The legal world has witnessed a dramatic change over the years. Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the courtrooms to conduct virtual sessions. Judges, attorneys, and clients had to adjust fast to this new reality.
Court hearings and depositions moved online almost immediately, and what started as an emergency solution has become part of our everyday practices.
Today, remote hearings and virtual depositions have become the norm in many jurisdictions.
Legal interpreting is another concept that has evolved over the years. Interpreters play essential roles in making sure that multilingual participants can understand and also be understood, even hundreds of miles away.
Delivering accurate and clear information in a remote setting isn’t just about logging onto a video call. It requires careful planning to make sure everything is captured and no meaning is lost.
The following are best practices that can help legal teams and interpreters conduct smooth virtual depositions and hearings.
Understanding Remote Legal Interpreting
Remote legal interpreting is more about making sure everyone involved can participate without being present. It helps to bridge language gaps in the digital legal environment. These legal interpreters can be done simultaneously or consecutively.
Their job is to ensure that every party can communicate effectively during a virtual session.
Remote legal interpreting comes with extra responsibilities, including:
- High legal accuracy, to ensure that the testimony is accurately interpreted.
- A strict confidentiality requirement to ensure that sensitive information is protected
- Strict compliance with court standards for admissibility of interpreted testimony.
A minor mistake can lead to grave consequences. Any misinterpretation or misunderstanding can render the interpreted testimony inadmissible or jeopardize the case.
Preparing for a Remote Disposition or Hearing
To successfully carry out a remote legal interpretation, several steps must be taken before the session starts. Both the lawyers and interpreters must work hand in hand to achieve the best possible outcome. Here are a few examples:
Verify Interpreter Credentials
Ensure you confirm that the interpreter is court-certified or has enough professional legal interpreting experience. Engage legal interpreters who are familiar with legal terminology to avoid costly errors.
Share Case Materials in Advance
To have a successful virtual deposition or hearing, you should provide interpreters with case summaries, exhibits, and legal terms ahead of time. This will improve speed, accuracy, and confidence during the actual session.
Get Everyone on the Same Page
When preparing for a virtual deposition, ensure that the deposition notice specifies the location of the deposition. The time and date, and any other video setting requirements. Clarifying this will prevent questions about where and when the session is happening.
Test the Virtual Platform
Ensure that you test your virtual platforms before the day of the deposition. Also, confirm features that the platform supports and the ones they don’t. Check to see if it supports:
- High-quality video and audio
- Separate audio channels for legal interpretations
- Secure screen sharing of exhibits.
Choose from popular virtual platforms like WebEx, Teams, Google Meet, or Zoom. Run a quick test on them to prevent delays at the actual hearing
Invest in Quality Network Providers
Having a strong internet connection ensures an accurate interpretation. A weak or lagging network connection can ruin the entire remote interpreting process. To get the best experience, ensure to use high-speed internet. WiFi is good, but Ethernet will give you a seamless experience. Check your internet speed days before your scheduled session.
Schedule a Test Rehearsal
Run a quick test rehearsal days before the session or even minutes before. Practice your lines. Check for any technical errors. Confirm video and audio clarity. Ensure the audio works properly.
You can get someone on the other side to ensure that both ends are working perfectly. This will reduce the likelihood of mistakes during the live session and give you a smoother process overall.
Plan For Technical Challenges
Technical challenges can occur at any point during the session. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve prepared; it can all go to waste if unforeseen technical issues arise. To prevent this, have a backup plan.
Prepare a second link in case the first one develops problems. You may even want to have a second WIFI connection ready in the event of a network disruption.
Pause when there’s a connectivity problem. Never proceed while the audio or video is unclear. Ensure that your IT support team is on standby.
Get Rid of Any Distractions
As a remote legal interpreter, it is impossible to get rid of distractions. The aim is to minimize them.
Mute your phone or any other device that can disrupt the session. Disable apps that can cause a pop-up sound, and if possible, be in a pet-free, child-free area. Removing any potential noise distractions beforehand keeps the attention on the case.
Be Professional
Having a professional and natural video presence gives a positive impression. The way you carry yourself on screen is very important. Keep it simple. Use a neutral background with natural lighting. Stay in frame, and keep the camera angle straight on. Avoid positioning the camera below you (you don’t want participants looking up your nose) or above you (don’t give the appearance of a child peering up at the participants). Your dressing also matters. Dress professionally, even though it’s a virtual session. Maintain a neutral position. And only speak when it is your when it’s appropriate to do so.
Prepare Thoroughly For Your Legal Interpreting Session
Understanding the perspective and regional dynamics of the participants is essential. Carry out detailed research on the topic you’re interpreting. It could be on any topic. Review the documents from your clients repeatedly so as not to miss anything.
Do a Post-Session Review and Documentation
Legal interpreting is all about accuracy and compliance. After each session, verify transcripts by comparing the interpreted testimony to the original audio. Get feedback from judges and attorneys to see areas for improvement.
The Importance of Adopting Best Practices
Remote legal interpretation has become a cornerstone in modern legal practice. By embracing these best practices, legal professionals can now conduct virtual depositions and hearings just as they do in-person proceedings.
At Language Litigation Services, our focus is to provide you with the best legal interpretation.
Our remote legal interpreting team possesses the set of skills to make your virtual deposition and hearings seamless. Our method ensures that every participant, regardless of language, receives a fair hearing in an increasingly digital legal world.