On-Site - Legal Interpreters (U.S. Citizens) Wanted to Support USG Clients in DC Metro Area
Global Language Strategies, a WOSB in Northern VA, is seeking qualified, professional, and experienced Court Interpreters to support federal government customers in Washington, DC. These requests are on an as-needed basis and require interpreters with flexible schedules (primarily M-F, 7 am - 7 pm EST). Hours will differ from assignment to assignment, based on the needs of the customer. We will provide the interpreter with as much notice as possible. From time to time, there may be rush requests (less than 24 hours’ notice).
While most requests are for Spanish interpreters, we also need qualified legal interpreters in Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian and other Western/Eastern European, Middle Eastern, Asian (East/South) and African languages.
LEGAL INTERPRETER DUTIES:
1) Provides consecutive and/or simultaneous interpretation between the target language and English and vice versa.
2) Leads three-way telephonic or video conference interpretations between U.S. government officials/legal representatives and low English proficiency individuals as required.
3) Performs virtual remote interpretation using MS Teams, Zoom, or similar platforms.
4) Travels to onsite interpretation assignments (less than 50 miles round trip), as needed.
5) Signs certification forms at the end of each assignment that attest to the accuracy of the interpretation.
Requirements
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
1) U.S. Citizen residing in the continental United States; Public Trust or higher clearance a preferred.
2) Minimum four years’ experience in consecutive and/or simultaneous interpretation (relevant to the task assigned).
3) Training in the interpreting field and/or extensive experience in court or legal environments.
4) Strong command of both English and target foreign language vocabularies used in formal, legal, and diplomatic, consultative, and casual modes of communication in various contexts, including colloquial slang, idiosyncratic slang, and regionalisms.
5) Know specialized vocabulary (and terminology) in both English and the foreign language.
6) Speak in English and target foreign language fluently, including regionalisms and colloquial slang without altering the meaning.
7) Highly proficient in both English and the target language (i.e., rating of at least Level 3: Professional Proficiency assessed by the Interagency Language Roundtable scale).
8) Demonstrates adherence to the interpreter Code of Ethics.
9) Able to accurately and idiomatically turn the message from the source language into the target language and vice versa without any additions, omissions, or other misleading factors that alter the intended meaning of the message from the speaker.
10) Adept at consecutive and/or simultaneous interpretation, while simultaneous interpretation is the most frequent form of interpretation used in the courtroom.
11) Excellent oral communication skills, including appropriate delivery and poise.
12) Demonstrates high professional standards for courtroom demeanor and professional conduct.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
1) Federal, State, National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT), or Judiciary Interpreters and Translators Certification Examination (JITCE) certification in interpretation.
2) Experience providing interpretation for Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) court cases.
