I did legal transcription using the old vinyl belts. A LONG time ago. LOL

• Quota - Kathy
  • minutes per hour sm - Speedqueen
  • I think that is fair -- it is only 80 minutes in a day. - sm
    • Vinyl belts. Thanks for the memory, Mine was legal, but all the same. - LOL
      • huh? - nm
        • I did legal transcription using the old vinyl belts. A LONG time ago. LOL - I meant
  • In the "old days" of dictation on vinyl belts, the quota was do to 15 minutes an hour. sm - LTMT
  • This is ironic. We are going through the same thing at the company I work for. sm - TX MT
    • my company - sm
    • Quota - Kathy
      • quota - ls - WA
    • IMHO..too high. Ours was 11 min/hour. NM - Chickadee

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To me, it seems realistic, but then again, each situation is different.  On account I know, I can usually do 30 minutes an hour, although being money-oriented and paid by the line, I usually gauge things by lines.  I do 250-300 lph, but those little dinky reports ARE an irritation -- no argument there -- hardly enter the header info and *poof* the dictation is over.  Would be hard to make a decent line count that way.

But ... surely your employers understand there are variations on such things.  Maybe you average 8.9 one month and 12 the next ... I would think it would even out.

Anyway, i'm into that gray zone where I know nothing about, but I wish you good luck.  To me, in the days when I was supervisor, if I knew someone was doing the best they could do, that was all that mattered to me. 

Hi,

How would a person go about getting into legal transcription from medical transcription? Would you have to go to school for it or is there an easier way? 

Thanks in advance.

Talked to my friend.  There are books for it too.  Not as hard as medical transcription! 

I am so burned out on this MT stuff, with all the work going elsewhere, etc.  I also have an associates degree in legal but that was MANY years ago.  Any idea about some online class to take for refresher course, etc.  Is there any more work in the legal field than medical? 

I do not live anywhere near a community college to take classes so that is really not an option.  Anyone hear anything about being a scopist?  I did take a couple semesters for that some time ago, but maybe it has changed since then. 

Thanks for any information. 

I am so burned out on this MT stuff, with all the work going elsewhere, etc.  I also have an associates degree in legal but that was MANY years ago.  Any idea about some online class to take for refresher course, etc.  Is there any more work in the legal field than medical? 

I do not live anywhere near a community college to take classes so that is really not an option.  Anyone hear anything about being a scopist?  I did take a couple semesters for that some time ago, but maybe it has changed since then. 

Thanks for any information. 

divorce or something like that).  I just finished CareerStep's course in February, and I already have a job.  I do recommend taking some kind of medica transcription course.  While you may have developed your "ear" for transcription in general, there's a LOT you need to learn about medical language and procedures.

Good luck to you!

I like them both.  Depends on what part of legal you do.  For example, I hated doing probate work. Booring!  Loved civil, criminal and domestic stuff though.

But court reports sound really great. That's something I could really enjoy.  Good luck.

I used to make $70,000 and up a year and did so for most of the late 80s and 90s (one girl used to make six figures a year working 7 days a week!)  Because we were making more money than the supervisors and Medical Records Directors in hospitals, they began to switch to transcription services which were sprouting up all over the place.  Plus AAMT came into existence and even though in the beginning it claimed it was to fight for transcriptionists (although assured us it was NOT a union), they eventually morphed into an organization that was more management friendly.  They developed the "guidelines" and the 65-char line.  That was the beginning of the end for those high-end wages.  Then all those mickey mouse transcription schools popped up, and now outsourcing overseas.  YES, we're complaining. 

Anyone have work experience with On-Time Transcription Company?  Thanks.

And, I must confess to a bit of stupidity ....... the description talks about foot switches or whatever -- what's that about? 

Thanks for sharing! 

I try to encourage new MTs to learn as much as they can from their experiences.  The reason that companies do not hire new MTs is because they worry about production and having to utilize their QA staff.  I know it is a catch 22, but that is why it is best to try to work on-site for at least a year to gain some experience.  Most companies require a certain line count each and every day, which can be tough on a new MT that has to research and look things up.  I'm with you, not against you, and wish you all the best.  With anything, take the good advice and leave the bad advice alone. 

I was working for an attorney and he wanted me to get into court reporting so I would be able to travel with him as his private court reporter in his cases. I checked around and there was only 1 school in my state. It was a 3 year course and cost $10,000. Of course, I had to say no, as I couldn't afford it.

I had also checked at our county courthouse for transcribing the tapes and they showed me the ins and outs. For a job there, I didn't need schooling, just the smarts, was told that type of job is solid once you get in the door, but not to depend on it (waiting), as nobody quits. They retire...and the girls I talked to were my age, so that bummed me out, too. Gave up that idea, too.

MT was my 3rd choice. It's okay, but too stressful anymore.

My cuz kept telling people to call me because I worked from home...they would ask how easy it was to make 2300.00 partime from home (you know all those ad's all over the place).Grrrrrrrrrrr.

I finally just got fed up and when folks would ask what I do I'd tell them that I was a medical language interpretor!  ha shut a lot of them up caus they can't scratch their heads and be rude at the same time.