Paperwork!!!

[Kyung]

Well, working in the Federal court is definitely a government job. Lots of paperwork.

Have you guys ever watched Office Space? Well, I feel like I spent my day doing TPS reports. Whoo-hooo.

I had to fill out the G-46 and G-11 because I screwed up filling out the G-46. In order to get paid for the criminal appeal transcript, I have to fill out the CJA-24.

And, yeah, by the way, all the forms are online. Nope. They're not. And if they are, there's no directions on how to fill stuff out.

Arrgghh!!

[Audrey Ricks]

Hey, Kyung! I'm glad to read that I'm not the only one who's not so keen on paperwork! I worked for corporate establishments and defense contractors for years -- used to be so diligent and organized, had all my paperwork filled out and filed so orderly. Since becoming a reporter, however, I have become more like Kelli -- lucky to balance my checkbook! My paperwork skills have gone out the door (or straight into a banker's box, I should say). It's as if completing the transcripts and worksheets are as much as my brain will allow for, and everything else just gets pushed aside.

Some agencies require several documents in order to complete the turn-in process; others have gone to using software programs like RB Web, where you upload everything electronically, track your jobs, invoices, and it even completes the worksheet for you! I look forward to the day when we're all on some universally digital system -- probably not going to happen in my time as a reporter, though it doesn't seem too far away. Until then ... happy "pay-per-working"!!!

[Judy]

See, I knew Anthony would have the answer to your problem! Sometimes all you need is the voice of experience to figure out the answer to your problem.

[Anthony D. Frisolone]

Oh, Kyung, don't forget the AO-435, the AO-435A, the SF-1034, the list goes on and on. Even the instructions to fill out the forms are confusing. What federal court are you doing per diem in? If it's San Francisco, look for a reporter named Diane Skillman, she the USCRA 9th Circuuit (North) Rep., and is very knowledgable and helpful -- a very good person to know.

Hey, if you're going to be doing a lot of federal work perhaps you should invest in WinUSR, it's a program designed for federal reporters by a federal reporter which automatically fills out all of those reports we do. I did about a year of filling out paperwork by hand and then I invested the 200 bucks for the program and I haven't don't paperwork by hand in four years. Best money I've invested for the job in a long time. Go www.winusr.com or uscra.org and follow the link to the WinUSR website.

Paperwork sucks but it can be made easier to do with the right tools.

[Judy]

Kelli,

No court work. Yes, I have my own clients, but I also do overflow work for quality firms.
No office politics as far as "If the calendar coordinator gets angry at me, I may not have a job for a few days." But I do have to deal with other things. Probably one of the hardest things is finding quality reporters day in and day out to cover overflow assignments. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of GREAT reporters out there, but there are a few flakes out there that can't write their own name correctly, if you know what I mean. Sometimes I have one of "those" on my calendar and it makes it a rough situation. Will I ever get the job? Did they even put it through spellcheck? Were they relying on their audio to "get" the proceedings? I try to use the same great reporters all the time, but sometimes you have to take a chance and you get burned.

Sounds like there is more than one: G-46 and the CJA-24, and if you screw up, the G-11.

Different agencies have different worksheets, different caption setups, different procedures for turning in completed jobs. I'm sure in the end of the day, once the correct procedure is learned, that it's the same as working for a few different firms with different ways of doing things.

[Judy]

Kelly,

Just think of it as a worksheet you have to do for every job you turn into an agency if you want to get paid. Easy-peasy.

Judy

[Judy]

Sounds like you need a mentor. Maybe Anthony Frisolone can help you. He seems very helpful.