Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.
01
Evaluation factor
Execution and reliability
35% weight
Check certified speed and accuracy: RPR, CRR or state licensure, tested words per minute on four-voice Q&A, and transcript turnaround under expedited or daily-copy deadlines.
Evidence to listen for
Describes a workload they owned and how they kept it from slipping
Names the tools and systems they ran day to day
Can talk about volume: tickets, inboxes, orders, uptime
Nothing quietly falls through when they are busy
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Cannot describe their own workload; things slip without them noticing.
2
Needs Improvement
Handles routine volume; drops work under pressure.
3
Satisfactory
Reliable on steady-state work; struggles when volume spikes.
4
Very Good
Consistently reliable at real volume with a system for staying on top.
5
Excellent
Holds RPR or CRR, sustains 225 wpm testimony at 98 percent accuracy, and has never missed a daily-copy delivery.
02
Evaluation factor
Improving the process
25% weight
Probe how they maintain job dictionaries, briefs for repeated medical or technical terms, and their scoping or proofreading pipeline in Case CATalyst, Eclipse or Stenograph.
Evidence to listen for
Has changed a process rather than only following one
Can name what was slow or error-prone and what they did about it
Documents so the improvement survives them
Knows when a process is worth automating and when it is not
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Follows instructions only; no sense that process can change.
2
Needs Improvement
Notices problems but escalates rather than solving.
3
Satisfactory
Makes small improvements; impact is local and undocumented.
4
Very Good
Has redesigned a real process with measurable effect.
5
Excellent
Builds case-specific dictionaries and briefs before voir dire, and describes a scopist workflow that cut editing hours per transcript.
03
Evaluation factor
Judgement and autonomy
25% weight
Assess independent calls on the record: interrupting crosstalk, requesting readback, marking exhibits, handling sealed or in-camera portions, and certifying transcripts without supervision.
Evidence to listen for
Knows what to decide alone and what to escalate
Handles an exception without freezing or improvising recklessly
Protects confidentiality and access appropriately
Asks a clarifying question rather than guessing on something costly
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Either escalates everything or acts recklessly on their own.
2
Needs Improvement
Needs frequent direction; uneasy with exceptions.
3
Satisfactory
Sound judgement on familiar decisions.
4
Very Good
Clear sense of their own authority; handles exceptions well.
5
Excellent
Cites specific moments where they stopped proceedings appropriately, and knows exactly when a portion must be sealed or struck.
04
Evaluation factor
Communication
15% weight
Look for courtroom and deposition decorum: handling attorneys who talk over witnesses, coordinating with judges and clerks, and explaining rough draft or realtime feed limits.
Evidence to listen for
Writes clearly enough that people act without a follow-up
Manages expectations before a deadline slips, not after
Handles a frustrated colleague or customer calmly
Works across time zones or async where the role needs it
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Unclear written communication; goes quiet when things slip.
2
Needs Improvement
Communication needs chasing; raises problems late.
3
Satisfactory
Clear enough day to day; proactive updates are inconsistent.
4
Very Good
Clear, proactive, and calm under pressure.
5
Excellent
Interrupts firmly but respectfully, sets expectations with counsel on delivery dates, and stays neutral with hostile or emotional parties.
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