Rates in SoCal

[Kyung]

Well, everyone knows about it, but I thought I'd just bring it out like the dirty laundry.

I live in Orange County, but I work for very few Orange County agencies. Why do you ask? Because of the two-tier rate or three-tier rate, if you include San Diego.

Orange County agencies charge much less than LA agencies. Why is that? Does the attorney talk any slower? Does the witness interrupt less? Is it bec. I have to drive fewer miles? But then what about those reporters who drive into OC for their Non-OC agency and get paid LA rates? Exactly.

Somewhere some agency started undercutting the other agencies to try and get all the business in OC, and now we're left with ridiculously low rates. I think some agencies still might be paying $3/page.

And then San Diego. Some agencies in San Diego pay a per diem on top of their rate. Great, you think. But then you hear their rates are under $3/page. Now we're getting into higher math to figure out if your earnings are comparable with something you would make for an OC agency or an LA agency.

Anyway food for thought. And as always, this is my experience. If your experience is totally different, let me know.

[kathy - iamwrdsmth]

good question, Kyung, and one of the reasons I went into court.
Driving 1 1/2 hrs for a 1 hr depo in Santa Monica to get $3.75 a page
was financial suicide.
I'd love to hear the answer to your question. There is no reason
that OC should charge or pay less than LA. what if we lived in LA?
would we be getting the LA rate? or being paid less because we are
working in our county? -like they are paying for OC.

is it because of the "wild" area we have to drive into?
"combat pay" if you will? hummmm
kathy

[Heidi Johnson]

Yeah, I'd like to know too since I live in San Diego, and the rates I get paid are below the $3 mark. I do get an hourly, but it doesn't equal what the higher rates would come out to. I think the cost of living is just about equal to living in LA, so what gives?? rhetorical question.

[Kyung]

Of course, that also depends on if your attorney or witness talk fast or slow. I took an interpreted depo that was so slow, so I wasn't getting a lot of pages. In situations like that, I would probably prefer an hourly per diem instead of a higher per page rate. If that makes sense.

[Heidi Johnson]

that's very true....in those situations, I am so glad for the hourly.

But...honestly, I cannot remember the last time I've had an interpreted depo. Most of my depos everybody speaks at neck-breaking speeds and they look at you like you're an incompetent wannabe if you ask them to slow down.

[kathy - iamwrdsmth]

they do that in court, too! except the judge can see the realtime and know
that I'm working as fast as I can.

sometimes they speak so fast I can't even understand the words coming out
of their mouths (to coin a famous phrase from a movie!!)

I just interrupt them, and yes, I've got my judge to back me up! one of the perks
in court

[Mary Motley O'Brien]

My opinion....$3.50, $3.60, $3.75....a 25-cent difference in a 150-page job is what, like $37??? Big deal! The trick is to get good quality jobs with lots of pages and copy orders. The only way you do that is by proving yourself that you are good, reliable, get your work in on time, etc... And everybody has their own opinion about court versus depos. It also depends on your personal life, whether you're single, a single parent, married with no kids, or whatever the case may be. I personally would NEVER work in court. I'm too spoiled with the flexability and love having long tough days, long easy days, half-day jobs where I have the morning or the afternoon to myself and most of all, not having to go to the same place day in and day out. In another discussion on how far do you drive, that is all in the eye of the beholder, too. If I'm really busy, driving takes away from my proofing time, and if that's the case, and I have to go to downtown LA, I take the train and work both ways. It's great. Otherwise, being in the car driving, listening to good music or book or tape or whatever is again, better than sitting in a courtroom all day, and if you get paid mileage, then it's worth it. But again, everybody has their preference. Another thing about court and depos are, again depending on what kind of courtroom you're in, I think there's much greater potential to make more money in depos. Granted if you're an official, you get benefits and paid holidays, but I got into a conversation with someone on the train one time who works in court, travels to beyond LA every day by train to work, leaving the house at 6:00 in the morning, getting home at 6:00 or later every night, they love their job and have been doing it for a long time...I'm talking 15+ years, and we got into income, and they were amazed at how much more money I bring in than they do. So in the grand scheme of things, I think it's kinda silly to complain about rates. Again, I stress, just my opinion. Everybody is different =)

[kathy - iamwrdsmth]

yes, you do have good points about court versus freelance.
I did love doing freelance, and maybe, now that I've got six
plus years under my belt, I would make more $$ than I did
starting out. I do agree about the limitations of having to be
in the same place every day, but I also see the advantage
of not having to haul my equipment back and forth. I copy
jobs onto a flash drive and with my software key and a
flash drive in my pocket, I take my work home and back
again.

I get paid whether or not I create a transcript.
so, as you say, there are pluses to both sides!

as far as the page rates, you are right about 25 cents
per page!! doesn't make that much difference!

The secret to making a lot of money freelancing, in
my opinion, is to get all day jobs or jobs with many
copies. these worker's comp or other small cases
never made me much money. and the other secret
is to get with an agency that has those big jobs. I worked
for smaller agencies and the jobs were short and usually
only one or two a week, so I had to work for five agencies
to get enough jobs.

court or freelance, it just depends on what type of work environment you like.

kathy

[Heidi Johnson]

if it were .25 cents, okay. But your scenario at 3.75, well, that's over a dollar difference for me. That adds up.

but I agree that good quality jobs make up for that. I find that loyalty goes a long way in that department when jobs are meted out.