LiveDeposition Certified Reporter Spotlight
Name: Sandy Bunch VanderPol
Title: Freelance Court Reporter
Certifications:
Freelance Reporter, FAPR, RMR, CRR, CLR, Realtime Systems Administrator Credentialed, California CSR #3032
Self-summary in three words:
Work hard and play hard
When did you begin your court reporting career?
1975
What sparked your interest in choosing court reporting as a profession?
While visiting the county courthouse during my 11th grade civics class, my attention was drawn to the court reporter. During the break I rushed up to talk to him, against the advice of my teacher, and learned how fantastic the profession was from this court reporter. I will never forget talking with my mom that evening about my new career choice. She was so supportive and encouraged me throughout my schooling and my career (now 40 years!)
What advice would you give students or those just entering the field of Court Reporting?
Students must always strive for more and more speed. Practicing on the machine at least four hours a day is of paramount importance in order to ensure the quickest possible entry into the field of reporting. New reporters should always strive to be competitive. This can be accomplished by getting as many credentials as possible, joining your professional associations and attending their conventions, educating yourself on technology, shadowing a top-notch reporter. In a few short words: Stay engaged!
What is your favorite thing about being a reporter?
I enjoy being a part of the legal process and providing court reporting technology to the litigants.
As a Court Reporter, what is your worst nightmare or biggest pet peeve?
I’ve lived the nightmare – equipment failure! I always carry around extra routers, cables, adapter, and batteries and have a Plan B for equipment failure.
Where is the strangest place you have taken a deposition?
In the middle of the foothills, carrying my machine and a chair, as the parties did a “verbatim” inspection of a home. The most exciting place I’ve taken a deposition is in London. What an opportunity that was for work, but also seeing the original cast in “Phantom of the Opera” made the trip much more memorable.
When not court reporting, how do you spend your free time?
When not court reporting, how do you spend your free time? I’ve spent literally thousands of hours volunteering for both my state and our national associations. These volunteer opportunities have opened many doors for me both professionally and personally. I would encourage EVERYONE to volunteer – you won’t regret it.
Outside of the profession, my avocation is snow skiing. I am passionate about skiing and am always trying to improve. I’m a Level 2 ski instructor and work part time (weekends) at Kirkwood Ski Resort, located in the Sierra Nevada mountain in Northern California. Spring and summers are spent whitewater rafting and/or kayaking. Our home is located near one of the most popular Class 3 whitewater rivers in California, the South Fork of the American River, so access to this sport is convenient. My husband and I enjoy sharing the river with friends and family, so we guide many trips a year on our paddle rafts.
BUT most of all, I’m enjoying my granddaughters. IMHP, life doesn’t get any better than being a grandparent!
What do you like most about LiveDeposition?
I was fortunate to beta test LiveDeposition and worked closely with Steven and the developers during this time. LiveDeposition, simply put, is amazing. I’ve used the LiveDeposition streaming as a freelance reporter, setting up a web camera, VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol), and streaming realtime text. Never before has any technology allowed a freelance deposition reporter to provide such a valuable service. No more days of the “black box” for streaming video. No more days of relying on the videographer to stream video to remote locations – every reporter can now do this! It’s simply amazing.
In fact, the entrance of LiveDeposition into the court reporting market has stimulated the competition amongst all of the realtime vendors a hundredfold. Never has our profession seen such progressive strides in the delivery our realtime and other technological products. I attribute this 100% to LiveDeposition and their superior product, marketing and programming.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Don’t leave your office or home without a LiveDeposition account and/or local router. Take the opportunity that LiveDeposition has given you to provide a superior, reliable, and easy-to-use service to your clients.