Finding work

If you are new to the field of court interpreting, please take time to read the articles on court interpreting found on the NCSC and NAJIT Web sites (external links) and to read the Wisconsin court interpreter handbook .  These materials will give you an overview of the job of a court interpreter.  Interpreters who wish to work in the Wisconsin courts should attend court interpreter orientation training and follow the required steps to list their names on the court interpreter roster.

When you are sworn in as an interpreter, the judge will inquire into your training and experience and will determine if you are qualified.  A qualified interpreter is defined in the new statutes as one who can readily communicate with the person needing interpretation, orally transfer the meaning of statements to and from English in a court context, and accurately interpret, without omissions or additions, in a way that conserves the meaning, tone, and style of the original statement.  

After attending the orientation program, if you feel that you have the qualifications necessary to serve in court, please contact the district court administrator and the clerks of court for the counties near where you live, describing your experience, education, the hours you are available, and the languages in which you can work.  You can send similar letters to the offices of the district attorney, public defender, sheriff, municipal courts, and other law-related agencies in nearby counties.

Qualifications of a professional court interpreter

Court interpreting is a profession that demands a high level of knowledge and skill. Many people do not realize that speaking two languages is not sufficient. If you want to perform at the level of a professional court interpreter, you must:

• Possess a mastery of both English and a second language
• Possess a wide range of general knowledge
• Possess a knowledge of court terminology in both languages
• Be able to perform the three major types of court interpreting:
  1. simultaneous interpreting -- interpreting everything said during a court proceeding, from English into the language of one of the parties
  2. consecutive interpreting -- interpreting questions from English into the witness's language and the answers from that language into English; and
  3. sight interpreting or sight translating -- oral translation of documents such as presentence reports, letters to judges, court forms, etc.
• Deliver interpreting services in a manner faithful to the code of ethics for court interpreters
• Understand and adhere to the policies and procedures of the court

Many interpreters do not have all of these qualifications when they first begin to work in court. You can improve your skills over time through study and practice. The court interpreter orientation program is designed to help you understand what skills are necessary to function at a high professional level, and to give you resources for study and practice. You do not need to have these skills to come to the orientation workshop, but this is the level of skill you are working toward.

Some court interpreting assignments are easier than others. Your skills may be adequate for short, routine hearings but not for trials or other contested matters. As you handle routine hearings, attorney-client interviews, and administrative hearings, you will gradually build up your skill level. In the meantime, you must be candid with the court about your level of experience and should turn down assignments that call for more skill and experience than you have.

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