The Party Who Asks You to 'Clean It Up'
You are a freelance CET hired by a law firm to transcribe a 55-minute recorded client interview for use in litigation. After you deliver the draft, the client's paralegal calls and asks you to "clean it up" - specifically to remove the client's two uses of profanity, to change "I think it was around June" to "It was in June," and to delete a 20-second aside where the client speculates about a third party's motives. The paralegal says the attorney "doesn't want that in there" and that the changes are "just for readability." Your engagement letter is silent on redaction authority. The interview is potential evidence.
1. How should you handle each of the three requested changes?
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Distinguish formatting from substance. Profanity: you may not silently delete it; it is part of the speaker's actual words and may bear on tone/credibility. If the firm wants it masked, that must be a documented, attorney-directed redaction with a notation like [profanity omitted] - and you should confirm the direction in writing. "I think it was around June" → "It was in June": refuse - this changes the speaker's level of certainty, which is substantive and could mislead a factfinder. The 20-second aside: do not delete; it is recorded testimony/recollection. If the attorney wants it excluded from a particular use, that is the attorney's redaction decision to make and document, not yours to make silently. Offer a verbatim transcript plus a separately labeled redacted version if directed.
2. The paralegal pushes back, saying the attorney authorized it verbally. What do you do?
Read the worked answer
Ask for the direction in writing from the attorney (email is fine), specifying exactly what is to be changed and the basis. Explain that you keep a verbatim master and, if directed, produce a clearly labeled redacted derivative, so the firm retains both. Do not alter the master file. If written authorization is refused, decline the substantive edits and deliver the verbatim transcript with a note. This protects the client (an altered transcript can be devastating if the original surfaces), protects the firm, and protects your certification and reputation. Verbal instructions to alter evidence-related content are exactly where a professional slows down and documents.