JusVox Interview Series: Court Transcript Proofreader - Philip Stubbs

What is your Profession?

Court Transcript Proofreader.

How did you get into this field?

By accident! I had originally intended to retrain as a general proofreader. While researching training courses, I stumbled across a course by Transcript Proofreading Academy. Having spent 27 years as a London police officer, the idea of mixing my interest in grammar and punctuation with the legal world seemed ideal. I had no idea this was even a thing, yet here we are!

Tell us about yourself, who are you outside of your job?

Naturally the work lends itself to having a passion for reading. I love to travel, spend time with my family and the center of my world is (don't tell my wife!) my dog, Hudson. I juggle family commitments with my interest in sport, and the flexibility my work provides means that this is easy to do. I genuinely love my job so that's a big part of me too.

What's the most unexpected place you've ever had to work?

In my previous job, probably Downing Street and Parliament. I worked in a protection role there for 10 years. In my current job, there is nowhere more exciting than the garden! That said, it is possible to work anywhere. The park, the beach, or while I sit in a car park waiting for my daughter's dance class to finish.

If your job had a warning label, what would it say?

"Don't forget to move." It's easy to sit there for hours, getting lost in a transcript. You need to keep active to make sure you maintain your concentration levels.

What's one thing people always get wrong about what you actually do?

"AI can do your job." It can't. Who knows what the future holds but for now AI can't cope with the nuances of the spoken word. There are too many inconsistencies in the English language for AI to take over just yet.

What's the weirdest question a client has ever asked you?

If you could give your first-year-on-the-job self one piece of advice, what would it be? Well, I'm still in the first year, having recently retired from policing, so the advice is to listen. Listen to the experience of those around me, the excellent community built within the Transcript Proofreading Academy, and finally those who have set up their own businesses and how to grow organically. Maybe this interview will help!

What's a "small" detail in your work that actually makes or breaks a case, that nobody outside the industry realizes matters?

In court transcripts, there's no such thing as a "small" detail. Every one of my transcripts requires a keen eye for errors, excellent skills in open-source intelligence developed in decades of policing investigations and working to tight deadlines - all while keeping to the grammatical preferences of my clients. It's not as easy as it sounds!

Describe your job in exactly five words:

Accuracy. Precision. Reliability. Flexibility. Freedom.

What's one piece of advice you wish you had ignored?

One bit of advice I did ignore... "Don't do it."

What's a totally random skill your job has accidentally made you great at?

Intelligence gathering. I wouldn't necessarily say it was accidental as it came with the previous job, but I feel my skills have developed further. I use this as part of my marketing strategy because it gives me a competitive advantage!

If your job were a reality TV show, what would the tagline be?

I'll use my actual tagline - "Burden of PROOF: Precision That Stands Up In Court" but I don't see a future as a reality star!

What's a moment on the job that reminded you why the work actually matters?

I have read thousands of transcript pages. The most memorable ones relate to cases involving discrimination against people with injuries or disabilities. The accuracy of the record aids the search for fairness and accountability. Just being a small part in that is satisfying, knowing that I am working towards justice.

What's the proudest "nobody will ever know I did this, but I did" moment of your career?

I have had many in my previous career involving counter terrorism operations; having signed Non-Disclosure Agreements and the Official Secrets Act, that's all you're getting out of me!

Philip Stubbs

Burden ofPROOF

philip@burdenop.com

If you're a Court Reporter looking for a dedicated proofreader, feel free to email me at philip@burdenop.com