At BlueLedge, our instructors are the heart of what we do. With more than 106 years of combined industry experience, they bring real-world insight, strong industry connections, and a passion for teaching. Through 46 courses and live webinars, they empower students at every stage of their journey to reach their goals in the legal field. This series introduces you to the experts guiding your path to success.
Meet Merritt | Meet Tamara | Meet Kristin | Meet Sharon | Meet Natalie
Merritt Gilbert, CER, CDR, FPM, Director and Legal Instructor
Merritt is the director and lead instructor at BlueLedge. She began her career in 2007 at a court reporting agency, where she gained experience in various facets of the industry. In 2013 she became a digital reporter and soon after established the digital reporting department at a large agency, where she managed operations and trained both digital reporters and legal transcriptionists. She now brings that expertise and hands-on experience to her role at BlueLedge, while also serving on AAERT’s Board of Directors.
What makes BlueLedge’s approach to training unique in the legal industry?
At BlueLedge we focus on building skills that students can use on the job from day one. Our courses are designed by seasoned professionals who know exactly what it takes to succeed in courtrooms, depositions, and transcription work. Training is interactive and dynamic, with videos, quizzes, games, activities, and assignments that make the content stick, helping students retain and apply what they learn. Many courses also include instructor-graded assignments with personalized feedback, boosting both progress and confidence. The step-by-step course design makes self-paced online learning manageable, and students can reach out to instructors at any time for guidance. It’s this combination of real-world practice, engaging learning, and personalized support that makes BlueLedge training truly stand out in the legal industry.
BLUELEDGE TESTIMONIAL
BlueLedge provided a comprehensive and well-structured program that thoroughly prepared me for the CET exam. The instructors were supportive, encouraging, and consistently helpful throughout the course. I feel confident beginning my new career as a CET, and I highly recommend BlueLedge to anyone seeking certification. I am deeply grateful for their guidance.
–Stephanie Terrin, CET
How do you decide what courses to develop next, and how do you ensure
they stay relevant?
We listen closely to both our students and the industry. If law firms,
agencies, or courts are telling us they require a certain skill set, we develop
training tailored to it. We also watch for technology shifts and update our
curriculum to reflect those changes. For example, in the past year, we’ve
launched two new courses specifically designed for professionals who want to
start using ASR tools.
- ASR Mastery: Scoping & Proofing – This course demonstrates how ASR (AI) can increase a transcriptionist’s productivity. Students will learn how to navigate and overcome the challenges of scoping ASR-produced first drafts.
- Digital Reporting Realtime Fundamentals – Students can take their digital reporting career to the next level by building a strong foundation in transcript formatting, scoping, and proofreading, which are the essential foundations for providing realtime text streaming, immediate rough transcripts, and accurate transcripts.
TESTIMONIAL
I completed the BlueLedge Deposition Fundamentals and the ASR Mastery Scoping course and would recommend them to anyone interested in a career in legal transcription. The lessons were presented in a clear and concise manner, and the interactive exercises were engaging. I received helpful feedback throughout the course from my instructor. The self-graded transcription and ASR scoping assignments were also beneficial for mastering the material. By correcting my mistakes, I was able to learn from them and perform well on the instructor-graded final assignment.
– Christina M, BlueLedge Student
What advice do you give to students who doubt themselves or
wonder if they’re “too old” or “not technical enough” for this career?
I always tell them that some of the most successful professionals in this field
started later in life or with very little tech experience. In fact, maturity,
professionalism, and attention to detail are huge strengths. Technology skills can
be taught. However, discipline, reliability, and perspective are what enable
someone to thrive. It’s never too late to start if you’re committed.
Why is human oversight still essential in a world where AI
is part of the process?
AI can speed up the process, but it cannot and does not guarantee accuracy. These
tools help streamline the process, allowing professionals to focus on accuracy,
context, and formatting. But AI alone isn’t enough. Every certified transcript
must still be reviewed, corrected, and signed by a trained professional to
ensure it meets the highest legal standards. Human professionals bring
judgment, ethical responsibility, and accountability. AI may help with
efficiency, but humans ensure quality and integrity.
How do you help students choose between digital court reporting and legal transcription programs?
When a student is deciding between our Digital Court Reporting program and our Legal Transcription program, I start by asking them about their career goals, strengths, and interests.
Digital court reporting is a great fit for someone who enjoys being in the action, capturing the official record of courtrooms, depositions, or hearings, whether in person or remotely, as it happens. It requires focus, professionalism, and comfort with technology. Students who also enjoy working with people and want to play an active role in the justice system often gravitate toward this path.
Legal Transcription, on the other hand, is a more behind-the-scenes role. Transcriptionists work from audio recordings to produce accurate transcripts. It’s ideal for students who prefer independent work, have strong grammar and punctuation skills, and enjoy detail-oriented tasks. It also tends to offer more flexibility, since transcriptionists can work remotely more often.
Ultimately, I help them by walking through the day-to-day realities of each role, the type of work environment they want, and their long-term career goals. Many students find that once they picture themselves in the setting, the right path becomes clear.