"DRAGON' THE LINES"

 

I have dictated my legal briefs, motions and summaries using a variety of formats over the years.  Full size cassettes, micro cassettes and digital recorders.  About 4 years ago, I tried voice recognition software, which I now use exclusively.  I wear a head set like an air traffic controller, or a help desk tech.

I really like the system, though I am the only lawyer in our office using it.  Turn around time is cut to nothing.  

There is only one downside.  While the software is incapable of misspelling a word, it can sometime produce the wrong word....spelled correctly.

Proofreading, my least favorite activity, does become a bit of a challenge.  A misspelling will often jump out at you.  A wrong word, spelled correctly?  Not so much.

So, a few errors have crept into my final work product.  I wish I had compiled a list over the years.

However, I remember one mistake very well.

I had reported a case settlement to my carrier.  I indicated that the case had been resolved at a facilitation with attorney "Stool Weiner".  For those few who may not know, I had meant to say "Stu Weiner", the dean of Southeast Michigan facilitators/mediators.  In fact, I believe there is a proposed local court rule under consideration in Wayne County that would require a Court Order to use someone other than Stu.

Anyway, the adjuster caught the error and kind of chuckled about it when next we spoke.  Well, I said, it was a shitty case.  Which caused a huge burst of laughter from the adjuster, as I hoped it would.  I will say, from that day, I got a lot of work from that adjuster....right up to the time she retired.  So it goes.

Food fight y'all...I meant, Good Night to All.