Ana Fatima Costa

Featured Guest on Stenographer's World Radio
2022-11-26 07:00 - 08:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
It is an honor to be invited to speak with Stenographer’s World’s Radio Show host, Al Betz. Join us as Al interviews me about educating attorneys and their roles in making an excellent record, nurturing future reporters (steno and voice), some of the greats in our profession, and more!

Day 4, Fall 2022 BerkeleyLaw Mock Depositions
2022-11-22 15:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | UC Berkeley School of Law
Learn how to own your authority as a Guardian of the Record at mock depositions at UC BerkeleyLaw in Berkeley, CA.
These opportunities are for steno and voice court reporting students and newly licensed or returning court reporters.
Dates: October 18 & 25 and November 15 & 22, 2022
Each day, three simultaneous mock deposition Q&A sessions will be reported by advanced court reporting student apprentices or reporters.
Unlike traditional internships, where a court reporting student shadows a working reporter, you are THE REPORTER:
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Time management: Pre-mock prep sessions; Showing up; Delivering rough drafts
Developing and practicing your Reporter’s Admonition before going on the record
How to speak up / interrupt for the record in Q&A sessions with six law students
How to create, edit, and produce rough drafts
EXPERT SUPPORT & RESOURCES
Coaching and breathwork support and practice
Case file, exhibits, and dictionaries
Participants’ names
Rough draft transcript templates with disclaimers
One-on-one transcript reviews
Practice speaking up in weekly Mock Squad team Zooms
Membership in Mock Woman Apprenticeships Facebook group (by invitation only)
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
Serious, motivated, reliable steno and voice court reporting students writing 180+ words per minute (wpm) and new or returning reporters wanting trial practice.
These practical skills events provide powerful win-win opportunities for all participants:
~ Law students and lawyers benefit from a reporter interrupting them to ensure the integrity of the record when they mumble, speak too fast, or talk over one another. Later, by reading my apprentices’ rough draft transcripts, they learn how to improve their questioning and defending skills and future performance.
~ Reporting students and new reporters learn how and when to speak up and how to produce rough drafts. As a result, they develop self-confidence and are able to immediately utilize the lessons from these extra-curricular practical skills events in their training and career.
Visit my Mock Woman Apprenticeships site for more information about this program.

With years of experience in the field, Ana is a fountain of information and sage advice. She has seen the gamut of court reporting brilliance and blunders and has made it her mission to bestow her knowledge onto court reporting students. As an advocate for court reporters, Ana instills in her mentees a sense of pride in and awareness about the profession and is shaping the newest members of the workforce to be capable, professional, and informed.
As an apprentice at several mock depositions at BerkeleyLaw and San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association’s mock trial in 2015, I learned speaking up is valuable because it places in your hands the weight of importance of maintaining the integrity of the record. It’s not your pride or your reputation you have to watch out for; it’s the integrity of the record. There is no better place to practice this important skill than in mock apprenticeships.
~ Katherine Schilling, RPR, Ca CSR 14163

Day 3, Fall 2022 BerkeleyLaw Mock Depositions
2022-11-15 15:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | UC Berkeley School of Law

San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association’s Annual Mock Trials
2022-10-29 07:30 - 17:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | UC Hastings College of the Law, 200 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Four law schools compete in two simultaneous mock trial sessions in the morning and afternoon reported by high-speed court reporting student apprentices whose main task is to speak up for the record in order to produce rough drafts.
Unlike traditional internships, where a reporting student shadows a working reporter, my apprentices learn how to be THE REPORTER: They speak up as often as needed to get the best record they can, mark exhibits, and produce rough draft transcripts.
APPRENTICESHIP DETAILS
— October 29, 2022
— 8:30-12:30 and 1:30-5:30
— Four reporters for two simultaneous mock trials, AM & PM
— Rough drafts to be provided for each trial
WHAT YOU LEARN
— How to state your Reporter’s Admonition
— How and when to speak up for the record
— How to create and produce rough drafts
— Time and information management
— Professional comportment
EXPERT SUPPORT/MATERIALS
— Case file and exhibits
— Participants’ names
— Sample transcript templates
— Practice sessions
— One-on-one transcript reviews
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
These opportunities are for serious, motivated, and reliable steno and voice reporting students writing 180+ wpm and newly licensed reporters wanting trial practice.
These mock events are win-win opportunities for all participants:
•Law students and lawyers benefit from a reporter interrupting them to ensure the integrity of the record when they mumble, speak too fast, or talk over one another. Later, by reading my apprentices’ rough drafts, they learn how to improve their questioning and defending skills and future performance.
•Reporting students and new reporters learn to manage fear, nervousness, and anxiety; how and when to interrupt; develop self-confidence; and immediately utilize the lessons from these extra-curricular practical skills events in their training and career.
Visit my Mock Woman Apprenticeships site for more information.

With years of experience in the field, Ana is a fountain of information and sage advice. She has seen the gamut of court reporting brilliance and blunders and has made it her mission to bestow her knowledge onto court reporting students. As an advocate for court reporters, Ana instills in her mentees a sense of pride in and awareness about the profession and is shaping the newest members of the workforce to be capable, professional, and informed.
As an apprentice at several mock depositions at BerkeleyLaw and San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association’s mock trial in 2015, I learned speaking up is valuable because it places in your hands the weight of importance of maintaining the integrity of the record. It’s not your pride or your reputation you have to watch out for; it’s the integrity of the record. There is no better place to practice this important skill than in mock apprenticeships.
~ Katherine Schilling, RPR, Ca CSR 14163

Day 2, Fall 2022 BerkeleyLaw Mock Depositions
2022-10-25 15:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | UC Berkeley School of Law

Day 1, Fall 2022 BerkeleyLaw Mock Depositions
2022-10-18 15:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | UC Berkeley School of Law

Webinar: SpeakUP for Your Needs ... in Life and Business!
2022-10-05 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
South Coast College’s Legal Networking Forum on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. PDT (Noon) will feature Ana Fatima Costa, Coach, Author, and Speaker.
Ana shares her cumulative 41+year legal career, writing, and coaching expertise to support student and career court reporters to speak up for the record and their needs.
This event will be broadcast simultaneously via Zoom and Facebook Live.
Email Networking@southcoastcollege.edu for the link to join this and future events.
_____
WEBINAR DETAILS
Topic: “SpeakUP for Your Needs … in Life and Business!”
~Do you freeze, hide, or lash out when confronted by other people’s negative behavior?
~Are you able to tell others how you really feel, what you want and need?
Speaking up for ourselves is hard, especially with family, co-workers, and those in a position of authority.
Speaking up in life is hard enough. Take it up a few notches when it’s your job to capture and protect the legal record in order to produce a verbatim transcript.
Learning how and when to speak up in life and on the job is a “soft” skill. Like every new skill, it requires self-awareness; commitment to change; and repetition.
In this workshop, participants will explore:
~How expectations, assumptions, and judgments drive your behavior
~Using your breath to reset your brain and connect with your body
~The power of naming and acknowledging what you feel and need
~How to set boundaries, speak up, and ask for what you need
_____
South Coast College values creating great relationships within our community and sharing opportunities. Resources, careers, and connections are just a part of the Legal Networking Forum. This is an open forum, and all are welcome to join and participate in all our events.
You can also visit SCC’s website Events page at https://southcoastcollege.edu/events/

ACRA 2022 Virtual Conference
2022-08-13 09:00 - 15:30 (America/Denver)
The Alabama Court Reporters Association’s Virtual Conference, “The Compleat Court Reporter,” consists of five seminars designed to enhance your professional development in the areas of
finances
self-advocacy
technology
productivity
health
understanding your responsibilities as a licensed court reporter
I am excited to participate at this prestigious event with my fellow speakers Jessie Waack Gorry, Allison M. Hall, Carrie Sheffield, and Kimberly Xavier.
DATE: August 13, 2022
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
REGISTER: https://alcra.org/2021/compleat-conference/
My presentation, “Speak Up for the Record & Your Well-Being,” will take place 11:45 to 12:45. Details below.
Learning how and when to speak up is a challenge for most of us. Take it up a few notches when it’s your job to capture a verbatim record.
Learning how and when to speak up on the job or in life requires self-awareness; the ability to connect with what you feel and need in the moment while maintaining acute focus on listening and capturing the record; keeping track of exhibits; and myriad other tasks.
Like mastering steno, learning how and when to speak up is both an art and science, a skill that can be mastered.
The same is true for mastering our thoughts and emotions. Mastering a new skill requires repetition and practice, just like every other skill.
In this workshop, participants will explore:
Using your breath to quiet your negative self-talk and connect with your body
Understanding how feelings, needs, expectations, and assumptions drive your behavior
How to own your story, sovereignty, and your voice in service of the record and your needs
Join us at #ACRA2022!

Expert Mock Deposition Workshops
2022-06-24 09:00 - 14:30, 2022-06-23 12:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Cooley LLP, 3 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA, 94111, United States
Learn how to own your authority as a Guardian of the Record at expert mock deposition workshops at the prestigious Cooley LLP law firm in San Francisco, CA.
These opportunities are for stenographic and voice court reporting students and newly licensed or returning court reporters.
Dates: June 23 and 24, 2022
Each day, four simultaneous expert mock deposition Q&A sessions (x two 2-hr sessions per day) will be reported by advanced court reporting student apprentices or reporters.
Unlike traditional externships, where a court reporting student shadows a working reporter, you are THE REPORTER:
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Time management: Pre-mock prep sessions; Showing up; Delivering rough drafts
Develop and practice your Reporter’s Admonition before going on the record
Speak up / Interrupt for the record in Q&A sessions with lawyers
How to create, edit, and produce rough drafts
EXPERT SUPPORT & RESOURCES
Case file, exhibits & dictionaries
Participants’ names
Rough draft transcript templates with disclaimers
One-on-one transcript reviews
Practice speaking up in weekly Mock Squad team Zooms
Membership in Mock Woman Apprenticeships Facebook group (by invitation only)
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
Serious, motivated, and reliable steno and voice court reporting students writing 180+ WPM and new or returning reporters wanting extra practice. Must be a member of Mock Woman Apprenticeships to participate.
These practical skills events provide powerful win-win opportunities for all participants:
~ Law students and lawyers benefit from a reporter interrupting them to ensure the integrity of the record when they mumble, speak too fast, or talk over one another. Later, by reading my apprentices’ rough draft transcripts, they learn how to improve their questioning and defending skills and future performance.
~ Reporting students and new reporters learn how and when to speak up and how to produce rough drafts. As a result, they develop self-confidence and are able to immediately utilize the lessons from these extra-curricular practical skills events in their training and career.
Visit my Mock Woman Apprenticeships site and Facebook business page for more details.

With years of experience in the field, Ana is a fountain of information and sage advice. She has seen the gamut of court reporting brilliance and blunders and has made it her mission to bestow her knowledge onto court reporting students. As an advocate for court reporters, Ana instills in her mentees a sense of pride in and awareness about the profession and is shaping the newest members of the workforce to be capable, professional, and informed.
As an apprentice at several mock depositions at BerkeleyLaw and San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association’s mock trial in 2015, I learned speaking up is valuable because it places in your hands the weight of importance of maintaining the integrity of the record. It’s not your pride or your reputation you have to watch out for; it’s the integrity of the record. There is no better place to practice this important skill than in mock apprenticeships.
~ Katherine Schilling, RPR, Ca CSR 14163

TCRA Student Committee ~ Student Session
2022-05-14 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Own Your Story to Speak Up for the Record & Your Needs
by Ana Fatima Costa

This is a private event for TCRA Student Committee members only.

Learning how and when to speak up is a challenge for most of us. Take it up a few notches when it’s your job to capture a verbatim record. But first, you must master the skills to get out of school.

Learning how and when to speak up on the job or in life requires self-awareness; the ability to connect with what you feel and need in the moment while maintaining acute focus on listening and capturing the record; keeping track of exhibits; and myriad other tasks.

Like mastering steno, learning how and when to speak up is both an art and science, a skill that can be mastered. The same is true for mastering our thoughts and emotions.

Mastering a new skill requires repetition and practice, just like every other skill.

In this workshop, participants will explore:

• Using your breath to quiet your negative self-talk and connect with your body

• Understanding how feelings, needs, expectations, and assumptions drive your behavior

• How to own your story, sovereignty, and your voice in service of the record and your needs

Spring 2022 BerkeleyLaw Mock Depositions
2022-04-19 15:00 - 18:30, 2022-04-12 15:00 - 18:30, 2022-03-15 15:00 - 18:30, 2022-03-08 15:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | UC Berkeley School of Law
Learn how to own your authority as one of three reporters of record at mock depositions at BerkeleyLaw in Berkeley, CA.
These opportunities are for steno and voice court reporting students and newly licensed court reporters. Limited to 12.
Dates: March 8 & 15 and April 12 & 19, 2022
Each day, three simultaneous mock deposition Q&A sessions will be reported by advanced court reporting student apprentices or new reporters.
Unlike traditional internships, where a reporting student shadows a working reporter, my apprentices learn how to be THE REPORTER: state their Reporter’s Admonition before going on the record; speak up as often as needed to get the best record they can; and produce rough draft transcripts.
These mock events are win-win opportunities for all participants:
• Law students and lawyers benefit from a reporter interrupting them to ensure the integrity of the record when they mumble, speak too fast, or talk over one another. Later, by reading my apprentices’ rough drafts or final transcripts, they learn how to improve their questioning and defending skills and future performance.
• Reporting students and new reporters learn breathing techniques to manage fear, nervousness, and anxiety; how and when to speak up; and how to create, edit, and produce rough drafts. As a result, they develop self-confidence and are able to immediately utilize the lessons from these extra-curricular practical skills events in their training and career.
Visit my Mock Woman Apprenticeships page for more details.

Code Switching
2021-12-15 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Have you heard of “Code Switching”?
The most common definition is “the practice of alternating between two or more languages or varieties of language in conversation.”
Example: “This café has a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ ambience.” In other words, “I don’t know what.” Yet while preparing for this, my third time co-presenting with my esteemed colleague, attorney Joanna Storey (our second presentation for SFPA’s 2021 Skills Academy), I found multiple, complex layers of meaning.
Code Switching includes:
✳️ Culture;
✳️ Social standing;
✳️ How we are perceived by others;
✳️ Overcoming negative stereotypes;
✳️ Stories we tell ourselves about ourselves and others;
✳️ Changing our behavior to gain approval / acceptance;
✳️ In BIPOC and LGBTQI+ communities, it can mean survival; and more.
Please join Joanna Storey and me for San Francisco Paralegal Association‘s final 2021 monthly Skills Academy professional development webinar on #CodeSwitching today, December 15th.
DATE: December 15, 2021 TIME: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. PST COST: Free for SFPA members; $5.00 for non-membersREGISTER: https://sfpa.com/event-4562334 #SFPASkillsAcademy

Fall 2021 BerkeleyLaw Mock Depositions
2021-11-16 15:00 - 18:30, 2021-11-09 15:00 - 18:30, 2021-10-19 15:00 - 18:30, 2021-10-12 15:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | UC Berkeley School of Law
Three simultaneous mock deposition sessions reported by high-speed court reporting student apprentices whose main task is to speak up for the record in order to produce rough drafts.
Unlike traditional internships, where a reporting student shadows a working reporter, my apprentices learn how to be THE REPORTER: They speak up as often as needed to get the best record they can, mark exhibits, and produce rough draft transcripts.
These mock events are win-win opportunities for all participants:
• Law students and lawyers benefit from a reporter interrupting them to ensure the integrity of the record when they mumble, speak too fast, or talk over one another. Later, by reading my apprentices’ rough drafts or final transcripts, they learn how to improve their questioning and defending skills and future performance.
• Reporting students and new reporters learn to manage fear, nervousness, and anxiety; how and when to interrupt; develop self-confidence; and immediately utilize the lessons from these extra-curricular practical skills events in their training and career.

Private Event in Washington D.C.
2021-11-12
Topic: Own Your Story to Speak Up for the Record & Your Needs

San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association’s Annual Mock Trials
2021-11-06 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Four law schools compete in two simultaneous mock trial sessions in the morning and afternoon reported by high-speed court reporting student apprentices whose main task is to speak up for the record in order to produce rough drafts.
Unlike traditional internships, where a reporting student shadows a working reporter, my apprentices learn how to be THE REPORTER: They speak up as often as needed to get the best record they can, mark exhibits, and produce rough draft transcripts.
These mock events are win-win opportunities for all participants:
•Law students and lawyers benefit from a reporter interrupting them to ensure the integrity of the record when they mumble, speak too fast, or talk over one another. Later, by reading my apprentices’ rough drafts or final transcripts, they learn how to improve their questioning and defending skills and future performance.
•Reporting students and new reporters learn to manage fear, nervousness, and anxiety; how and when to interrupt; develop self-confidence; and immediately utilize the lessons from these extra-curricular practical skills events in their training and career.

Golden Gate University School of Law’s Final Mock Trial
2021-10-24 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Sixteen law schools from throughout the U.S. compete in 23 mock trials at GGU’s annual Professor Bernie Segal National Criminal Mock Trial Competition In Vino Veritas each fall. My apprentices capture the record in the final mock trial, which will be virtual again in 2021. Their main task is to speak up for the record in order to produce rough drafts. Unlike traditional internships, where a reporting student shadows a working reporter, my apprentices learn how to be THE REPORTER: They speak up as often as needed to get the best record they can, mark exhibits, and produce rough draft transcripts. These mock events are win-win opportunities for all participants:
• Law students and lawyers benefit from a reporter interrupting them to ensure the integrity of the record when they mumble, speak too fast, or talk over one another. Later, by reading my apprentices’ rough drafts or final transcripts, they learn how to improve their questioning and defending skills and future performance.
• Reporting students and new reporters learn to manage fear, nervousness, and anxiety; how and when to interrupt; develop self-confidence; and immediately utilize the lessons from these extra-curricular practical skills events in their training and career.

British Columbia Shorthand Reporters Association 2021 Fall Conference
2021-10-16 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
October 16, 2021 – Hosted Through Zoom
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  Ana Fatima Costa: Speaking Up for the Record
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 pm.  Annual General Meeting

Civility & Communication in a Hybrid World
2021-09-30 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
SUMMARY
As we approach a hybrid workplace, this is a good time to pause and reflect on civility and communication.
All too often, we jump to conclusions and communicate with others based on judgments and assumptions, which result in misperceptions, misunderstandings, and conflict.

Example:
Attorney (in the office) calls Paralegal (remote) to discuss an important project. S/he was in the bathroom and calls back 10 minutes later. Attorney’s initial reaction is swift:

“I told you this remote work arrangement wouldn’t work! You must be physically in the office from now on so I can reach you at a moment’s notice!”

Paralegal is embarrassed to tell the attorney the reason why they missed the call. Attorney assumes they were running a personal errand.

Now Paralegal is considering whether to quit because mandatory in-person work is a deal breaker.
Tempers flare, and their business relationship is at risk.

In this session, we explore how to reframe your mindset to listen, observe, and communicate civilly and effectively.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

#civility#communication#empathy#SFPA

What civility and ethics guidelines apply to lawyers, paralegals, and court reporters

How to make observations without judgment and requests instead of demands

Minimize stress, frustration, and disappointment through clear communication

Own your story to speak up for yourself and your needs while maintaining civility

How to not take things personally or make assumptions, and always do your best

Bar Association of San Francisco
2021-09-15 10:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
9/15/2021 Bar Association of San Francisco presentation with Joanna Storey, Esq.

Civility and Communication in a Hybrid World

Excited to co-present a webinar on September 15 at 12:00 p.m. PDT with attorney Joanna Storey: “Civility and Communication in a Hybrid World,” hosted by The Bar Association of San Francisco’s Paralegal Section.

Summary

As we approach a hybrid workplace, this is a good time to pause and reflect on civility and communication. All too often we jump to conclusions and communicate with others based on assumptions, which result in misperceptions, misunderstandings, and conflict.

At the beginning of a deposition, examining counsel on Zoom may make a facial expression that suggests anger about the answer the witness just gave. Defending counsel may respond with an accusation that examining counsel is threatening the witness. In reality, examining counsel’s facial expression was a reaction to a sharp abdominal pain from having recent surgery, which is why they are appearing through Zoom. But they do not want to appear weak, so they deny the facial expression was made, and the dispute escalates. The court reporter and witness are caught in the middle.

In this session, we explore how to reframe your mind to listen, observe, and communicate civilly and effectively.

Topics

What civility and ethics guidelines apply to lawyers, paralegals, and court reporters

How to use civility as a sword and shield

Minimizing stress, frustration, and disappointment through clear communication

How to make observations instead of judgments

Law firm and management’s role in the supervision of lawyers and staff

How to be a strong advocate for your client and yourself, while maintaining civility

Join our conversation to learn some practical tips for effective communication between lawyers, paralegals, staff, court reporters, and others and share your voice.

Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Program: 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. Pacific Time

MCLE: 1 Hour

Washington Court Reporters Association Fall 2021 Seminar
2021-09-11 12:45 - 14:15 (America/Los_Angeles)
Ana will speak at 12:45 to 2:15
It is an honor to be one of five speakers at the Washington Court Reporters Association’s Fall 2021 Virtual Conference!
Date: Saturday, September 11, 2021
Program: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PDT
AGENDA
9:00 WCRA President’s Welcome
Phyllis Lykken, CCR, RPR, FAPR
9:00-10:30
Rebecca Klein & Keith Scott
TALLsmall Productions, LLC.
10:30-10:45 Break & Prizes
10:45-11:45
COLD: The Investigation of the Death of Susan Powell
Dave Cawley, KSL Investigative Journalist
11:45-12:45
Lunch & WCRA Business Meeting, including Installation of New Officers
12:45-2:15
Own Your Authority to Speak Up for the Record & Your Needs
Ana Fatima Costa, Costa Coaching & Consulting
2:15-2:30 Break & Prizes
2:30-4:00
When It’s Time to Raise Your Rates for Your Services— Three Strategies to Negotiating Your Rates
Cassandra Caldarella, CSR, CoverCrow, Inc.
4:00-5:00
Zoom Social Hour & Prizes
Please join us this Saturday, September 11, 2021, for some fun and networking with fellow reporters after the seminar.
#WCRA2021 #SpeakUp #StrongerTogether

2021 NCRA Conference and Expo
2021-07-29 08:30 - 2021-08-01 21:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Own Your Story to Speak Up for the Record and Your Needs
On stage: Ana Fatima Costa
Sunday @ 8:30 AM
2021 NCRA Conference and Expo
July 29 through Aug. 1 at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada
