Lynette's Blog Archives - Omega Reporting

Be the Engineer of Your Career: The Court Reporter That Could

May 2, 2022 By Lynette Mueller Leave a Comment

So, I’m a brand-new grandma to a sweet little baby that is exceptional in every way! The words “planner” and “organizer” applies to me, for sure. My love of books, I’m hoping, will be transferred to my granddaughter.

With that plan in mind, I headed to the attic searching for age-appropriate baby toys and especially books for my little darling! Those attic boxes contain lots of special memories from my two children — yep, I’ve kept those treasures all these years.

An expansive library is so important for the little ones to help with social development and thinking skills and carries forward through adulthood. Books improve their language skills by copying sounds, recognizing pictures, and learning words. As court reporters, the love of reading also aids us in our journey to continue to expand our knowledge base and, ultimately, dictionary building.

I ended up finding a great little book titled “The Little Engine That Could,” authored by Watty Piper, to add to Kai’s collection. The message of this book and the illustrations are sure to capture my granddaughter’s attention!

There are lasting and enduring lessons for children and adults alike throughout this story. Court reporters can glean lessons from the Little Blue Engine in order to be the best engineers of their careers! Re-reading this great little book, it makes me pause and reflect on my years of court reporting and our beloved profession.

NCRA has designated May as Celebrate Certification Month. The month-long campaign is a way for its members to show pride in the certifications they have earned, are working to earn, or are intending to earn. It is also designed to help encourage those who haven’t considered earning one of the Association’s many nationally recognized certifications to rethink their decisions. The campaign offers members the opportunity to share with their clients and potential customers the reasons why choosing a professional who holds one or more professional certifications helps guarantee the delivery of high quality products and services.

The commitment to education and certification by testing ensures that the highest level of professionalism is consistently met. Court reporting has pushed me to soar and reach that next certification (RPR, RMR, RDR, CRR, FAPR). I have grown and evolved because of this profession and the amazing people I’ve met during my career. It has helped me conquer my fear of putting myself out there when meeting new people. My colleagues make it fun to learn together and grow together by finding new and better ways to write short, sharing realtime tips, technology and gadget advice, and much more.:

Lesson No. 1: It’s okay to ask for help

The first engine that’s introduced in our story has a huge load of goodies for the children on the other side of the mountain. It’s a huge load and a job worth doing, even though it’s hard work. All of a sudden, the engine realizes she simply could not go another mile and help was required to complete her task. Court reporters aspiring for that certification or next level may feel that burn-out emotion too.

Humans are most definitely social creatures and we thrive by being surrounded by friends and family. Search for like-minded court reporters to practice those speed takes and learn those new briefs from professionals that have gone before you. I’ve found that our profession as a whole is chockfull of giving court reporters who are delighted to share their wealth of knowledge and experience. Find that Facebook group designed to share tips, tricks, and briefs to assist you in your speed goal journey! Your certification quest will be less overwhelming and more bearable sharing with other like-minded individuals.

Lesson No. 2: Be flexible in your goals

The Shiny New Engine had a pretty great job with the latest and greatest equipment and accommodations. As a brand-new student or new professional, you’re full of hopes and dreams of your career and what you want it to be. Sometimes, though, life gets in the way and plans can be derailed in an instant. When hitting that wall and being stalled at a speed level — it has happened to all of us (mine was 180 wpm) — keep pushing yourself and try not to get discouraged. Try some of these tips to help you through that slump.

Read your notes and look for drops and/or hesitations
Perfect those brief form outlines
Find speedbuilding classes online
Focus on accuracy
Find televised trials or the evening news and practice, practice, practice

Remember to be flexible in your steno goals and continually audit them to make sure they are helping you become the court reporter you want to be!

Lesson No. 3: Mentoring and volunteering is essential

The Big Freight Engine thought he was a pretty important guy — he was hauling machinery around like it was nothing. He felt that without him the grownups couldn’t have their books or newspapers to read and he didn’t feel a need to help the other engine that was carrying stuff for the children.

As professional court reporters, our schedules are hectic and easy to get caught up in our own work lives — depositions, billing, scheduling, trials, and the like. Even though we may get caught up in our day-to-day challenges and duties, we should remember that we can have a huge and lasting impact on our court reporting students and new professionals through mentoring. Mentoring allows people to learn from one another, providing a path to knowledge transfer. As experienced court reporters with several initials behind our name, we have an obligation to share knowledge and insights, as well as offer guidance, to someone with less experience. NCRA and state associations have formal mentoring programs available for this very purpose. Look into them or find a student in your area to guide them through their education.

I’ve gained much satisfaction by donating my old writers to a student just starting school. Did you know you can donate your writer to the A to Z program? Our state has been very active in teaching an A to Z program. Perhaps yours does too! Think about volunteering in one of these worthy programs and look at our profession through the shiny face and lens of a brand-new student. So worth it!

Another way to share your knowledge and experience is to volunteer for committee service to NCRA and/or your state association. Being the introvert I am, it was hard for me to volunteer for a committee. One of my best court reporter friends pushed me to serve on a committee and to start writing articles for the JCR, and my life has been changed forever! He has pushed me to heights I never could have imagined just ten years ago. There are so many benefits of volunteering:

Provides a sense of purpose
Provides a sense of community
Helps you meet new friends
Increases my social skills — yes!
Improves self-esteem
Provides job prospects and valuable networking opportunities

Remember, court reporters, the most important phrase from this beloved children’s book and you will be on your way to the most rewarding career of your life: “I think I can. I think I can.”

Court Reporters: Lessons Learned from Schitt’s Creek

March 25, 2021 By Lynette Mueller Leave a Comment

Last year when the pandemic hit, people around the world were literally gobsmacked about the situation with which we were faced and had to take stock and scrutinize how to move forward in our “new normal.” A year has passed since that fateful historic time and we have learned how to cope and deal with it, for the most part. Lots of articles have been written by myself and others on how to deal with Zoom gloom, remote proceedings, exhibit marking, Zoom lighting, lessons learned from the pandemic, and much more.

So last spring, whilst figuring out how to shift and pivot in my professional life, I endeavored to find joy in the “little things” and examined and took stock of what was most important to me. Of course I did mini Zoom demoes and the like with my clients to get them up to speed with the new platform, teaching them the ins and outs of security features and screen-sharing. But, again, I tried to concentrate on the “little” things. One of my joys is knitting and crocheting, so I picked up my needles and hooks and started creating in between the tutoring sessions!

There are many benefits, of course, to knitting and crocheting — and that’s keeping the hands busy and active at the same time. Health benefits, for sure, for these aging hands. I was determined to keep that arthritis at bay!

Crocheting consumes vast amounts of time to create that final project, which translates into listening to the silence. I’m now an empty-nester, so no kids running around the house. My little Corgi, Ruby Rey, usually has much to say to all the walkers that stroll by the home but was totally bored with me. So to combat the deafening stillness, I gravitated to the small screen and binge-watching my favorite television shows. Once the treasured shows ran out, I then added some shiny new series to my repertoire. The ultimate factor considered to add them to my catalog was that the series must have at least two seasons — so I could binge-watch, of course!

One of the hottest recommendations that I spied all over Insta was Schitt’s Creek. I conjectured that “It must be awesome” because how could all those followers be wrong?! The accolades and nominations were many for this Canadian series dating back to 2016. The series continued its winning streak for excellence this year (2021) by picking up the statuette for the Best TV Comedy series at the Golden Globes ceremony.

After the introductory episode, I was obsessed and devoted to the Rose family! The storyline of the series details the trials and tribulations, the mundane facets of life, and the triumphs of the Roses: Johnny Rose (uber rich video store magnate), his soap opera wife Moira, the hipster son David, and the socialite daughter Alexis. They are abruptly faced with bankruptcy and forced to shift and relocate to Schitt’s Creek, a small and depressing town they once considered as beneath their level of aristocracy.

The series is full of comedy while at the same time captivating because of its charm. The family has so many raw and human emotions that they experience through the series. As an audience member, I was totally invested in their journey and path to their “new normal.”

As I’ve done with other inspirational pieces of film and cinema, I found myself pondering the lessons court reporters can learn from this comedy series. Here are just a few:

Dress for success.

Fashion is an intrinsic representation in the show. David and Moira are most definitely the stars when it comes to fashion — from David’s gothic style to Moira’s wigs and couture! They both utilize their sense of flair and the dramatic with their outfits, all the while distinguishing themselves as individuals who care about who they are.

For court reporters, our professional appearance should be top of mind too. Dressing for success builds confidence, composure, and self-respect. It’s vital to communicating who you are, as you’re a valuable participant in the judicial process. Additionally, you only get one first impression. More often than not when I arrive at a law firm, the receptionist will assume that I’m an attorney – a great thing! After all, we are respected partners and equals in the deposition and judicial arena, working side by side with the attorneys on their important cases. It’s also important for those remote proceedings to wear that blazer on top!

Listen and look for signs to improve.

Johnny Rose, the epitome of the business executive, diligently listened and searched for signs in Schitt’s Creek of ways he could get back to work, his passion. With all the pitfalls of a rundown motel — leaking ceilings and faucets — Johnny set down the path of working to improve the motel which led to an amazing opportunity in the end! (No spoilers here.)

Change is intimidating for court reporters sometimes as well. There are so many technological advancements in our profession each day, and it seems such a daunting task to keep up with it all. It should be noted that there are some fantastic tools available to assist court reporters to be more productive, efficient, and valuable to attorney clients and legal professionals. Court reporters should keep in mind that in order to be effective and stay relevant, we must keep abreast of technology, embrace it, and never be skeptical of the newest innovations.

Teamwork.

Schitt’s Creek is populated with other lovable characters: Stevie Budd, Twyla Sands, Ronnie Lee, and Jocelyn and Roland Schitt. These characters are integral to the Rose family’s journey to find the family’s “new normal.” A memorable episode reflecting how friends can impact our lives in a dramatic way is when Stevie encourages David to open his new business even though he is petrified to do so.

As a freelance court reporter, it is sometimes easy to forget about the importance of teamwork — especially in today’s ever-changing technology-driven environment. Our profession has become (and viewed by many) a cottage industry to a certain extent. Sure, we go to the job and do our magic on that “little machine” but rarely interact much with the participants. Because of my volunteer work for my state and national associations, I’ve made many lifelong friendships with some quite amazing court reporters. I know and trust that I can enlist their help with any situation that may arise during or after that difficult assignment to work out the best approach going forward.

Go ahead, get realtime-proficient! Reach out to your friends and colleagues to set you on your path of being more productive and efficient. I’m reminded of two colleagues in Memphis who were study buddies and earned that RDR certification, the Ph.D. of court reporting. What an amazing experience and sense of accomplishment for them both! Do what’s scary knowing you have your “team” of friends helping and guiding you along the way and never doubt your ability to soar.

Gain experience.

David and Alexis hadn’t the need nor the inclination to hold down a meaningful job prior to the Rose bankruptcy. Through the evolution of their personal transformation, both siblings sought job opportunities in order to help with the family’s finances. Alexis even made the decision to finish her educational training!

David started at The Blouse Barn, a very uninspiring job for him. However, he learned a lot from that job by seeking to become more proficient with this customer service and managerial skills. The lessons learned by David at The Blouse Barn gave him that boost of confidence in his competency to take the next step in his career.

One of my greatest accomplishments has been to become a court reporter. I have been a court reporter for many, many years and I’ve gained experience that I happily share with my friends and colleagues. I am deeply humbled and honored when a colleague comes to me with questions about our profession and/or technology.

We court reporters need to keep up with so much technological knowledge, and we need the courage to look within ourselves and know that we can conquer any of our fears; whether it be remote depositions, realtime, or marking exhibits electronically. It just takes a lot of practice and time to get up to speed with the latest resources and tools available to us. Take the plunge and learn that new feature in your CAT software, offer realtime to a valued and trusted client, and learn the many features of that remote deposition platform. Knowledge is power and you’ll definitely be the better professional by honing your skills. You’ve got this!

Hone your vocabulary prowess.

Moira Rose is perhaps the best family member, in my humble opinion, on Schitt’s Creek. Her lexicon knowledge is “out of this world” splendiferous! Her delivery of her commentary with an unknown accent is boisterously merry!

As I was binge-watching this series, I caught myself laughing out loud whenever Moira was in a scene. Had I not been crocheting, I would have made a list of each and every word that came out of her mouth. She definitely has a unique way of articulating her utterances regarding her family’s shenanigans.

When I was Googling to find some of the unfamiliar words that didn’t make it to my list (because I was crocheting), I came across this video of Moira Rose’s Vocabulary 50+ Words. It’s worth a listen, for sure. Her accent is to die for!

The benefits for court reporters to building your vocabulary are:

Become more knowledgeable.
Become realtime-proficient and don’t struggle or hesitate with an unfamiliar word when writing during the assignment.
Building a bigger and stronger dictionary makes editing time a breeze.
A vast vocabulary helps you earn that next level of NCRA certification for the written test.
Building a strong vocabulary will help you earn more money for when you’re on Jeopardy!

Here’s a list of just a few morsels of Moira’s vocabulary words. Which ones are in your CAT software dictionary?

Duplicitous—treacherous
Capricious – given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.
Cloying—disgust or sicken (someone) with an excess of sweetness, richness, or sentiment.
Pique – to arouse anger or resentment in.
Patrician—an aristocrat or nobleman
Bailiwick—one’s sphere of operations or particular area of interest
Odious—extremely unpleasant, repulsive
Visage—a person’s face, with reference to the form or proportions of the features
Assuage—make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense
Winsome—attractive or appealing in appearance or character
Bolus—(in medicine) a single dose of a drug or other medicinal preparation given all at once
Confabulate—engage in conversation; talk
Reticence—not revealing one’s thoughts or feeling readily
Bedeviled —to torment or harass
Blouson — a garment (such as a dress) having a close waistband with blousing of material over it
Chrysalis — a hardened, protective covering
Churlish — lacking civility or graciousness
Encumber — to weigh down or burden
Irksome — annoying or tedious
Oxidize — to dehydrogenate especially by the action of oxygen
Pablum —bland, intellectual sustenance

Then, here are some words that are way out there! I’m not quite sure you would ever view them within the pages of a transcript.

bombilating—buzz, or hum
Pettifogging—placing undue emphasis on petty details.
Frippet—a pretty frivolous young woman
Spanandry—extreme scarcity of males in a biological population
Balatron — jester or buffoon
Callipygian — shapely buttocks
Peregrination — a long and meandering journey

I’d love to hear from my readers if you’re a super fan of Schitt’s Creek too! If so, what lessons and takeaways did you come away with? Forge ahead in your professional journey, court reporters, and strive to be the best version of yourself.

Leaving you with this quote from Alexis: “I don’t skate through life. I walk through life… in really nice shoes.” ~ Alexis

Importance of Volunteering

March 25, 2021 By Lynette Mueller 2 Comments

We are made wise not from the recollection of our past, but by responsibility for our future. ~ George Bernard Shaw

I have to say that I am still amazed that I took on the task of volunteering for my state and national associations. It’s really not something that I ever thought I would feel comfortable doing. I am generally, by nature, a rather shy and conservative individual; hence, my court reporter profession!

I remember when I was in college going through my training, my school required that I take Speech as a class. That frightened me to death! I’m a small-town girl from rural North Dakota. Anyway, I actually set up a meeting with the dean of my school and outlined all the reasons why I shouldn’t be required to take that Speech class. The reasons I enumerated were as follows:

I will be the “silent” person in the courtroom.
If I need to read back, I just have to read what was said. I don’t have to come up with anything original.
I really think an internship at a law office would serve me better for after I got out of school. I’ll have interaction with attorneys.
Oh, by the way, I need permission to be able to take extra credit hours in order to participate in an internship.

Did I say that I waited until my last quarter to go to the dean with my pitch?

Through my service on my state board and several committees of NCRA, I have met some incredible reporters/individuals. Their contributions to our profession is nothing short of amazing and their dedication is evident in everything they do. Had I not accepted the challenge of volunteering for these positions, I know I never would have met these wonderful people.

At the time I came on my state board, I was asked what committee I would be interested in serving on. I love the technology aspects of our job (obv), so I said I would love to work on the website committee. There was a lot of research involved in that project and it has evolved over these past few years. I also feel that the student section of our site is a great resource for all of our reporting students, which translates into the satisfaction of knowing that I’m “helping” others. I turned over the reins a few years back to another wonderful colleague in our state.

My NCRA committee involvement began several years ago and has been extremely fulfilling for me! The committees ranged from the WKT committee, the CAPR committee, the DSA Committee, and of course the Technology Committee in its various forms through the years. The most memorable experience was being Chair of the Tech Committee. My self-doubt kicked in again. Would I be up for the task? How could I manage such a big and high-profile committee on a national level? Many more questions for me. Again, with the encouragement of my colleagues who knew I could do it, I did! Whew, what an amazing experience!

The volunteers on all of the committees were amazing and made the experience a pleasure and never a chore. The fellowship with new court reporters has been great and I know I have made lifelong friends.

Volunteering does provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and satisfaction. Knowing that you are doing good for others and the community contributes to a natural sense of accomplishment. In addition, there’s a sense of pride and identity when you volunteer.

That’s just a small snippet of some of the reasons why I feel volunteering is so important. I know you all give back in your own way and would love to hear about your experiences, too.

Lessons learned from the pandemic

March 14, 2021 By Lynette Mueller Leave a Comment

1. Family ties are more important than ever before.

There’s been so much devastation during this past year because of the pandemic, and it brings a huge reality check to our personal lives. Reflection and introspection are top of mind during these days staying at home.

According to a CDC report from last August:

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with mental health challenges related to the morbidity and mortality caused by the disease and to mitigation activities, including the impact of physical distancing and stay-at-home orders.

Family is my top priority always but now more so than ever. Last year at the beginning of the pandemic, my husband and I started being intentional about staying in touch, via FaceTime, with my husband’s parents. Every Friday after work, they look forward and count on us to FaceTime them. My husband’s mom recited an exchange with her doctor during one of her visits. It went something like this:

Doctor: “How are you doing mentally? Do you find that you’re experiencing depression lately?”

Dean’s Mom: “Not at all! Our kids call us every Friday on FaceTime and it’s like they’re in our living room.”

2. We are all heroes during this pandemic! And court reporters especially play a vital role to keep cases moving forward.

I’ve always maintained that reporters are a resilient lot — the pandemic has proved it time and time again that we are. We’ve always been faced with challenges from the beginning of our career, albeit on a totally different scale now. Because we were able to pivot during this past year, we were able to survive rather than sustain a huge financial loss for us and our families!

The art of pivoting is invaluable. You need to have the ability to pivot and find a solution at any given moment. – Anthony Langone, Marbaloo Marketing.

3. Our state and national organizations play a vital role in a court reporter’s life and we need to continue to support them and each other.

Our profession is definitely one that is technologically savvy! I’ve been doing remote depositions for over ten years for mostly out-of-state clients. Of course, today the remote proceeding, in some form or fashion, is now prevalent for the legal community. Our stenographic skill is one that not everyone has the capability or drive to do — we are amazing! — and the service we provide is invaluable. Because of our technological knowledge and skill, it’s no wonder that we as a profession pivoted almost effortlessly when the pandemic struck earlier this year. Our state and national organizations were there with us every step of the way by providing us webinars, articles, and remote conventions to help fast-track us to optimize the remote deposition setups; thus, relieving so much stress on us by providing the pathways to success going forward.

4. Court reporters are flexible with remote reporting while moving away from the in-person experience.

Because of remote reporting and not as much commute time, we now are more productive with our work than ever before. The extra time gained by not having to commute can be concentrated on other things and having a healthy work-life balance. More time to cook, read, craft, and so much more!

One of the very good things as a result of the pandemic? The new babes, of course! Last March and April, I was commissioned to crochet a few blankets for some acquaintances. It is definitely one of my passions, so I thought maybe I could do it as a side hustle. Well, after I was able to coach some of my clients about the beauty of Zoom depositions and the bookings started picking up, I then concentrated on my first love of court reporting and put the crochet on the back burner. I still accept commissions, but it’s not a current focus for me.

5. Strong relationships can make your business!

My small business was strengthened and survived because of our attorney clients and also our court reporting clients. Some parts of the country adapted and adopted to remote reporting more readily than others when the pandemic hit. Because of our certifications in the tri-state area, we were able to assist our court reporting partners with their remote deposition needs when they needed it most. I am forever grateful to all of our clients for their support of our small business!

6. Attorneys look to us sometimes to be their personal resource for these remote depositions — and that’s okay.

This is our opportunity to shine and show the extra value we provide to them with our technological savviness! As the guardians of the record, we court reporters provide an extremely valuable service to the legal community not only with our stenographic skills but also by paving the way for our clients so that they can keep on fighting and working for their clients. The wheels of justice can keep turning because of how resilient court reporters are, rising to each challenge the legal community has faced, and searching and finding truly great solutions these past several months.

7. Sharing my experience and tips re: remote proceedings, along with other members of the NCRA Tech Committee, was my number-one priority.

Here’s a list of some of the articles from the Tech Committee:

Streamtext and Zoom

Basic Zoom Tips, Tricks and Advice

Five tips for looking great in remote depositions

How to optimize internet connections for remote depositions

Handling of exhibits for remote depositions

What states allow remote and/or online notarization?

Conducting meetings and depositions by remote means

Office setups and remote preparation part of downtime

Ask the Techie: Do you need a new chair?

COVID-19: Looking back through the lens

Then, there’s some additional articles about Zoom listed on my blog:

Five Best Mandalorian Quotes for Court Reporters

How Court Reporters Can Overcome Zoom Gloom

Check Your List Twice and Ask for these Zoom Gadgets, Court Reporters!

Check Your List Twice and Ask for these Zoom Gadgets, Court Reporters!

December 14, 2020 By Lynette Mueller Leave a Comment

The holidays are upon us and Santa Claus is coming to town!

These awesome must-have gadgets may be just what you’re looking for this year for your favorite court reporter or legal professional. 2020 has seen some unprecedented times, for sure. This year I’ve curated a list of gadgets that are perfect for our “new normal” for Zoom and remote depositions and proceedings and you won’t be crying or pouting at all!

These are my latest and greatest picks this year and just a click away for that favorite person on your list. Whether you’re on the naughty list or the nice list, remember to pick up a little something for yourself while you’re at it.

Lume Cube

My home office setup includes a 3’x4’ soft box. It’s just something I have hanging around the house. Ha! I know not everyone is lucky enough to have a photographer spouse like me. I have the soft box setting directly in front of my computer for the best light and image during my web conferences.

Even if you don’t have a soft box laying around the house like I do, you can still have great lighting for your remote deposition and use what you have right at home. If there is a window in your room, situate the laptop facing the window, if possible, for a very pleasing effect. Lighting is definitely my friend, and I want it to be yours too! Natural light is often the best and provides a soft glow to your skin. If the light source is to your back, your image will be dark and the other participants will not be able to see you much at all, as you will appear in silhouette.

Another affordable option is the Lume Cube. I have this for what I like to call my hybrid depositions, where it’s myself and the witness and all attorneys appearing via Zoom. I want to make sure the witness looks great too!

PolsenMO-IDL2 Dual Lavalier Condenser Microphones with DSLR/Smartphone Switch

When your laptop microphone does not fill the need so you can be heard with crystal precision, use this Polsen microphone. This is a great external microphone to recommend for your clients and their witnesses. After all, if the court reporter is unable to hear with clear audio, the proceeding won’t be able to move forward. Just a few weeks ago, we had to suspend a deposition because one of the opposing counsel could not be heard clearly by me or the witness.

Razer BlackWidow Elite Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Years ago I was in the market for a new keyboard and went shopping with my millennial son. He told me, “Mom, you need this keyboard. It’s really cool.” Now, you can imagine I was a little hesitant to make this purchase, as it’s a gaming keyboard. My first thought was that he wanted to take it over from me. I kept an open mind about its features and touch. Wow! So glad I did.

I’ve recently upgraded to the Razer keyboard, as one of my Function keys on the old one was loose. My upgraded one has a lighted keyboard, which means it’s great for those low-light conditions. The touch is absolutely amazing. Gone are the days of sticky keys and having to redo key strokes. This particular model has the capability to work with Alexa too! Another bonus about this keyboard is that it comes with an ergonomic, magnetic wrist rest made of plush leatherette — really nice for those long edit days.

iKKEGOL USB Single Foot Switch Control One Key Customized Computer Keyboard Action Pedal HID

I’ve seen several court reporters on Facebook that are giving this foot pedal a go for Zoom proceedings. This pedal may be programmed to get yourself easily on and off mute. I know this would be particularly useful if you’re a pet owner and your dog decides to bark at the mailman! Court reporters are also programming it to take screenshots of exhibits— for those times exhibits aren’t provided before or after the deposition. Some features of the pedal include the following:

Foot control switch,simulate keyboard shortcuts. It is one key or a few key custom function keyboards, which can customize and key, combination of keys, hotkeys or shortcut keys.
It is a new multi-function Foot switch combines a keyboard function, mouse function, string function, multimedia function, game controller functions.
Easy and Convenient: just install the software to customize key based on instructions and the multi – function control button could reduce plenty of repeated workload.Software can be free download from website.

Bose Headphones Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

Love not being tethered to the laptop when I want to get up for a stretch or a snack. Features of these headphones: Connectivity Technology: Wireless. World-class noise cancellation makes quiet sound quieter and music sound better. Plush ear cushions are manufactured from a synthetic protein leather. Volume-optimized EQ for balanced audio performance at any volume. Wireless convenience, with easy Bluetooth and NFC pairing aided by voice prompts. 20-hour battery life per charge; up to 40 hours in wired mode. Noise-rejecting dual-microphone system for clear calls even in windy environments.

MXL AC404 USB Conference Microphone

I discovered this microphone several years ago when searching for an upgraded option for my audio backup. Not only was I looking for high-quality sound, but I wanted something that would sit flat on a table. I continue to use it to this day and it’s great for Zoom depositions as well. I love my laptop audio to listen to the speakers during the proceedings. So I use the same setup as I do for in-person depositions, and the MXL is the microphone used to record my backup for audiosync.

Large Monitor Dell S Series S2719DM 27″ Ultrathin Monitor

A larger monitor is a great option for Zoom proceedings. You can use the Dual Monitor setting so you can have the participants on the laptop screen and the exhibits on the large screen for easier viewing. The dual-monitor display feature allows the video layout and screen share content to be placed on two separate monitors/screens. Gallery or speaker view can be displayed on one monitor while the other monitor displays a content share. Click this link for specific instructions on dual-monitor setup for a Mac and a PC. Bonus Tip: Select Windows + P, make sure you select Extend.

Tips from PC Magazine to improve your dual-monitor setup:

Make the displays match
Tweak your taskbar
Seek out super-wide wallpapers
Study your shortcuts
The wandering cursor
Do even more with Display Fusion

Logitech MX Anywhere 3 Compact Performance Mouse

This is on my Wish List! I have a Mac for my Zoom software. Currently I have color-coded mice so I know which one goes to which computer. It would be awesome to have one mouse to control both devices. Some court reporters are programming it to take screenshots of exhibits during remote depositions.

Features:

Track anywhere, even on glass: Track on virtually any surface, including glass – meaning you can work seamlessly at the desk, at a cafe, even on the couch.
Work faster with button customizations and predefined profiles
Multi-device, multi-OS: Connect up to three devices and switch between them at the tap of a button.
Control multiple computers across Windows and macOS operating systems. Effortlessly transfer text, images, and files between computers.

Kate 5×6.5ft Collapsible Backdrop Collapsible Grey Backdrop Collapsible Backdrops

When working from a home office, it can be a bit tricky to always have a neat and tidy workspace for remote depositions. If there is a blank wall in your home office, that is the best option. Like in a videotaped deposition, a backdrop is an effective means to clean up your space quickly. This Kate backdrop comes in multiple colors too.

Try to refrain, if possible, from using the virtual background in Zoom, as it does not create a great image of the participants. To really make the virtual background work, be sure to limit any movement. If you move quite a bit, your image will pixelate and/or disappear briefly. If there is no other alternative, find a professional backdrop image to upload and use when you’re on the record and be sure that your space is well-lit.

Linksys WHW0102 Velop Mesh Router (Home Mesh Wi-Fi System for Whole-Home Wi-Fi Mesh Network)

So even though I utilize WiFi calling on my iPhone, I still wasn’t getting the best connection with phone calls. Of course I had to look for a better solution! There were dead zones within my home. If I were to head upstairs, my WiFi signal was much improved. The problem with that is that my home office is downstairs. My husband and I tried the WiFi range extender without success. The answer to my dilemma? A mesh router.

The Linksys Velop is the mesh router that I utilize today — and it’s awesome! Basically, by using the best mesh WiFi routers, you’re able to cover a large space without compromising the connection or requiring multiple networks. In addition, setting up a mesh WiFi router is usually easy enough that you can do it without expert IT help. My husband set up ours in short order!

APC UPS, 1500VA UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector

Know with confidence that your Zoom proceeding can continue even when the power goes out! This battery backup will give you peace of mind knowing your laptop and connections won’t go down during important testimony.

So there you have it — my top gadgets for 2020. Happy Holidays!

* I receive no compensation for my recommendations and the above links are not affiliate links.

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