Someone who seeks legal counsel likely has a critical need that must be met. Child custody settlements, issuance of protective orders and resolution of family law disputes are examples of such needs that require the assistance of skilled legal representation. Due to the number of foreign nationals in the US, these sensitive and personal cases are common requests from clients who are non-native English speakers. In the Corporate world, legal interpretation is also needed, in the case of international lawsuits, and other cases with employees that speak other languages. A misunderstanding caused by a mispronunciation or improper usage of a word can change things. For these clients, the proper legal representation must come not only from skilled attorneys but also skilled professional legal interpreters.
Interpretation Service, a Growing Request
Professional legal interpretation services are a high priority for non-English speaking clients, especially in a field where a single word taken out of context could lead to negative results. This critical service is highly requested at our Translation Company, and plenty of those requests have come from California where 44% of residents speak a language other than English at home.
Protecting Clients by Hiring Professional Legal Interpreters
In a state where over 200 languages are spoken, legal interpretation is a necessity for courts and law offices in California. Provided by a skilled and experienced legal interpreter, legal interpretation helps attorneys understand their clients’ cases just as effectively as if they were communicating with English speaking clients.
A qualified legal interpreter has the following traits:
Great familiarity with the U.S. legal system. Beyond this, a legal interpreter should also specialize in the field of law that the client’s case relates to- such as family law and corporate law.
A high level of fluency in the English language and the language of the client. When interpreting, the interpreter must understand the subtleties and cultural views that are specific to the client’s dialect to conserve the complete meaning and intent of the client’s messages. Vocabulary and usage of words are examples of critical elements to consider. The interpreter must use the proper words at the moment of the interpretation, as there is no time for research during the event. So, experience and knowledge are key.
The ability to communicate precisely and accurately, under pressure. In a high-stakes legal setting, the client will likely be feeling nervous and on edge. The interpreter must be able to set his or her own emotions and biases aside, to deliver a neutral interpretation of what the client and attorney are saying.
Real Life Risks of Not Having Legal Interpretation in California
The risks of not making legal interpretation services available are numerous, some of which were made known in a recently published LAtimes article about the interpreter shortage faced by courts in California.
In the midst of an intense child custody battle, young children have sometimes had to interpret for their warring parents.
In a case of domestic violence, a woman had to resort to interpreting for her alleged abuser.
As if the stress of being in a contentious situation were not enough, adding to the burden of not being able to communicate effectively when seeking legal assistance is more than enough to cause a non-English speaking client to crumble under the pressures.
Beyond the emotional turmoil brought by conflict and miscommunication, the impact of not having professional legal interpretation leads to botched court cases that result in injustice for innocent parties such as children and their families.
Legal Interpreters Wanted in Multiple Cities
At Eging Translation Services, we keep a close watch over the demand for legal interpretation services in the U.S. Our mission is to make sure that all citizens can have the full extent of legal assistance that is available for their situations in their language. There are many cities that are in urgent need of legal interpreters, including Boston, Atlanta, New York City, Washington, Seattle, and Dallas. Languages that are being requested more often include the Japanese Language, Vietnamese, Korean and Somali.
Let’s work together to make sure that any speaker of any language can communicate effectively with the U.S. legal system. We can help provide Language Services that support a fair legal system.
