A court interpreter facilitates communication among those involved in legal proceedings. In general, a court interpreter’s job is to help the court and a non-English speaking party communicate and understand each other. Meetings between lawyers and their clients, deposition hearings, witness preparation sessions, and interviews with court support personnel are all possible places for a court interpreter to work.
Anyone interested in working as a court interpreter should be fluent in both the court’s official language and the language he will be assisting in interpreting. The interpreter should be fluent in both formal and informal vocabulary, such as slang. In general, a career in court interpreting requires an associate’s degree, knowledge of court terminology and procedures, and interpersonal skills in dealing with attorneys, court personnel, and the general public.
A court interpreter is expected to stay as close as possible to the original communication in his or her translation. All tones, tenses, and grammatical persons, for example, must be preserved. Due to the sensitivity of official court material, adding or deleting anything from the original communication is generally prohibited. Simultaneous or consecutive translations are both possible. A court interpreter may also be expected to translate non-oral communications, such as legal documents.
The education and training required to work as a court interpreter varies by state. Some states do not require certification, while the languages of Spanish, Navajo, and Haitian Creole all require federal certification. Many employers ask potential employees if they have been certified by the American Translators Association, because state certification requirements vary widely. Because of the organization’s accreditation requirements, employers may hire people who have a connection to it.
A minor in court interpreting may be available at colleges and universities across the country. Certificates in general translating and interpreting are also available. Those interested in pursuing a career as a court interpreter should attend court interpretation seminars and workshops. Due to networking and the organizations’ industry newsletters, joining local translating and interpretation organizations can also help with job prospects.
In the United States, Spanish is the most commonly interpreted language in court. Other languages, on the other hand, require interpretation. The popularity of a language will most likely be determined by the area where the interpreter lives and the ethnic makeup of the local population. Because those involved in court cases can come from a wide range of backgrounds, a court interpreter may find his work fascinating.