Are you dreaming of becoming a court interpreter! Great! But where should you start? Well, it’s one of the most daunting parts, isn’t it? But before you panic, keep reading this page. I’m going to present you a list of steps you should consider if you want to land your dream job in court interpreting. Let’s dive straight into the list…

Step 1: Court Interpreter: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Many jobs require a bachelor’s degree. Court interpreting isn’t an exception. So, if you are interested in becoming an interpreter you should definitely earn a bachelor’s degree in a foreign language, translation studies, or legal studies. Without a doubt, your bachelor’s degree will help you get one step closer to your career goal.

Step 2: Complete a Certificate Program

Already got a bachelor’s degree in translation studies? Cool! The time is ripe for you to enroll in a professional court interpreter certificate program. In fact, most courts only hire interpreters who’ve passed a certification exam given by the court, a professional organization, or other agency.

Courses covered basically include simultaneous translating skills, court procedures, court interpreting, etc. Plus, such programs will provide you with an understanding of U.S. law and the judicial system.

On top of that, official certifications will enrich your bio and improve your job prospects. So, think about it!

Step 3: Keep Learning

The road to becoming a court interpreter isn’t as rosy as you might think. Being an interpreter often requires working long hours, reading extensively in all your working languages, having excellent communication skills, good concentration, ability to work with accuracy, being well versed in both U.S. and international legal system, etc. Scary, right? In fact, if you really love court interpreting, these challenges can’t scare you. So, never give up and never stop learning. Improve your skills through training programs and workshops offered by state courts and local or national interpreter associations. You can also benefit from internships or volunteering. Believe us, there is so much more out there you can learn to become a better interpreter.

Step 4: Work as a Court Interpreter. Start Now!

Many employers hire court interpreters who have a degree, 3-5 years of experience or both. So, don’t waste time, gain your first work experience as an interpreter and practice what you’ve already studied. Luckily, finding a job in court interpreting isn’t much of an issue today. Thanks to AppearMe, interpreters can find court interpreter jobs easy and fast. All you need is sign into the app, get verified and you can start receiving court interpreter requests in your area.

For more details, please check out our Help page.  You can also call us at (888) 900-3080 or send an email to [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!

Good Luck!