| Subject: |
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Volunteers for bench trials @ Ctrm 21 |
| Name: |
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Diane M. Gray |
| Date Posted: |
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Jan 7, 04 - 5:23 PM |
| Email: |
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Click here to Email |
| Message: |
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I recently accepted the position of court record manager of the Courtroom 21 Project at the College of William & Mary and have been working for only seven days. The timing of my arrival finds me in a hotbed of activity because January is the busiest month of the school year.
Our second-year law students (called 2L's) will be returning from their winter break to their Legal Skills Class wherein they will try a case for one hour before a volunteer judge in the courtroom, and I must see that a transcript is made of the trials for the students by whatever means of capturing the record is available for use.
In the past student court reporters have covered the trials. Otherwise, electronic recording is used. I am hoping there will be some students at the higher rates of speed who will be available to assist; however, I believe that these one-hour bench trials are important enough to warrant having a certified court reporter cover them.
Currently, the trials are scheduled from January 21 through February 7, 2004. Some begin at 8 a.m., and some start at 8 p.m. They are throughout the day, sometimes only one a day, other times there are seven per day.
I feel that this is an extremely important opportunity for VCRA members to assist in the training of these prospective lawyers by reporting at least one of these trials in your official role as the certified court reporter.
Why should I do this for free, you ask?
(1) It demonstrates your professionalism;
(2) It's great publicity;
(3) You have an opportunity to meet potential clients;
(4) You will be able to say you have reported in the most technologically advanced courtroom in the world on your resume;
(5) You will receive an official Certificate of Appreciation from the Courtroom 21 Project to hang on your wall.
And please don't be afraid to offer your services. It is, after all, a learning opportunity for the students and yourselves. NCRA/NVRA may even offer you CEU points for volunteering, which I will try to obtain, if possible.
Won't you volunteer 1 1/2 hours of your time for the betterment of the legal and court reporting community? Let's show what a great group of professionals we are.
If anyone needs to spend the night, I have an extra bedroom & bathroom at my home in Williamsburg, which is only two miles from the law school.
Please let me hear from you by calling or writing to me at the address below:
Diane M. Gray, RPR, CRR, CVR
Court Record Manager, Courtroom 21 Project
College of William & Mary Law School
P. O. Box 8795
613 S Henry St
Williamsburg, VA 23518-8795
Ph: 757-221-2494
E-mail: dmgra3@wm.edu and/or dkmgray@earthlink.net
I look forward to hearing from you. THANK YOU.
Diane |
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