Being involved in a legal proceeding is stressful for those involved. It’s even more stressful if the person involved in a lawsuit or court proceeding doesn’t speak English as their first language. That stress translates – no pun intended – to the legal team responsible for relaying accurate information from one party to another during a deposition.
There are several reasons why a law firm would benefit from or be obligated to have live interpreters during depositions.
- Multilingual Clients and Witnesses. If a law firm represents clients or deals with witnesses who speak languages other than the official language of the court, having live interpreters is crucial to ensure effective communication during the deposition process.
- Ensuring Accuracy and Clarity. Depositions involve gathering sworn testimonies that may be used as evidence in court. An interpreter helps ensure that the statements of non-English speakers are accurately translated, reducing the risk of miscommunication or misunderstanding.
- Compliance with Legal Requirements. In some jurisdictions, it is mandatory to provide interpreters for individuals who do not understand the language used during depositions. Comply with these requirements to avoid legal complications and potential challenges to the validity of the deposition.
- Preserving the Record. Having a live interpreter preserves an accurate deposition record. This is especially important when the testimony is later transcribed or used in court proceedings.
- Improving Communication. Language barriers can hinder effective communication between attorneys, clients, and witnesses. By using interpreters, the law firm can ensure that all parties understand and are understood during the deposition.
- Adherence to Ethical Standards. Legal ethics demand that attorneys and their clients clearly understand the proceedings. Providing interpreters helps ensure that clients fully comprehend the questions asked and can provide accurate and informed answers.
- Enhancing Client Representation. By providing interpreters, law firms can improve their representation of clients who speak languages other than the dominant language used in legal proceedings.
- Avoiding Bias and Prejudice. Language barriers can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or unintentional biases. An interpreter helps mitigate such risks and ensures a fair and impartial deposition process.
- Minimizing Legal Challenges. Failing to provide interpreters can lead to challenges regarding the validity and admissibility of the deposition. Having interpreters on hand reduces the likelihood of such challenges.
- Professionalism and Respect. Providing interpreters demonstrates professionalism and respect for the rights of non-English-speaking individuals involved in the legal process.
Having live interpreters during depositions is beneficial and, in many cases, legally required to uphold the principles of fairness, accuracy, and effective communication in the legal system. Global LT specializes in simultaneous interpretation in any setting. We work only with native language speakers, so nothing gets lost in translation. If you’re interested in learning more about how we do it, reach out, and we’ll show you how it’s done.
This blog post was written by Patricia Diaz, VP of Marketing.
