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Welcome to the NAJIT Observer

The NAJIT Observer (TNO) was created in 2011 in response to NAJIT’s members need for a tool

to share information, first-hand experiences, and the occasional fun moment with colleagues.

We are delighted with the response TNO has received from our members and subscribers. And

thanks to our dedicated and generous contributors, TNO’s archive features an amazing number

of posts that you can search by category or author.

Do you want to contribute a post?  Send us an email at TNO_editor@najit.org.

Enjoy The NAJIT Observer!

19 Jul

Posted at 05:10h in Advocacy, Business Practices, Equipment, Ethics, Finances, Professional Hazard, Recent Posts, Technology by
1 Like

An agency that I have not worked with before recently got in touch, and we had the typical e-mail back and forth regarding compensation, cancellations, travel, etc. Here is that e-mail exchange.   To: Garrett From: LSP rep Subject: In-Person Spanish Interpreter on Upcoming Date Hello, Garrett. I’ve been given your contact...

11 Jul

Posted at 01:00h in Advocacy, Attorney Education, Continuing Education, Court Interpreting, Interpreters, Interpreting, Janis Palma, Professional Practices, Recent Posts, Tools of the trade by
1 Like

There is a rather distorted perception held by some legal professionals about the role of interpreters in courtroom proceedings or even outside of court. They believe interpreters are tools, like a microphone or a laptop computer, things they can use for whatever purpose they have...

27 Jun

Posted at 01:30h in Business Practices, Court Interpreting, Finances, Interpreters, Mentoring, Recent Posts by
1 Like

The Couch is a place to exchange ideas and brainstorm, not only for its contributors but also for our readers who engage in the ensuing discussions. Sometimes, if not everything is clearly laid out from the beginning, embarrassing and undesirable situations can follow. Thank you to...

07 Jun

Posted at 10:31h in Advocacy, Community, Community Interpreting, Court Interpreting, Ethics, Personal Growth, Professional Hazard, Recent Posts by
1 Like

The practice of interpretation allows interpreters to take a break from themselves and from their own lives.  I was smitten by this profession since the day I got to interpret for stars at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). A combination of circumstances led me...

23 May

Posted at 01:00h in Advocacy, Attorney Education, Certification, Court Interpreting, Ethics, Hilda Zavala-Shymanik, Interpreters, Recent Posts by
0 Likes

I have been an interpretation and translation practitioner for fifteen years, and during this time I have wondered why judiciary interpreters must be sworn in before every assignment, sometimes even before the same judge, more than once a day. Most states that grant language-interpreter certification require...

16 May

Posted at 11:21h in Advocacy, Athena Matilsky, Attorney Education, Certification, Court Interpreting, Ethics, Immigration, Language, Professional Hazard, Professional Practices, Recent Posts, The Profession by
1 Like

A few decades ago, “language access” was not really a phrase. Litigants who did not speak English were frequently left in the dark as to their own judicial proceedings, and this carried severe consequences. The evolution of court interpreting as a profession has relied on the...