Legal Interpreting Services
Trusted legal interpreting services to ensure the utmost accuracy of court records and enforcement of the law.
Legal Interpreters
Unbiased and confidential, our legally-trained professionals are prepared to interpret the law with the utmost accuracy for court appearances, attorney meetings, or legal depositions.
Never worked with an interpreter before? Don’t sweat it!
We’ve included some helpful tips to ensure your inclusive experience goes smoothly.
Tips for Working with Legal Interpreters
- Request a legal interpreter as soon as the court hearing, appearance, or attorney meeting is scheduled. Scheduling your interpreter early allows us to secure the most qualified interpreter for your services.
- When requesting accommodations, provide details regarding the nature of the legal request, what role the Deaf or hard-of-hearing consumer has in the affair, the foreseeable length of the proceedings, sensitive topics that may be discussed, and any pertinent documents to be referenced.
- Anticipate the interpreters arriving 10-20 minutes prior to your request. Ensure the interpreters have all necessary parking and security clearances.
- Be prepared to provide the interpreters with a brief synopsis as well as copies of any documents you or the court plan to reference. If significant document translation (also known as site translation) is required, please send the necessary documents in advance to your request date.
- For meetings, position the interpreter near the primary, impartial speaker with the ability to see and hear all participants.
- For courtroom appearances and hearings, position the interpreter next to or slightly in front of the judge’s bench. Avoid placing the interpreter in front of a bright background such as a window or lamp.
- If you intend to show video media, ensure you have captions “on” or notify the interpreter in advance if captions are unavailable. Ensure the interpreter is well lit if the lights will be dimmed during the media.
- Request participants to speak clearly and one at a time. Participants should avoid speaking with their back to the Deaf or hard-of-hearing.
- Repeat questions or comments made out of sight of the Deaf or hard-of-hearing participant and clarify who the speaker was if possible.
- Be patient when soliciting responses to questions as the interpreter may be as much as 5-seconds behind the pace of speech.
- Depending on the nature of the legal request, a Deaf Interpreter (also referred to as CDI's or DI's) may be warranted for accuracy of the record.
- Ensure you look directly at the Deaf and hard-of-hearing participants when engaging with them. Avoid looking at the interpreter and avoid interrupting the interpreter while they work. It is never necessary to introduce interpreters unless desired.
- Respect the interpreter’s scheduled end-time. If you need to extend your service request, reach out to a coordinator immediately.
- Respect and trust the interpreter. Professional interpreters are sworn to confidentiality and a Code of Professional Conduct by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Interpreters will never disclose anything discussed during their work. As such, you should never ask an interpreter to divulge information that they previously interpreted.
- Trust the interpreter. Professional interpreters are sworn to confidentiality and a Code of Professional Conduct by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Interpreters will never disclose anything discussed during their work nor should you ever ask an interpreter to divulge prior information.
- Still a hung jury? Reach out to a coordinator to ask a question or discuss how to prepare for your service request.
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