Welcome to our Academy!
OUR SCHOOL: Learn to Transcribe has passed rigorous accreditation standards of the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers and is an official AAERT approved school that provides top quality education.
We are also an official school approved by Stenograph to train MAXScribe software editors to produce top quality transcripts. MAXScribe training is a separate advanced training that is perfect for graduates of this legal transcription course. Employers are eager to hire our MAXScribe graduates.
In addition, we have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and numerous 5-star reviews online.
THIS COURSE: This online course was prepared by our expert staff of seasoned court reporters and legal transcriptionists who have many decades of experience and knowledge to share with you. The foundational course covers most everything you will encounter to produce transcripts for legal proceedings in the United States.
This is not a course for legal secretarial or paralegal work but, rather, how to properly create verbatim transcripts of depositions, hearings, courtroom trials, arbitrations, and other related proceedings involving sworn testimony as well as U.S. law enforcement transcription.
Hi! I'm Linda Wilson ..
As your instructor, I will begin by saying that I am a Certified Stenographic Court Reporter for many years and hold a Notary Public commission. My CCR certification is recognized by the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers as someone having the training and credentials to instruct students on how to properly create legal transcripts.
Although modest in talking about myself, just know that I have decades of experience creating transcripts of sworn testimony in criminal and civil matters, along with much teaching experience.
I am anxious to help you have an amazing and potentially lucrative career. Let's do this!
What's Included in this Course?
- Online 24/7, ready when you are, on demand.
- Audios and visual learning with "how-to" videos.
- Numerous downloads to create large personal study guide.
- Morson's English Guide used for punctuation and grammar.
- Lots of videos and information regarding technology.
- Training on Microsoft Word and text expanders.
- Ethics and confidentiality stressed.
- Introduction to CAT scoping.
- Following client preferences stressed.
- Numerous graded quizzes.
- Importance of meeting deadlines stressed.
- Information about recordkeeping provided.
- Lots of transcription practice - depositions, trials, and hearings.
- Heavy emphasis on accuracy.
- Proofing PDF files.
- Practice editing in Microsoft Word.
- Proctored practice skills exam.
- Proctored and graded final skills exam.
- Marketing information after graduation.
- Average student takes two months to complete theory portion and an additional two months to complete all practice files.
EXAM FEES
- Practice Exam - one exam per student, no charge.
- Final Exam (first try) included in tuition. Retakes are $60 prepaid, nonrefundable.
CERTIFICATION & APPRENTICESHIP
- Graduation with a Certificate of Completion.
- U.S. citizen graduates of this course are eligible for and are offered a referral to one of our U.S. network partner entities with a current opening for an apprenticeship, usually lasting around 30 days.
- Apprentices are paid by the entity, with rates discussed during apprenticeship interview and are contract workers.
- Most apprentices are offered part-time or full-time employment opportunities with the same entity after apprenticeship expires.
- Each entity has its own criteria, types of work, and payment structures.
- Our graduates are referred at no charge to our partner entities.
- Our graduates are given priority and fast tracked for employment.
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Our partners love our graduates because they are so well trained, resulting in a win/win situation all the way around!
What to Expect?
Lectures
As you work your way through all of the lectures, you will have your turn for much transcription practice at your own pace.
Tests
Quizzes are provided along the way, with a final examination. Lectures are explained in easy-to-follow audios and videos.
How Long to Finish?
The average length of time to graduate from this course is approximately four months, depending on student since this varies greatly.
After I Graduate?
Some people want to establish a business and others desire a 30-day paid apprenticeship opportunity.
High Demand!
Having acquired the proper skills to transcribe litigation files means that our graduates are in high demand.
Where Would I Work?
Work is performed in your home via the internet as a remote independent contractor, either part time or full time.
What is Needed?
Equipment Needed
Windows desktop or laptop, any brand.
Full-sized keyboard preferred.
External mouse, any kind.
Headphones. any kind.
Infinity foot pedal - needed when 1/2 way through course.
Software Used
Word Processor:
(Word, any version,
or CAT software)
Digital Audio Player:
(Explained in course)
Supplies Needed
Notepad & pen.
No books need to be bought for course.
If printing downloads:
Printer, any brand.
Printer paper (3-hole) 1 ream.
3-ring binder (2 or 3 inch).
Curriculum
(Click down arrow below to see all lectures)
- Lecture 1: Introduction (2:34)
- Read or Listen First
- Mac Computer
- Confidentiality
- Personal Study Guide
- Social Media
- Clear Cache
- Lecture 2: General Transcription Overview
- Lecture 3: Medical Transcription Overview
- Lecture 4: Law Enforcement Transcription Overview
- Lecture 5: Legal Transcription Overview
- Lecture 6: Basic Setup
- Lecture 7: Hardware and Software Required
- Lecture 8: Know Your Computer
- Lecture 9: Typing Skills Practice
- Lecture 10: Change Background Colors (10:13)
- Quiz
- Lecture 1: Overview
- Lecture 2: Computer Organization
- Lecture 3: How to Organize Files (10:25)
- Lecture 4: The Cloud and Storage
- Lecture 5: Dropbox (11:46)
- Lecture 6: Moving and Sharing (4:08)
- Lecture 7: Google Drive (5:47)
- Lecture 8: OneDrive (7:55)
- Lecture 9: SendThisFile (3:34)
- Lecture 10: Using Box (6:34)
- Lecture 11: Add Computer Space (2:13)
- Lecture 12: Temporary Files (2:42)
- Lecture 13: Recycle Bin (1:24)
- Quiz
- Lecture 1: Text Files
- Lecture 2: Creating ASCII, RTF, PDF
- Lecture 3: Converting Files
- Lecture 3A: Converting MP4 to MP3 or WAV (8:17)
- Lecture 3B: Converting Files With No Download Button (8:01)
- Lecture 4: Encryption
- :Lecture 5: Zipping and Unzipping
- Lecture 6: Sending Files
- Lecture 7: Receiving Files
- Lecture 8: Free vs. Trial Software
- Lecture 9: Screenshots
- Lecture 10: Snipping Files
- Quiz
- Lecture 1: Microsoft Word (18:27)
- Lecture 2: File Tab (7:02)
- Lecture 3: Home Tab (7:48)
- Lecture 4: Styles (6:22)
- Lecture 5: Insert Tab (9:12)
- Lecture 6: Design Tab (6:50)
- Lecture 7: Layout Tab (8:36)
- Lecture 8: Remove Line Numbers (4:42)
- Lecture 9: References Tab (5:01)
- Lecture 10: Review Tab (5:15)
- Lecture 11: View Tab (1:53)
- Lecture 12: View Features (5:58)
- Lecture 13: Quick Access Toolbar (5:14)
- Lecture 14: Caption and Appearances Pages
- Lecture 15: Caption With Fillable Fields (1:10)
- Lecture 16: Caption With Floating Line Numbers (10:00)
- Lecture 17: Caption With Fixed Line Numbers (9:20)
- Lecture 18: Index Page (7:06)
- Lecture 19: Headers, Footers, and Page Numbers (13:45)
- Lecture 20: Create Headers (8:03)
- Lecture 21: Smart Quotes (5:39)
- Lecture 22: Templates
- Lecture 23: Annotations (1:46)
- Lecture 24: Digital Signature (11:58)
- Lecture 25: Shortcuts
- Lecture 26: Keyboard Shortcuts (10:24)
- Lecture 27: Word Symbols (8:45)
- Lecture 28: Spellchecker (4:51)
- Lecture 29: Spellcheck Wrong Words (2:44)
- Lecture 30: Widow/Orphan Keep Line Numbers in Word (4:18)
- Lecture 30A: Set Widow/Orphan (2:16)
- Lecture 31: Single and Double Spacing (2:59)
- Lecture 32: Single and Double Spacing Fixed Lines (6:51)
- Lecture 33: Save Options (3:31)
- Lecture 34: Word Tips (2:57)
- Quiz
- Lecture 1: Creating Macros (1:14)
- Lecture 1A: 365 Change (1:34)
- Lecture 2: Macro Overview (3:17)
- Lecture 3: Q/A Keyboard Macros (9:22)
- Lecture 3A: Q/A Always at Left Margin (4:41)
- Lecture 4: Q/A Button Macros (7:46)
- Lecture 5: Keep Together Macro (6:08)
- Lecture 6: No Split Dash Macro (5:52)
- Lecture 7: Exhibit Keyboard Macro (5:17)
- Lecture 8: Exhibit Button Macro (4:29)
- Lecture 9: Insert Dash Macro (2:17)
- Lecture 10: Macros Tips (10:03)
- Lecture 11: Organize Macros (12:08)
- Lecture 12: Other Ways to Make Shortcuts (8:19)
- Lecture 13: Shortcuts for Sworn Blurb (16:42)
- Lecture 14: Cap Next Macro (13:39)
- What is Scoping?
- Scoping Demo (4:35)
- Concordances (10:26)
- Condensed Transcripts (7:35)
- Shorthand (4:59)
- Log Notes
- Case Citations (5:43)
- Working With Accents - South African (8:36)
- Working with Accents - Venezuelan (5:38)
- Working with Accents - Cajun (6:18)
- Working with Accents - New York (4:46)
- Quiz
- Lecture 1: Overview
- Lecture 2: Test Your Punctuation
- Lecture 3: Test Your Vocabulary
- Lecture 4: Test Your Spelling
- Lecture 5: Test Your Grammar
- Lecture 6: Commas (5:55)
- Lecture 6A: FANBOYS (9:40)
- Quiz - FANBOYS
- Lecture 7: Oxford Comma
- Quiz - Oxford (serial) comma
- Lecture 8: Colons
- Lecture 8A: List With Colon or Not (16:34)
- Lecture 9: Semicolons
- Lecture 10: Quotes and Italics
- Lecture 11: Continuous Quoting
- Quiz - Quotes
- Lecture 12: Hyphens and Dashes
- Lecture 13: Parentheses
- Lecture 14: Appositives
- Lecture 15: Ellipsis
- Lecture 16: Brackets
- Lecture 17: Plurals and Apostrophes
- Lecture 18: Yes/No Answers
- Lecture 19: Run-on Sentences
- Lecture 20: Paragraphing
- Lecture 21: Capitalization
- Lecture 22: Prefixes and Suffixes
- Lecture 22A: Medical Prefixes and Suffixes (7:57)
- Quiz - Medical Prefixes and Suffixes
- Lecture 23: Verb Phrases
- Lecture 24: Numbers and Miscellaneous
- Lecture 24A: Slash/Slant
- Lecture 25: Correcting Themselves (2:32)
- Lecture 26: i.e. and e.g.
- Punctuation Groups
- Quiz - And But So
- Quiz - Parentheticals
- Quiz - Introductory Clauses
- Section Quiz
- Some Punctuation Reinforcement (10:22)
- More Punctuation Reinforcement (7:49)
- Mishears Reinforcement (3:47)
- Caption, Appearances, Index
- Lecture 1: What is a Deposition?
- Lecture 2: Depo Organization
- Lecture 3: Sample Pages
- Lecture 4: Layouts
- Lecture 5: Verbatim
- Lecture 6: Exhibits
- Lecture 7: Objection!
- Lecture 8: Stipulations
- Lecture 9: What is a Byline?
- Lecture 10: Hypothetically Speaking
- Lecture 11: Off the Record
- Lecture 12: Recesses and Breaks
- Deposition Setup
- Deposition Demo (18:07)
- Lecture 13: I'm a Party (6:16)
- Lecture 14: Just the Facts, Ma'am!
- Lecture 15: I'm an Expert
- Lecture 16: I'm Not Available
- Lecture 17: PMK
- Lecture 18: Interpreted
- Lecture 19: Quiz
- Lecture 20: Templates
- Lecture 21: Plead the Fifth
- Lecture 22: Videographer
- Overview Colloquy
- Overview Bylines
- Caption, Appearances, Table of Contents
- Lecture 1: The Courts
- Lecture 2: Just a Glimpse
- Lecture 3: Hearings and Trials
- Lecture 4: Jury Trials
- Lecture 5: Parts of the Transcript
- Lecture 6: State Court
- Lecture 7: Federal Court
- Lecture 8: Arbitration
- Lecture 9: Grand Jury
- Lecture 10: More Things to Know
- Lecture 11: Exhibits
- Lecture 12: Regarding Witnesses
- Lecture 13: Stages of a Criminal Case
- Lecture 14: Sample Setup
- Templates
- Quiz
PRICING INFORMATION
Not refundable: Since this is consumable online digital education, not a traditional nor commercial returnable product, per our Terms of Use Agreement, course fees are not refundable, and we do not honor chargebacks. Payments are automated and cannot be stopped. The course cannot be discontinued for buyer's remorse, change in personal circumstances, etc.
Please note that enrollment is a binding contractual agreement to pay all tuition fees in full.
SALES TAX: Mandatory sales tax, if applicable, is automatically added to payments and automatically remitted by the payment processor. Check with your government for the percentage, if any, that is automatically assessed by your governmental entity for online purchases.
U.S. CURRENCY: Our fees are in U.S. dollars.
RECOUP COST OF PROGRAM: Most of our graduates tell us that they recouped the entire cost of the program within a few weeks of working as an independent contractor. However, we do not guarantee anyone's income level or success since each person's experience is unique.
IS THE TUITION FEE REFUNDABLE?
As noted above, we do not offer refunds nor chargebacks. This same policy has always been clearly stated and is also included in the Terms of Use.
DO YOU OFFER SALES COMMISSIONS TO AFFILIATES?
Yes. Contact us for information if interested in becoming an affiliate.
Affiliates receive a commission only if a student used their specific affiliate link on enrollment. If a student failed to use their link for any reason, affiliate commissions are not paid. Affiliate commissions are paid on a "last touch" system. Therefore, if a student is led to enrollment by more than one affiliate, commission attaches to the affiliate's code used on enrollment.
IS THERE A DISCOUNT CODE AVAILABLE FOR THIS COURSE?
The discount is the same amount paid for the Getting Started course and is available only to those who purchased the Getting Started course. A special code is included inside the Getting Started course. Discount code works with payment in full, not monthly payment plans.
DO YOU OFFER PAYMENT PLANS?
Check for current availability.
For students on a payment plan, all fees must be paid in full before advancing to the practice files.
Automatic payments: Payments on payment plans are automatically done by computer approximately every 30 days, with no more than three attempts spread over a few days to charge the card on file. If the card declines, student receives an automated email with instructions to update their card on file. After three attempts, student is automatically unenrolled from course and forfeits all payments made for failure to honor payment agreement.
Re-enrollment: To re-enroll, if within 18 months of initial enrollment, student must pay a nonrefundable reinstatement fee and pay the full balance due so that the course is paid in full. Doing so automatically returns student to where they left off in the course.
It is extremely important to use a payment card that will not decline until tuition is paid in full. We cannot charge a card, pause a payment, add a new card, etc. Students can post a new card or substitute a card on their profile page if desired.
Early payout: Early payout is allowed by paying the full balance left on pay plan.
IS THERE A TIME LIMIT TO COMPLETE THIS COURSE OR RISK BEING AUTOMATICALLY DISENROLLED?
A new student enrolling on or after August 31, 2024, must make timely progress by completing and graduating from this course within 18 months of initial date of enrollment. Failure to do so could result in automatic disenrollment from this course and forfeiture of all fees paid pertaining to this course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the course self-paced? Students work their way through the course lectures, quizzes, practice files, and exams at their own pace. Average time to complete this course is 2-4 months, depending on student's time devoted to study.
Is there a deadline for how long a student can stay in the course? Students need to make progress in a timely manner. Therefore, students must have completed and graduated from this course within 18 months from date of enrollment.
How often can a student return to this course? Graduates and enrolled students (within the 18-month timeline from date of enrollment) can access the course at any time as long as the course is online and available.
Can I "power through" the course and finish sooner than the estimated time? You should go at a pace that allows you to fully understand everything as you go since this course is packed with a tremendous amount of material to get through.
Are practice files included for students to transcribe? Yes. This course has a LOT of practice files which take most students about two months to fully complete.
Is there a Certificate of Completion? Yes. Graduates receive a Certificate of Completion.
Is marketing included? Our graduates receive lots of valuable workforce and marketing information.
Will graduating from this course qualify me to pass the national CET exam? This course puts students on a pathway toward pursuing future AAERT transcriber certification if desired. CET study course sold separately.
Can I rely on what someone said online about this course? We do not monitor and are not responsible for what anyone not employed by our academy says. Contact us at [email protected] with any questions.
Can a non-U.S. citizen take this course? Since this course includes an apprenticeship and/or employment opportunity available only to U.S. citizens, this particular course is open only to U.S. citizens.
Do you guarantee how much money I will earn transcribing legal files? That is impossible since everyone's earning capacity is different.
Can a graduate be rejected for an apprenticeship? Yes, that is possible, depending on the particular circumstances. A few examples include: not following entry test instructions, lying on employment application, not meeting typing speed or accuracy expectations, unable to pass a criminal background check if one is required.
Does this course offer "job placement"? We do not "place" anyone into a job. We offer our graduates an opportunity for a referral to one of our network partner entities and facilitate introductions. We try to locate a good fit for both graduate and employer, similar to a job matching service, at no charge.
Does this course include coaching? Coaching is included in the practice files section. In addition, paid one-on-one coaching is also available if desired.
Is there an age or educational requirement to take this Legal Transcription training course? To enroll in this course, students must be at least 18 years of age and have completed high school or an equivalent level of education.
Will I have access to the instructor and/or staff? Yes. Emails are responded to in a timely manner. For emergencies, students can also phone or text during office hours of 9-5 CST Monday through Friday.
Will I need to pass a background check to be employed as a legal transcriptionist?
Some entities require a criminal background check due to the nature of the work being highly confidential. Even though some entities do not require a background check, it would be best if able to pass a background check.
How to know if I should pay in full or which payment plan to go with? Excellent question! There is no perfect answer since each student's situation is different.
However, some students have enrolled in a 6-month plan, for instance, thinking they would go through more slowly than they actually did. To their surprise, they completed the theory portion in 2 months or less. To proceed to the practice portion of the course, that meant a wait of 4 more months for all of their payments to go through (so that they were paid in full to gain access to the practice portion). Frustrating? Yes! If ready to proceed immediately, their only option to break through the pay wall was to pay all remaining payments all at one time.
Therefore, choosing the best payment option is really a matter of how much time a student anticipates being able to devote to the training and how much credit is available on their payment source.
Residency Requirement for Paid Apprenticeships
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