Legal transcription for UK legal teams
Convert authorised client interviews, witness recordings, case discussions and other privately held legal audio into clear, reviewable text. Agree the format, language and confidentiality requirements before work begins.
Official court-held hearing recordings follow the relevant court or tribunal's transcript request process. This enquiry form is for recordings you are permitted to share.
Can you confirm which meeting you are referring to?
The meeting on Tuesday, just after midday.
[inaudible] — verify against the source recording.
Legal transcription shaped around the material
Each recording needs an identifiable source, a lawful basis for sharing it and a transcript brief that matches its intended use.
Solicitor–client interviews
Recorded instructions, consultations and question-and-answer sessions with clear participant labels.
Witness and factual accounts
Interviews and authorised statements that preserve original answers, uncertainty and corrections. For a public-inquiry witness interview or expert briefing, see transcription for UK public inquiries and check any restriction orders before sharing audio.
Case conferences and meetings
Multi-speaker discussions, remote calls and preparatory meetings with agreed time references.
Arbitration and mediation material
Separately held, permitted recordings where the organiser can authorise external processing.
Legal dictation and case notes
Spoken correspondence, research discussions and other working audio prepared to the required template.
Multilingual legal recordings
French, German and other language audio where transcription and English translation may be separately required.
Private legal transcription is not an official court transcript
Before sending audio, establish who holds the recording and whether it can legally be disclosed to an external provider. The correct route depends on the recording, not simply the word “court”.
Privately held, authorised recordings
For a solicitor's permitted interview, client call, conference or case-preparation recording, we can discuss source permissions, transcript format and a project-specific quotation. For family-case material specifically, see family court case transcription guidance. Enquire about private audio.
Official court or tribunal recordings
Where the court or tribunal controls the recording, use its prescribed application, release and authorised-provider procedures. A privately typed document does not automatically become an official record. Read the UK court transcript guide.
A good brief makes the transcript easier to verify
Tell us what the legal team needs without attaching confidential recordings to the initial enquiry. The details below help establish scope, pricing and secure handling.
Who controls the recording, why it was made, and whether it may be shared for transcription.
Duration, file count and format, spoken languages, speaker count and known audio-quality issues.
Strict or intelligent verbatim, participant labels, timecodes and how to flag overlaps or inaudible words.
Word template, case reference, terminology, version control and any separately translated English text.
Confidentiality, secure transfer, access limits, retention instructions, review scope and required delivery date.
A signed declaration or certification is a separate requirement. Confirm the recipient's exact wording and signatory rules before commissioning. See certified transcription guidance.
From brief to transcript
Describe the recording
Share non-sensitive details, language, duration, purpose and any permission restrictions.
Agree the specification
Confirm transcript style, timestamps, secure transfer, price and feasible delivery date.
Review the result
Use source time references for checking unclear sections and confirm any agreed revisions or final version.
Questions before instructing legal transcription
Can you transcribe a court hearing?
We can discuss privately held recordings only where external processing is authorised. Official court-held recordings and formal hearing transcripts must follow the applicable court or tribunal procedure; use the official court transcript guidance to identify the route.
Do you provide strict verbatim, speaker labels and timestamps?
These can be included in the agreed specification. Tell us which speech features must remain, how speakers should be labelled and how often time markers are required. Uncertain words or speakers should not be guessed.
Can you transcribe recordings in other languages?
Tell us the spoken languages and whether the required output is a source-language transcript, an English translation or both. Transcription and translation are separately scoped requirements.
Can I request a certified legal transcript?
Where a signed declaration is required, confirm the recipient's wording, signatory and format requirements first. A declaration does not automatically make a private transcript an official court record.
How are confidential recordings handled?
Before providing sensitive files, agree the lawful authority to share them, access restrictions, secure transfer, confidentiality obligations and retention instructions. The initial form is for non-sensitive project details.
What affects the cost and delivery time?
Length, clarity, number of speakers, languages, verbatim level, timestamps, formatting, technical terminology, review needs and deadline all affect the quote. We confirm price and achievable delivery after considering the actual instruction.
Request a Legal Transcription Quote
Share the recording type, approximate duration, language, required transcript format and deadline. We will confirm the scope and quotation before work begins.