Legal translation and legal interpreter

Frequently legal translation and legal interpreter work for courts and law firms require expertise in the subject matter as well as formal training.  We offer the option of legal interpreters and legal translators with NAATI certification.  Whether you require  an interpreter for work at your law office or at court, or you require an accurate legal document translation, call us to discuss your translator, translation or interpreter needs. We offer a variety of certified legal translators.

Court Interpreter

The courts and the legal profession in Australia  have a strict set of guidelines and policies on when an interpreter or translator should be used.  There are State based guidelines and policies for the courts.

Funding of Interpreter Services

The funding of court interpreter services varies by State and you should make yourself aware of the policies of your State and Court. 

Below is an EXAMPLE ONLY of the funding of court interpreter services sourced from the Federal Magistrates Court's website on May 19 2009.

3.1 Availability of Funds: A registry shall not refuse to fund access to an interpreter in accordance with these guidelines for the reason that sufficient funds are not available.

3.2 Booking an Interpreter: The Court will pay for interpreters assessed to be essential, when their engagement is authorised and booked by court staff. The Court will not pay for an interpreter booked by a barrister or solicitor, nor for a preferred interpreter selected by a solicitor in addition to an interpreter provided by the Court. Where a solicitor considers that the services of an interpreter may be required, the solicitor shall request the Court authorise and book the services of the interpreter. Unless particular circumstances apply to the contrary, the Court will only book one interpreter where the parties are from the same ethnic background. Every endeavour should be made to obtain the services of an interpreter who is independent from either of the parties.

3.3 The Court may access interpreter services from any source which is considered to be cost-effective, including from a tendered service. An interpreter engaged by the Court shall be engaged for an estimated fixed period of time but shall be paid only for time worked with a reasonable travel component. Where it is necessary to extend the engagement beyond the initial booking time, a second estimated period of time should be fixed. Booking officers should have regard to minimum and/or penalty charges imposed by agencies in selecting the most cost-effective booking period. The Court would not normally expect to pay a cancellation fee where the services of an interpreter are not required after the booking has been made.  However, any cost incurred by the agency or the interpreter may be reimbursed at the registry manager or district registrar’s discretion.

3.4 An interpreter shall complete documentation stating the starting and finishing times of their engagement before leaving the Court precincts.

3.5 Where a witness from outside Australia provides evidence to the Court via a tele-link or video-conference, the Court will not authorise the costs of any related interpreter services unless the services are provided in Australia.