Chrystal Mahan: 

Legal Transcript Proofreader

About Me

I hold a diploma in accounting and a bachelor’s of science in general studies focusing on leadership, accounting, and business. I also have a master’s of business administration degree. Each of these degrees required me to take extensive legal and ethics classes. In 2006, I began working for cities and townships as a Deputy Court Clerk, where I gained experience with legal transcription and proofreading for the courts. 

2015 I completed the Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice course, based on Morson’s English Guide for Court Reporters and The Gregg Reference Manual. This hands-on course spans 64 lessons with multiple modules each. At the time, it was the only Transcript Proofreading course available. Students are required to proofread over 50 practice transcripts with varying difficulty and topics, including medical. There are approximately 3120 practice pages. We’re also required to pass a mid-term and final exam before obtaining certification.

In 2015 I also completed Legal Transcription the Zoom Method by Zoom Transcription Services (now known as Transcribe Anywhere.)

In 2024 I completed a Digital Scoping certificate through The Court Reporting Academy. This certifies me as Autoscript Certified Editor.

I am currently enrolled in The Court Reporting Academy Digital Court Reporting Program where I will become a certified Digital Court Reporter, AAERT Certified, and the State of Michigan certified.

Let’s Talk About Why You Need (ME) a Proofreader

Ever felt the frustration of an important document riddled with errors? Imagine your legal documents, court trials, or even your general writing, edited to perfection by a seasoned pro with over 18 years of proven expertise.

I’m Chrystal Mahan, MBA, your go-to freelance proofreader extraordinaire, specializing in meticulously crafting flawless transcripts for court reporters. ✨

Why settle for less when you can have an industry virtuoso in your corner?

Whether you’re deep in the throes of a legal case, crafting persuasive business proposals, or piecing together the chapters of your next masterpiece, my unmatched prowess ensures every word aligns flawlessly.

Your deadlines, my commitment. With a lightning-fast turnaround of 72 hours (or even quicker if urgency strikes), I’m poised to meet your needs, be it a one-time job, expedited project, or a lightning-speed rush order. ⏱️

But it’s not just about expertise—it’s about crafting an experience tailored to you. Picture this: upon sealing the deal, I’ll hand you my exclusive “Court Reporter Preference Sheet.” It’s your direct line to customized perfection, where your preferences and style guide the journey.

My credentials? They’re solid as a rock. Armed with an associate’s in accounting, a bachelor’s degree in business, and a master’s degree in business, I’ve marinated in knowledge. My proof transcript technique is honed from the illustrious Morson’s English Guide for Court Reporters, complemented by the timeless wisdom of The Gregg Reference Manual and The Elements of Style by Strunk and White.

But hold on, there’s more. Not only do I bring a wealth of legal expertise, including stints as a certified deputy court clerk for cities and townships, but I’m also no stranger to the intricacies of business and tax law. My journey began in 2006, and since then, I’ve fine-tuned my skills across a panorama of niches—depositions, hearings, rulings, Examinations Under Oath, medical, workers’ compensation, personal injury… you name it.

In fact, I’ve even polished up grant proposals, business blueprints, and entire books penned by passionate authors. Your words, your vision, my polish—let’s make magic happen.

So, are you ready to take the leap toward polished perfection? Let’s connect, collaborate, and create written wonders that stand as a testament to excellence. Click below to explore my rates and learn a little more about the maestro behind the magic.

Excited to get started? I’m thrilled, too. Remember, my samples and references are at your fingertips—just say the word.

And if your stars aren’t aligning for this exact moment, no worries. File my details away for the future or pass them on to your colleagues who could use a dose of my expertise.

Here’s to capturing brilliance, one word at a time.
Warm regards,
Chrystal Mahan

How About Some Rates?

Proofing Per Page

  • Standard Rate (72+ hours): $0.50
  • Expedite Rate (24-71 hours): $0.70
  • Rush Rate (less than 24 hours): $0.90

Proofing Per Page with Audio 

  • Standard Rate (72+ hours): $1.00
  • Expedite Rate (24-71 hours): $1.40
  • Rush Rate (less than 24 hours): $1.80

Digital Scoping with Autoscript

  • Standard Rate (72+ hours): $1.25 – $2.25
  • Expedite Rate (24-71 hours): $1.75 – $2.50
  • Rush Rate (less than 24 hours): $2.00 – $3.00

Legal Transcription

My rates for legal transcription can be found on the transcription services page.

 

**Rates are subject to change.***

Excessive corrections may incur an additional $0.10 per page. *Any transcript that has more than 75% returned with annotations will be charged an additional $0.10 per page due to the extra time it takes to complete the job

Weekends: Please ask for availability.

 

Billing

Invoices are sent when the completed job is returned and are due within 15 days.  After 15 days, a late fee of 10% will be applied for each month that payment still needs to be received. I accept checks, debit, and credit cards via PayPal. CashApp, or Zelle are available upon request. Wave payment is available directly on your invoice if you would prefer that option. 

 

Business Notes

I do not have set office hours; however, I am in the EST time zone. I try to be flexible, so there will be times when I can offer some evening and weekend availability. 

I may not always be available to answer emails, especially when working on a job. Thank you for understanding.

 

Proofing Method

Please send your work in PDF, and I will use iAnnotate (or another annotation app/software) to markup directly to your document. I can then return the whole file or just the pages with markups..

Is your job complete and as close to turn-in ready as possible? 

Please understand that I am NOT a Case CATalyst or Eclipse scopist. Before turning in a transcript, a proofreader should be the final set of eyes. Therefore, if your pages are messy, I reserve the right to charge +0.10/per page. 

That doesn’t mean you can’t have errors. No one is perfect; we are all human and make mistakes. But, the more basic mistakes I have to spend time correcting, the greater the chance that I will miss something, and neither of us wants that.

 

If you have concerns about proofreading with an iPad, check out this article: “Isn’t proofreading on an iPad less accurate on paper?

 

Everyone loves discounts, right?

Referral discount: As a thank you for referring your colleague to me, I will give you a 10% discount on your next 100 pages when I receive my first paid job from your referral. There is no limit.

Super clean rate: As a thank you for sending me super clean pages (less than 25% error free), I will reward you with a better rate. The more we work together, the better it becomes for both of us.

 

Ready to get started?

If you are ready to get started, please download this Court Reporter Preference sheet and send it when you are ready to get started.

EMAIL: me@chrystalmahan.com

 

In case you were wondering….

Here are just a few of the things I have been trained to look for.

FORMATTING

  • colloquy / resumed colloquy 
  • by lines
  • appearances page
  • case style
  • Q & A
  • correct spacing
  • justification
  • tabulation
  • Indexes
  • certificates

CROSS-CHECKS

  • correct exhibit numbering
  • exhibit numbers match the index page
  • attorney and the firms’ names and addresses are correct
  • consistency in conventions and spellings
  • correct and accurate dates

ABBREVIATIONS

  • certifications
  • college degrees
  • No., Esq., Jr., Sr., Inc., Ltd., etc.
  • streets, roads, interstates, highways, and byways

GRAMMAR

SPELLING

  • names, 
  • locations
  • medical, legal, and other terminology
  • Jargon
  • slang
  • difficult or obscure words
  • when to spell out numbers on addresses
  • general spell check

PUNCTUATION

  • polite request
  • dependent and independent clauses
  • series of questions
  • echo questions
  • direct address
  • dashes, em dashes, slashes, commas, periods, colons, and semicolons
  • hyphenation, open and closed compounds
  • plurals, possessives
  • interruptions/talk overs
  • quotations, quotes within quotes
  • general chatter 

WORD USE

  • commonly misused words:
    • ensure/insure, 
    • sometime/some time, 
    • perspective/prospective
    • their/there/they’re
    • to /too /two
    • affect/effect
  • commonly misspelled words:
    • adjustor for adjuster
    • prima fascia for prima facie
  • skipped or swapped words
  • double/repeated words
  • omitted words (that are obvious)

CAPITALIZATION

  • defendant, plaintiff, counsel, court (when they’re supposed to be)
  • document names
  • exhibit names
  • parentheticals
  • professional degrees and titles
  • name brand drugs vs. generic
  • anything that is not a proper noun (person, place, or thing)

NUMBERS

  • numerals (digits) vs. words
  • dates and names split into two lines
  • percentages
  • measurements
  • decimals
  • fractions ​
  • when to spell out numbers on addresses and when not to