Course Descriptions

January 26-28, 2018:

Gateway to Legal Interpreting

Participants will participate in team building activities to build a strong rapport among team members, review legal systems, and develop and apply strategies using the Code of Ethics for Court Interpreters.  Participants will also examine cultural implications of working in legal settings, assess and analyze the interpreter’s power and effect on deaf-hearing relationships and exchanges that take place in legal settings.

March 9-11, 2018:

Talking the Talk:  Logical Reasoning for Interpreters

Preparation for Court

Participants will be able to present the two major types of preparation activities that must be undertake in the typical court interpreting assignment, state the two different roles that court interpreters take during preparation with respect to each of those activities and be able to state the underlying legal authority requiring them to undertake in preparation activities.  Participants will be able to identify and prioritize specific parts of a criminal and civil case file which will be most beneficial in preparation for the case.  The more fluent a court interpreter is in explaining, logically, the need for preparation materials, the more likely they will receive cooperation.  This hands on seminar provides numerous opportunities to practice negotiation techniques to obtain preparation content.

April 27-29, 2018:

Teaming in the Courtroom        

Deaf/Hearing Teams in Legal Settings

Participants will have comprehension of elements of trust and ways to increase and/or decrease trust in a relationship, observe and practice working in teams of 2, 4 or more in various capacities including:  hearing and Deaf interpreter working as a full team; interpreter as monitor, interpreter as clarifier.  Participants will review rationale, best practices and application of working in teams of Deaf and Hearing interpreters within legal settings.  Participants will examine indicators for use of a Deaf interpreter and will be able to articulate how and why a Deaf interpreter is essential to a legal team.

July 27-29, 2018:

Rules of Evidence

Participants will have greater understanding of how evidence is presented in a court of law, how the rules of evidence constrain and dictate how English is used in a court of law and provide the participant with a theoretical framework to understand why objections to evidence are made, when they can be made, what constitutes objectionable material, and the various categories of objections encountered in court.  The participants will understand how the rules of evidence control the flow of information in a legal proceeding and address how the interpreter can use that information to enhance the interpretation.  The participants will discuss evidentiary constructs that are conducive to the use of prediction and closure skills, analyze direct and cross-examination texts for evidentiary underpinnings and will use comparative and contrastive analysis to discuss the variety of discourse styles that are present in a legal proceeding.   Participants will also analyze interpreting objections and the challenges posted by the confluence of the rules of evidence and the modes of interpretation selected.  This weekend seeks to parse through typical trial discourse to aid the interpreter in understanding the constraints placed upon the speaker (and by implication upon the interpretation) by the rules of evidence.

September 14-16, 2018:

Family Law

Participants will be provided an overview of interpreting in matters involving termination of parental rights (TPR), children in need of protection or services (CHIPS), can other child welfare proceedings in the legal system.  Participants will be able to explain a TPR case timeline, define the role of the interpreter in a TPR or CHIPS case and state the three major ethical factors affecting court interpreting in these settings, the major interpreting related issues on appeal of TPR and CHIPS cases and the interpreters will demonstrate competent interpreting in text analysis interpreting assignments including substantive jury instructions, the CHIPS statute, motions in limine and consent to a voluntary TPR.

November 9-11, 2018:

Role of the Counsel Table Interpreter

Participants will learn to compare various interpreter roles in legal settings and be able to distinguish their function in their role as a Counsel Table Interpreter.  They will learn to identify and be able to articulate the who, what, when, where and how a Counsel Table Interpreter functions.  Participants will be able to outline issues to be addressed with attorneys, other interpreters, deaf parties and other court personnel in defining their role and function as an interpreter, expert and monitor.

January 25-27, 2019:

Law Enforcement

Deaf Juror

Participants will be provided insight into and practical experience working in Jury Duty and Law Enforcement settings.  Participants will explore options for interpreting Jury Instructions as well as the Miranda Warning.  Participants will demonstrate understanding and ability to interpret jury instructions and the Miranda Warning, demonstrate comprehension of Jury Duty and Law Enforcement settings and how to approach interpreting work in each setting.

March 8-10, 2019:

Witness Testimony

Mock Trial Preparation

Participants will discuss and practice preparing to interpret testimony.  Participants will develop a reference list of necessary resources and activities  in preparation for interpreting testimony, experience interpreting for:  both deaf and hearing individuals providing testimony in a variety of settings including depositions, trials, small claims court, pleas hearings and including direct and cross examination.

May 3-4, 2019:

Mock Trial

Participants will apply knowledge gleaned throughout the previous 8 sessions through a Mock Trial experience. Participants will demonstrate their ability to prepare for, work in and analyze their work in a trial setting.  Each participant will develop a portfolio for future work in legal settings.  Participants will experience all phases of a trial including meeting with the judge and parties and work with both Deaf and hearing teams.  Participants will demonstrate comprehension of how to approach trial interpreting including how to prepare, problem solve, work as a member of a team, analyze their work product.