Court Interpreting

Interpreting in courts of law, tribunals and other formal legal proceedings is a specialism that requires highly-skilled expert interpreters who can interpret with the correct techniques for court and also have sufficient qualifications or experience to understand legal terminology and procedures.

Two different interpreting techniques are often required in court proceedings:

Consecutive Interpreting

When an interpreter is working to make sure a witness giving evidence understands the questions and that the whole court understands the witness’s answers, the technique used will be consecutive interpreting.

Whispered Interpreting

Where the interpreter is working to make sure the accused or a party in a civil action understands the court proceedings taking place before him or her in English, a different technique is required. In this situation, the interpreter must use whispered interpreting. This allows the person needing the interpreter to understand what is happening without interrupting the normal course of the proceedings.

Simultaneous whispered interpreting is an advanced interpreting technique that usually requires training and experience before an interpreter can undertake it proficiently.

Legal Knowledge

It is important that court interpreters have a thorough knowledge of legal terms and court procedures. The Scottish Courts Service prefers court interpreters to hold a DPSI in Scottish law, a professional qualification which requires interpreters to have sufficient knowledge and the interpreting techniques required to work in the courts.

We are committed to the DPSI and seek wherever possible to provide court interpreters who hold this or similar professional qualifications but it may not be possible to do this for every language required (the DPSI does not exist for all languages required by the courts).

Court proceedings tend to last for full days and a number of consecutive days, so it is recommended that you book as soon as relevant dates are known to ensure interpreter availability.

If you would like further information or would like to book a court interpreter please contact us.