{"id":1655,"date":"2022-07-04T00:34:30","date_gmt":"2022-07-04T00:34:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dayinterpreting.com\/blog\/?p=1655"},"modified":"2022-06-29T10:54:55","modified_gmt":"2022-06-29T10:54:55","slug":"5-things-you-need-to-know-before-hiring-a-legal-court-interpreter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dayinterpreting.com\/blog\/5-things-you-need-to-know-before-hiring-a-legal-court-interpreter\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Things You Need to Know Before Hiring a Legal\/Court Interpreter"},"content":{"rendered":"

A court interpreter plays a very vital role within the legal system. The contribution of legal and court interpreters help to make justice possible for those who have limited English Proficiency (LEP) and are living in a country that doesn\u2019t speak their native language.<\/p>\n

You might be reading this post and you\u2019re currently in need of a court interpreter or know someone who does. Keep reading to find out 5 things you need to know when seeking to hire a court\/legal interpreter.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s dive right in.<\/p>\n

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Who is a Court\/Legal Interpreter?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Court\/Legal Interpreters<\/a> translate dialogue between speakers from two different languages in a legal setting. Within the court system, lawyers, witnesses and defendants need a court interpreter if they have an LEP.<\/p>\n

For example, someone who has to testify in front of a jury during a trial, but isn\u2019t fluent in English, would need the aid of a court interpreter to orally translate everything that\u2019s being said both ways.<\/p>\n

Now that we have a general understanding of what legal\/court interpreters do, let\u2019s now get into 5 things we need to know before hiring one.<\/p>\n

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1. They Must be Certified<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s not enough for an interpreter in the legal system to just be proficient in both languages required. As an interpreter within the legal system, they must have qualifications as well as some amount of experience.<\/p>\n

This is because a Court\/Legal Interpreter needs to understand all legal jargon. This makes their job much easier and helps the proceedings to run smoothly and everyone to be on the same page.<\/p>\n

A key responsibility of a legal interpreter is neutrality.\u00a0 If you\u2019re in a courtroom setting, the interpreter isn\u2019t allowed to advise their clients or make any suggestions regarding the procedure at any point in time.<\/p>\n

They must wear-in, as a symbol that they commit to honor the principles of the Court and the Code of Ethics for legal interpreters.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Accuracy is Non-Negotiable<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A court interpreter<\/a> has to pay special attention to the tone and connotation behind the original words that are spoken. Adding new information is not an option, neither is an option to omit anything that has been said.<\/p>\n

It is the responsibility of the interpreter to fully translate everything from the original language (also known as the source language) to the target language without changing the words or altering the meaning of what\u2019s being said. This demands the interpreter to have a level of extensive knowledge and a great vocabulary. Legal interpreters must always translate with exactitude and reflect the speaker\u2019s input with a very high level of formality and professionalism.<\/p>\n

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3. Verify Which Type of Legal Interpreter You’ll Need<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are actually two types of interpreters<\/a> within the legal sphere. They are as follows:<\/p>\n