How a Law Firm Cut Deposition Costs 60% and Won More Cases
Thompson & Associates' transformation from traditional court reporters to AI-powered legal transcription that improved accuracy, reduced costs, and enhanced case preparation
The Challenge: Rising Costs, Declining Efficiency
Thompson & Associates is a mid-sized corporate law firm in Chicago with 12 attorneys specializing in commercial litigation and employment law. Like many firms, they were facing escalating costs for traditional court reporting services.
“We were spending $8,000 to $12,000 per month just on court reporters and transcripts,” explains David Thompson, Managing Partner. “Every deposition required a court reporter at $600-800, plus another $400-600 for expedited transcripts. And we’d still wait 7-10 days to receive the final transcript.”
The firm was handling 25-30 depositions per month, and the costs were squeezing profit margins on standard cases. Worse, the delay in receiving transcripts meant attorneys couldn’t quickly adjust their case strategies based on testimony—a significant competitive disadvantage in fast-moving litigation.
Before Soz AI
The Solution: Strategic AI Implementation
After evaluating several AI transcription services, Thompson & Associates chose SozAI for its accuracy with legal terminology and speaker identification. But they didn’t rush into full adoption—instead, they implemented a careful three-month pilot program.
“We couldn’t just abandon court reporters overnight,” David explains. “Legal transcripts need to meet evidentiary standards. So we ran a parallel system: traditional court reporters plus SozAI for immediate working transcripts.”
Pilot Program Framework
- 1 Phase 1 (Month 1): Testing - Used SozAI for 10 depositions while maintaining court reporter. Compared transcripts line-by-line to verify accuracy.
- 2 Phase 2 (Month 2): Hybrid Model - Kept court reporter for critical depositions, used SozAI for witness interviews, client meetings, and internal strategy sessions.
- 3 Phase 3 (Month 3): Full Adoption - Made SozAI the primary transcription method, reserving court reporters only for depositions likely to go to trial or require certified transcripts.
The Results: Cost Savings and Competitive Advantage
After the three-month pilot, the firm committed to SozAI as their primary transcription solution. The results across six months of full implementation have been substantial:
Cost Reduction
Transcription costs dropped from $10,000 per month to $4,000—a 60% reduction that translates to $72,000 in annual savings that went directly to the bottom line.
Speed Advantage
Immediate transcripts vs 7-10 day wait means attorneys can adjust case strategy within hours of a deposition, not weeks. This has led to faster settlement negotiations and better outcomes.
Capacity Growth
With the same transcription budget, the firm can now handle 40% more depositions, enabling them to take on larger cases that were previously cost-prohibitive.
Win Rate
Better case preparation led to a 15% increase in favorable settlements and judgments. Quick access to testimony details gave attorneys an edge in negotiations.
"SozAI transformed our practice economics. We're not just saving money—we're winning more cases because our attorneys have access to testimony immediately. In litigation, speed is a competitive advantage."
Key Success Factors
Accuracy Verification
The pilot program's side-by-side comparison revealed 98.7% accuracy across 30 depositions. The firm established protocols for when certified court reporters are still required (trial testimony, certain regulatory proceedings).
Attorney Buy-In
Senior partners were skeptical initially. The pilot program convinced them by demonstrating that AI transcription met their quality standards while delivering transcripts in minutes instead of days.
Workflow Integration
The firm integrated SozAI into their case management system, creating templates for different types of proceedings and standardizing how transcripts are organized and stored.
Strategic Reserve
Maintaining relationships with court reporters for high-stakes depositions and trial testimony ensures the firm has flexibility when certified transcripts are legally required.
The Bigger Picture
Thompson & Associates’ experience reflects a broader transformation happening in legal practice. AI transcription isn’t replacing court reporters entirely—it’s creating a more efficient tiered system where firms can choose the right tool for each situation.
“We still use court reporters for about 20% of our depositions,” David notes. “But for witness interviews, client meetings, internal strategy sessions, and routine depositions, SozAI gives us professional-quality transcripts instantly at a fraction of the cost.”
The financial impact has been substantial enough that the firm is expanding into new practice areas that were previously cost-prohibitive. With transcription costs under control, they can profitably handle mid-market cases that larger firms overlook and smaller firms can’t afford to properly document.
“This isn’t just about saving money,” David concludes. “It’s about giving our attorneys the information they need, when they need it, so they can serve clients better. That’s the real competitive advantage.”
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