Legal videographers of all levels of expertise are encouraged to register to attend NCRA’s Legal Video Conference, Oct. 17 – 19, at the Westin Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, Nev. The conference is the largest NCRA event dedicated specifically to the legal video profession and will feature the two-day CLVS Seminar and the Legal Video Forum. Registration is expected to open on the NCRA website later this month.
Take the first step
This year’s conference offers the perfect opportunity for CLVS candidates interested in taking that first step toward certification to attend the CLVS Seminar, which is scheduled to run on Friday and Saturday (Saturday is mandatory for certification). Attendees can earn up to 1.2 CEUs (or up to 1.8 CEUs for NCRA credential-holders taking the CLVS Seminar for the first time).
In addition, a limited number of production skills test spots will be offered at the Legal Video Conference. The registration period for the production skills test opens Aug. 18 and closes Sept. 29. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We have had film buffs, legal professionals, and court reporters who have come through the program over the years. Some were looking for a new business to get into. Others were interested in expanding their skills. Many were surprised by the blend of technical skill and professionalism needed for this position, and as part of the faculty, it has been fascinating to see both how the technology has changed over the years as well as how the individuals who have come through the program have developed,” says Brian Clune, CLVS, of San Anselmo, Calif. Clune is a member of NCRA’s Certified Legal Video Specialist Council, a group that plans both the legal video events and creates the certification tests for the CLVS program.
The CLVS certification is the only one that has been nationally and independently validated for the legal video industry.
More than certification
“NCRA’s Legal Video Conference is more than an opportunity to become certified; it is also now focused on continuing education for current CLVS members. Changes to video capture formats eventually will affect legal videographers. The conference is a unique opportunity to stay current with the changes and learn how you can take advantage of the new technology,” says Clune.
People who have completed the CLVS program, a three-step process that includes a workshop, a written knowledge test, and a practical skills test, relish the chance to reconnect with other legal videographers at this event while learning about the latest changes in video technology during the Legal Video Forum’s intermediate and advanced-level sessions on Saturday and Sunday. (To maintain a CLVS certification, a credential-holder must earn 1.0 CEU every three years.)
Planners of the event say that a current CLVS can expect two days packed full of sessions tailored to legal video professionals and that will provide attendees with insight and information on the latest trends and advances. In addition, candidates attending the CLVS Seminar can also attend the Sunday portion of the Legal Video Forum at a discount.
“Additional opportunities, including how to expand your understanding of the software that is used by attorneys or how to expand your offering of services, are a featured part of the conference. Although there are many continuing education classes that will meet the CLVS requirements, the Legal Video Conference is the only one focused exclusively on knowledge valuable to CLVS legal videographers,” says Clune.
Conference attendees will also have the opportunity to mix and mingle, swap stories, and make new connections during the Saturday Night Networking Reception, as well as visit exhibitor booths to learn about the latest in new products and technologies.
This is the second year that NCRA has offered the Legal Video Conference in its new format, which represented a shift to offer current CLVSs the education that would give them an edge to stay competitive in the current market.
Earn your CLVS with this three-step process
Those who are interested in earning a CLVS certification must:
1. Attend the “Video in the Legal Environment” seminar. The seminar covers topics from video recording tips to working with court reporters to the accepted Rules of Civil Procedure.
2. Pass the written knowledge test. The 100-item, multiple-choice test is administered four times a year at testing sites across the nation. The written knowledge test is not offered during the Legal Video Conference.
3. Pass the hands-on production skills test. The production skills test is a practical test during which candidates must run the show during a staged deposition following video deposition guidelines. Candidates must produce a usable, high-quality video of the deposition. The production skills test is offered three to four times a year, including during the Legal Video Conference.
Steps 2 and 3 may be taken in any order, if candidates wish do so. However, all candidates must attend the seminar first.
