5 Reasons to Become a Legal Interpreter

Should You Become a Legal Interpreter?

Are you considering becoming a legal or court interpreter, but aren’t sure if the career is right for you? Like any profession, legal interpreter jobs have challenges and benefits. Court interpretation in particular can seem daunting at first due to the responsibility you hold and the volume of information you need to know; however, a career in interpreting does have many positive aspects to consider.

If you’re on the fence about whether or not you should become a legal interpreter, check out our top five reasons to choose a career in court interpreting!

5 Reasons To Become a Legal Interpreter

1. You learn about the legal system.

One of the best aspects about choosing to become a legal interpreter is learning about the U.S. and various state level legal systems. Not only will it help you better interpret for limited English proficient (LEP) clients, but it can provide you with further information about your own rights.

There is also the added benefit that gaining an education in law can prepare you for different careers down the line. You may decide to interpret for the rest of your working life; however, many politicians, business owners, and individuals in general have backgrounds in law that serve as foundations for their success.

Getting educated in the legal system won’t just help you interpret – it will help you in your everyday life and later on in your professional career!

2. You get to directly impact the life of another individual.

It goes without saying that the work of a legal interpreter is selfless. If you choose to become a legal interpreter your role is to help another individual communicate with juries, lawyers, judges, and everyone in between to help them find justice.

Imagine for a moment that you were in a foreign country where you didn’t speak the language well, and you were called into court on some offence. You would likely have no chance of defending yourself without an interpreter, and it is unlikely you would understand how to navigate the country’s legal system or the repercussions you were faced with.

In short, you would probably be terrified.

Becoming a legal or court interpreter allows individuals to have representation, and to understand the situation they are in. In some cases it can even bring justice when legal action was pursued unfairly or incorrectly.

3. Your actions help bring justice for individuals.

As aforementioned there are times when an LEP individual may be innocent, wrongly convicted, or else unable to defend themselves in a manner that would result in a fair outcome. When you become a legal interpreter you are able to provide vital services that allow for individuals to seek fair treatment and justice in the U.S. legal system.

4. Your work will not be monotonous 

One of the best parts about choosing to become a legal interpreter is that no two days will ever be the same. One day you may be interpreting for a traffic violation, the next you could be involved in a criminal case. You will get to experience a wide breadth of the U.S. legal system, and build upon your experience and knowledge every day.

5. You can build a flexible schedule

Working as a legal interpreter also brings the benefit of allowing you to be flexible with your schedule. You usually will have the option to choose which assignments you would like to take on, thus giving you the freedom to pursue activities outside of work.

One of the best parts about a legal interpreter career is that it is a position that is in high demand. It is vital that LEP individuals are given language access in courts of law, and there is growing recognition of the need of certified and experienced professionals to fill these roles. If you pursue legal interpreter training, and gain certification, you will have many different opportunities and paths for your career!

What Do You Need To Do To Become A Legal Interpreter?

If any of the five reasons above resonated, then a career as a legal or court interpreter may be for you!

Now you may be asking yourself about how to become a legal interpreter. The next steps towards becoming a professional are to build a foundation in interpreting skills as well as gain education and experience in the legal field.

You can pursue higher education programs for this, or you could enroll in an interpreter training program. Language Connections offers a 7 week Legal interpreter training program that is designed to provide students with a solid background in interpreting techniques, as well as to introduce them to U.S. and Massachusetts state law.

We offer courses in six, high-demand languages, and all of our courses are taught by working legal interpreters. This allows students to get a clear and realistic understanding of the career and to network with individuals already in the profession.

So, do you want to use your language skills for a career that teaches you about the legal system, allows you to make a direct impact on the lives of others, and that will always be exciting and in-demand? Don’t wait; get the experience you need to become a legal interpreter with our interpreter training today!

Get the necessary, in person training in order to become a professional Legal and Court interpreter. Register now for our upcoming Legal Interpreter Training.

See the course schedule here:  Schedule >>>

Contact us for more information:
Phone:(617) 277-1990
Email: support@languageconnections.com