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Legal Interpreting

Aspects of Legal Interpreting

Many people think legal interpreting only consists of the courtroom. That is incorrect. Legal interpreting consists of paralegal, law enforcement, and courtroom. It also includes forms signed in healthcare or educational settings that are legally binding. 

Interpreters in legal settings should have a legal or court certification. It is required that court interpreters have this specialized certification, but this is not always the case for law enforcement or paralegal settings. The most effective interpretations usually are a result of a team of interpreters- a hearing legal/court certified interpreter and a Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI), especially when the d/Deaf person has limited understanding of the legal system.

Below, you will find a brief description of each setting, and resources for interpreters to utilize.

Law Enforcement

Interpreters are required for interviews with law enforcement after arrests, making phone calls, and any other activity where they will be held responsible for the information given to them. 

Paralegal

Paralegal settings are anywhere where legal knowledge is required. For example, a meeting with an attorney-client, a court-ordered competency evaluation, or a divorce mediation. 

Courtroom

Often considered the most volatile of all interpreting environments, this is the specialization in which we find the least amount of qualified interpreters. Courtroom interpreting consists of civil law (disputes, divorce, estate, etc.) and criminal law. 

Resources
Books
Websites
Articles
  • Bancroft, M. A., Bendana, L., Bruggeman, J., Feuerle, L. (2013). Interpreting in the gray zone: Where community and legal interpreting intersect. The International Journal for Translation & Interpreting Research. 5(1), 94-113. https://doi.org/10.12807/ti.105201.2013.a05

  • Braun, S. (2018). Video-mediated interpreting in legal settings in England: Interpreters' perceptions in their sociopolitical context. Translation and Interpretation Studies. 13(3), 393-420. https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.00022.bra

  • Brunson, J. L. (2007). Your case will now be heard: Sign language interpreters as problematic accommodations in legal interactions. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. 13(1), 77-91. https://doi.org/10.1093/deafed/enm032

  • Mathers, C. M. (2018). Interpreting in legal contexts. In L. Roberson & S. Shaw (Eds.) Signed language interpreting in the 21st century: Foundations and practice (pp. 115-130). Gallaudet University Press. 

  • Napier, J. & Banna, K. (2018). Walking a fine line - the legal system and sign language interpreters: Roles and responsibilities. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice. 13(1-3), 233-253. https://doi.org/10.1558/japl.31859

  • Napier, J. & Spencer, D. (2017). Jury instructions: Comparing hearing and deaf jurors' comprehension via direct or mediated communication. The International Journal of Speech, Language and the Law. 24(1), 1-29. https://doi.org/10.1558/ijsll.30878

  • Roberson, L., Russell, D., & Shaw. R. (2011). American Sign Language/English interpreting in legal settings: Current practices in North America. Journal of Interpretation. 21(1), Article 6. http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/joi/vol21/iss1/6

  • Shaffer, B. (2018). Tracing the origins of legal terminology in ASL: Perspectives for ASL/English interpreters. Journal of Interpretation. 26(1), Article 4. https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/joi/vol26/iss1/4

  • Shaffer, S. A. & Evans, J. R. (2018). Interpreters in law enforcement contexts: Practices and experiences according to investigators. Applied Cognitive Psychology. 32(1), 150-162. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3388

RID Standard Practice Paper - Legal Interpreting
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