You have just arrived in a foreign country. Everything seems strange and unfamiliar — the way people dress, speak and interact. Suddenly, you find yourself interacting with the legal system. Perhaps you witnessed a crime or were charged with one yourself, and now you need to answer questions. Not only are you facing an unknown culture, but you must now negotiate an unfamiliar legal system as well. With such a different social culture, just how different is the legal system? Interpreters account for these factors when working with Non-English speaking clients in order to ensure the legal process is without issue.
Consider your Non-English speaking client: How familiar is he or she with American culture? How well does he or she understand English? Your client may understand English but not be as comfortable speaking the language. Working with such a client will be different from working with one who has no comprehension of English at all.
Effective legal interpreters understand both the foreign culture and legal system they are interpreting into and out of. Understanding both the differences and similarities to the American legal system allows an interpreter to clear up any misunderstanding his or her client may have. If your Non-English speaking client has any confusion regarding the legal system, you should ask the attorney to explain legal practices in the United States so there is no confusion. This ensures that your client is more comfortable and can communicate more effectively as a result.
Come prepared to legal depositions by knowing legal terms specific to the case and being able to comfortably interpret them. Legal terms in English can be confusing and may still be confusing to your Non-English speaking client even in his or her own language. A good legal interpreter must not only be able to directly translate legal jargon but have a full understanding of what these terms mean.
An interpreter’s job in the legal system is to ensure that his or her Non-English speaking client’s lack of English ability does not negatively impact their trial. By interpreting clearly for your client, he or she will have a complete understanding as if there was no language barrier at all.
Have you ever interpreted in the legal system? Share your experiences in the comments section below!
