What does a court interpreter do?
A court interpreter helps those involved in court cases to communicate. Generally, a court interpreter is expected to facilitate communication and understanding between the courts and a non-English speaking party. A court interpreter can also find employment opportunities in meetings between lawyers and their clients, deposition hearings, sessions that prepare witnesses for court proceedings and interviews with court support personnel. Anyone interested in becoming a court interpreter should have a native-like fluency in the court’s official language and the the language that he intends to help interpret. The interpreter should be familiar with formal vocabulary as well as informal language such as slang. Generally, an education equivalent to an associate’s degree program, knowledge of court terminology and procedures and talents in dealing with attorneys, court personnel and the public are favorable to a career in court interpreting.
