP (Natural Language Processing), and speech recognition, such as “Speech and Language Processing” by Daniel Jurafsky and James H. Martin.
- Industry reports from research firms like Gartner or Forrester on the impact of AI on traditional professions, including court reporting.
John Baker; President, Court Reporting Division
John Baker leads Array’s Court Reporting Division with a client-first approach, driving national growth while ensuring our teams have the tools and support needed to deliver exceptional service. Passionate about integrating cutting-edge technology with legal services, John is committed to creating streamlined, scalable solutions that benefit clients. With a background as an entrepreneur and investor, he leverages his experience to tackle challenges, foster innovation, and prioritize collaboration to meet the evolving needs of clients with excellence and efficiency.
