Committee Publications

The NAJIT Bench and Bar committee was a sub-committee formed in 2010 to improve the working relationship between interpreters and the members of the bench and bar. Since its inception the committee has worked with the American Bar Association to develop model codes, and has produced several educational documents. You will find Bench and Bar resources posted below. In 2021, the Bench and Bar Committee was merged back into the NAJIT Advocacy Committee.

February 2021 —

• Verifying Interpreter Credentials and Having them Stated for the Record – A resource that every court and law firm should have at hand when providing language access to limited English proficient (LEP) individuals through an interpreter. It is a step by step guide on how to verify interpreter credentials to assure proper language services.

September 2020 —

• Benefits of working with a professional interpreter – Vietnamese PDF version of the infographic published in May 2018. Translated by Phuong Tonnu and Hoang Bao Lan.
• Working with an interpreter in a legal setting – Vietnamese PDF version of the infographic published in May 2018. Translated by Phuong Tonnu and Hoang Bao Lan.
• Benefits of working with professional interpreters – Chinese PDF version of the infographic published in May 2018. Translated by Sylvia Sham and Barbara Hua Robinson.
• Working with an interpreter in a legal setting – Chinese PDF version of the infographic published in May 2018. Translated by Sylvia Sham and Barbara Hua Robinson.

April 2020

• Language Access and Court Interpreters (notes view)- A PDF version of a PowerPoint presentation providing information about language access in state and federal courts, as well as the certification requirements for court interpreters in the United States.
• Benefits of working with a professional interpreter – Arabic PDF version of the infographic published in May 2018. Translated by Mr. Abdelaaziz El Ghayate.
• Working with an interpreter in a legal setting – Arabic PDF version of the infographic published in May 2018. Translated by Mr. Abdelaaziz El Ghayate.
• Benefits of working with professional interpreters – Spanish PDF version of the infographic published in May 2018.
• Working with an interpreter in a legal setting – Spanish PDF version of the infographic published in May 2018.

May 2018 — A resource to aid in sharing the benefits of working with a professional interpreter. PDF version: Benefits of working with a professional interpreter – Infographic.

February 2018 — A resource for professionals working with interpreters in a legal setting. PDF version: Working with an Interpreter in a legal setting – Infographic.

October 2017 — PDF version of the Best Practices for Working with Interpreters and Clients with Limited English Proficiency (Education for Judges, Attorneys and other Stakeholders). A suggestions and best practices document has also been developed to support the powerpoint.

September 2013 — PDF version of the Bench and Bar Committee powerpoint presentation that provides basic information about the proper use of interpreters in legal settings. (Education for Judges)

October 2012 — PDF version of the Bench and Bar Committee powerpoint presentation that provides basic information about the proper use of interpreters in legal settings. (Education for Attorneys)

February 2012 — The American Bar Association has released the American Bar Association Standards for Language Access in State Courts that will affect court interpreters working with LEPs. This is the fruit of the Laying the Path project that NAJIT has been working on as part of its Bench and Bar initiatives.

August 2011 — *UPDATED June 2018* PDF version of the Bench and Bar Committee Talking Points that discusses the requirement to provide qualified interpreters for LEP individuals in judiciary settings.