Realtimers: How early do you prefer getting a realtime assignment?

[Amanda Leigh]

I have done a bit of realtime in my day, but not on a regular basis and not all that much (less than 20 deps).  Maybe that is why I always am surprised to see agencies waiting until late afternoon the day before a realtime assignment to start the search.  Often they don't just want a realtimer--they want a realtimer and laptops.  I know when I have provided realtime, if I don't get some heads-up time to populate my job dictionary and familiarize myself with the case, I am not a happy camper /(.  

I'd be interested in finding out how the pros feel about this.  And do you charge a premium for the latecomers?  I know if I needed a realtimer last-minute, money would be no object--"Pleeeease!! You can have ALL the money and a steak dinner!!" o_O  

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

You have to keep in mind that a lot of times these jobs get put on the books at the last minute.  I give my schedule to my main firm and they give me the assignment at around 5:00.  I never know if it's RT or not.  It's nice if it is.  The calendaring team knows I'm on calendar, and I probably get one RT job a week and sometimes more. 

 

I don't have to know early in the day.  I only want to know it's RT early enough to do a little research into what the case is about before the following day so I can be prepared with a word list set up.

[Amanda Leigh]

Don't you ever get concerned that it may be a realtime rocket scientist or chemical engineer?  I think my hair would all fall out overnight.

[Judy]

Even if you were assigned two weeks before the date, so often they go off calendar that you learn not to do prep work until late in the afternoon the day before.  Just my .02, but whenever I prepare too far in advance, it always cancels.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

Ain't that the truth, Judy.  I start my prep at 8 p.m.   Too many cancellations after I've researched and printed.   What a waste of time.

[Amanda Leigh]

Judy, that has happened to me.  I did a good three or four hours' worth of prep time--my dictionary was packed.  Then the call came.  Fumed.  

[Mary Ann Payonk]

Hi, Amanda.  I do preordered realtime nearly every day so I'm expecting it.  I always take 2 or 3 more laptops than I figure I'll need by looking at the caption or previous orders if someone can tell me that.  I cover a lot of continuing cases, so no preparation is involved there, but they have to start sometime.  On new cases, I will take a look at the caption, the witness name and try to figure out the subject matter, spend 30 minutes or so poking around online.  Most of my cases are patent, big pharma or business law matters so I've written most of it all before.  Because I'm looking for it and also make every effort to upsell to realtime on the day of, I do not charge a premium for a late-ordered realtime job.  I have to say, though, that I'm surprised by the number of last-minute calls that go out for realtime.  Because good realtime writers are few and far between, one would think an agency would want to lock in a reporter to a date far in advance.  Then again, like Judy said, those dates often go off at the last minute, especially for a RT trial.  In fact, when RT is ordered for a trial, my thought is it will never happen, because if it's important enough to bring in the big guns for realtime, it's important enough to cough up some money to settle.  The thing nowadays is, Amanda, you (not you, but generally) you can find reporters willing to do realtime anywhere because the market is becoming flooded with reporters hanging out that shingle.  The steak dinner and big piece of chicken should go to those reporters who can actually deliver excellent realtime.  You probably knew I would say all that, but that's my opinion!

M.A.

[Amanda Leigh]

That's what strikes me odd, Mary Ann, are the late calls for realtime.  Yes, I guess those could always be when an attorney springs it on 'em late in afternoon day before--but I would think law offices who want realtime would know better.  It's like these agencies do not leave themselves time to even check the qualifications and abilities of the writer--they just take whoever comes along.  That may not be true, but it kind of leans that way, at least in appearance.

And who are these reporters who would write naked and have people disappointed in their writing.  I would want to crawl under the bloody conference room table if I were doing a poor job--I'd be one of those criers (lol).

Yes, steak and chicken for all those true realtime pros!

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Oh, I didn't mention the times that RT is not ordered and you walk in the room and some attorney comes in and wants it.  You have to be prepared for that scenario too.  If I haven't been on the job before and it's not RT, I don't do my homework and research everything online.  You just never know what you are walking into.

 

I did a job a few months back that the worksheet said nothing about RT.  After I was all set up, each individual attorney came in separately and they all wanted realtime.  I ended up setting up three RT netbooks.  Good thing I had them with me.  A lot of times I take them out because they are more weight when lugging this equipment around.  Basically, you have to be prepared for supplying this service at the drop of a hat.

[Judy]

I had a job about two years ago, my client, said nothing about realtime.  I get there and one of the counsel said he wanted realtime.  Okey-dokey.  Ran down to my car and got my bag of goodies.  Ended up being a three-screen hookup (two my screens, one wanted his own screen) and I ended up doing ALL of the jobs on the case (cha-ching!).  That's one good reason to be prepared by having the stuff in your trunk, at least.

[Amanda Leigh]

Brava, Kelli--but, no, I don't have to be prepared for that scenario.  They have to be prepared for "Ain't gonna happen."  And, Judy, I hear ya--it's great you got all the jobs in that case.  But for attorneys to expect to get realtime without even the first heads-up, I kind of find that a little presumptuous and irritating. /( 

[Ann Medis]

I don't have a preference.  The evening before I will do a dictionary so my  job briefs are still fresh in my mind.   I always have my RT equipment in the car for those unforeseen requests.  Depending on the case, sometimes I will bring netbooks to the dep and ask if it is wanted.   I do not charge a premium for latecomers.