On Demand: Staying in Your Lane: Scope of Practice for Court Interpreters (Self-Paced Course with Continuing Education Credits) 3 CEUs by AOC. ATA, OJD, CIMCE $30/Members

NOTIS’s Legal Division presents:

Staying in Your Lane: Scope of Practice for Court Interpreters 

Presented by Melinda Gonzalez-Hibner 

NOTE: This is a pre-recorded workshop reformatted for on-demand viewing.

Course Description: 

Often, our sense of obligation to the justice system, to language access, or to our role as officers of the court collides with the expectations of unobtrusiveness and impartiality that are fundamental to the profession. This is understandable, as we can be simultaneously defined as interpreters, officers of the court, subject matter experts, independent contractors or court staff. The fact that many of us work in healthcare, community and conference settings can also serve to complicate our ability to respond appropriately to complex situations in the courtroom. 

The environment outside the courtroom, while perhaps less complicated, also poses challenges for novice and experienced interpreters alike. In the absence of guidance from our code of professional conduct, professional interactions with our peers can be rewarding, frustrating or unclear. 

What should one do if a colleague is misinterpreting testimony? Or stating on the record that they are certified, when they are not? What if the translated evidence presented by one of the parties is inaccurate? Should you share your opinion about the work of a colleague to one of your clients? Can you ever be a respectable “check” interpreter? Where does the role of the professional interpreter end, and the duty as an officer of the court begin?

If you have ever wondered how best to respond to challenging situations, inside or outside of the courtroom, this webinar is for you. We will discuss our scope of practice and how to apply our code of professional conduct in various settings. Come learn about our field from a wider perspective, including the repercussions your personal practices can have on your profession and your peers.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Become familiar with guidance regarding our role and scope of practice in the courtroom, specifically, canons 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 of the Code of Professional Responsibility for Interpreters in the Oregon Courts. 

• Improve ability to recognize the limits of the interpreter role, whether staff or independent contractor

• Gain knowledge and skills necessary to respond to challenging situations by proper application of official guidance and professional standards. 

• Learn whether official guidance from the state courts or professional associations have any bearing on our professional conduct outside of the courtroom

Participants will receive presentation slides and handouts.

$30 NOTIS members, $50 nonmembers (Click to Join NOTIS)

After registering, you will receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation, your registration did not go through. Registration confirmation will include a video link, presentation slides, and instructions on how to receive a certificate of completion.

Steps on how to receive your certificate:

1. Watch the recording.
2. Make a note of the two attendance codes from the recording.
3. Email the attendance codes to NOTIS (info@notisnet.org)

Agency Codes:
WA AOC - Washington Administrative Office of the Courts
OJD - Oregon Judicial Department
ATA - American Translators Association
WA DSHS - Washington Dept. of Social and Human Services
CA CIMCE - California Court Interpreter Minimum Continuing Education Credit
CCHI - Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters
IMIA/NBCMI - International Medical Interpreters Association/The National Board of Certification of Medical Interpreters

NOTIS issues proof of continuing education at the time it is earned. NOTIS does not guarantee the replacement of lost certificates.

 Melinda Gonzalez-Hibner is an experienced and passionate trainer, and brings an enduring commitment to the wellbeing and professional excellence of interpreting practitioners to her workshops. She is a Federally Certified Court Interpreter, a qualified Department of State contract interpreter and ATA Spanish to English certified translator. Currently, she serves as the supervisory interpreter for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. In her previous freelance life, her interpreting and translation experience was diverse, covering conference, military and community assignments in addition to legal interpreting. Dedicated to strengthening our profession, she has served on the Board of Directors of ATA, NAJIT and CAPI.

 On-demand workshops are nonrefundable. Transfer of credit to another workshop is not allowed.

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