Most conference rooms can hold a meeting. Fewer work well for testimony on the record, where the reporter has to hear every word, the witness has to be comfortable for hours, and nobody can afford a scheduling surprise. These are the things worth checking before you book any deposition room, ours or anyone else's.
Size: count chairs, not just people
Start with everyone who will sit at the table: the witness, defending counsel, examining counsel, counsel for each other party, the court reporter, and any interpreter or client representative. Then think about who needs floor space rather than a chair. A videographer needs room behind examining counsel for a tripod and lights, and the reporter needs a spot beside the witness with space for a steno machine and laptop.
A room that is technically big enough but leaves the reporter squeezed into a corner makes for a worse record. If your headcount is right at a room's limit, size up.
At Depo Pros, the standard Deposition Room seats up to 8 (6 at 611 Wilshire) and the Large Deposition Room seats up to 12, with space for a videographer's camera and lighting.
Quiet and privacy
You want a door that closes, walls that keep conversation in, and nothing confidential visible to people walking by. Ask where the room sits relative to kitchens, lobbies and other meeting rooms.
Just as important is somewhere private to talk to your client or witness during breaks. Conferring in a hallway or an elevator lobby is a bad idea. A second, smaller room booked alongside the deposition room solves it; at Depo Pros that is a Client Meeting Room for 2–4 people.
Technology that works on the first try
Even a fully in-person deposition now usually involves laptops, electronic exhibits and sometimes a remote participant. Check:
- Wi-Fi strong enough for a video call, and power at the table rather than one outlet on the far wall.
- A display or screen for exhibits, and a whiteboard if witnesses will draw.
- Whether you bring your own laptop and cables or the venue provides them.
- How audio works for remote participants: a laptop microphone at one end of a long table rarely picks up the witness well.
Depo Pros rooms are videoconference-ready (bring your own laptop or request ours), and the Large Deposition Room has a large display for exhibits and remote participants. More on that in remote and hybrid deposition setup.
Location: legal first, then practical
The location has to work under the rules for your case before it works for anyone's commute. In California state cases, Code of Civil Procedure section 2025.250 limits how far from the deponent's residence you can notice the deposition; our guide to where a deposition can be held in California explains it.
Then think about the witness. A short trip, a building that is easy to find and a clear plan for parking or transit mean a witness who arrives on time and in a better frame of mind. A neutral location, rather than either side's office, also keeps the temperature down.
Access: how will the witness get in?
Ask the venue exactly how arrival works. Some rooms have a staffed desk; many professional buildings require visitors to check in at a lobby or use an access code; some rooms are self-access by appointment. None of these is a problem if everyone knows the plan, but a witness stuck in a lobby at 9:05 is.
Depo Pros sends arrival and access instructions with every confirmation. Forward them to the witness, the reporter and opposing counsel, rather than assuming someone will be waiting downstairs. Check the building's hours too: Depo Pros rooms are booked on weekdays, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time.
Pricing you can see before you book
Deposition room pricing is often quoted on request, which makes it hard to compare. Whoever you book with, ask:
- Is it hourly, half-day or full-day, and is there a minimum?
- Are there booking, setup or cleaning fees?
- Are Wi-Fi, a display, water and coffee included, or extra?
- What happens if the deposition runs long?
- What is the cancellation policy, and is a late cancellation refunded or credited?
Depo Pros publishes every rate. The standard room is $125 an hour, $450 for a half day and $850 for a full day; the half-day or full-day rate applies automatically whenever it is cheaper. There is a 2-hour minimum and no booking fee, and cancelling at least 24 hours ahead gets a full refund.
Booking certainty
Finally, ask when the room is actually yours. A tentative hold that can be released, or a request that waits for someone to confirm by email, leaves you exposed if the date is close. At Depo Pros, the time is checked against existing bookings before checkout opens and the room is confirmed the moment payment goes through, with a calendar invite and directions in the confirmation email.
Quick test for any venue: could you forward their confirmation email to the witness and the reporter, unedited, and would it tell them everything they need — address, floor, time, time zone and how to get in?
Need a room?
Published prices, live availability, confirmed on payment. Questions first? Call (213) 232-3820.