Court Interpreter Part-Time (Spanish)

Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma; Sonoma (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 116,000; Part time

Job summary

The Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma seeks qualified individuals for part-time intermittent court interpreter positions.

You will perform consecutive and simultaneous interpretation for court proceedings and for non-English speaking parties, including sight translations of documents.

Certification as a Certified Court Interpreter is required; a valid California driver’s license may be needed for certain assignments.

Qualifications

• Interpreting English and non-English languages in courtroom settings.
• Sight translations of legal documents like petitions and reports.
• Understanding legal terminology across languages.

Responsibilities

• Interpret consecutively and simultaneously for court proceedings as needed.
• Provide sight translations and assist with court information at counters.
• Receive daily calendars and document interpreting activity accordingly.
• Adhere to interpreter ethics and relevant court rules.

Skills

English ↔ non-English interpreting

Sight translation

Legal terminology research

Education

Certified Court Interpreter Certification

Job description

Compensation Note: The salary range below is reflective of Part-Time and Full-Time assignments.

Part Time: $45.86 - $55.75 Hourly

$3,668.80 -$4,460.00 Biweekly

$95,388.80 - $115,960.00 Annually

Full Time: $41.32 - $50.23 Hourly

$3,305.60 - $4,018.40 Biweekly

$85,945.60 - $104,478.40 Annually

Under general supervision, Court Interpreters provide an essential public service, assisting LEP: (Limited English Proficiency) parties, witnesses, defendants, attorneys, court personnel, and the public by performing a wide variety of language interpretation activities for court-related proceedings.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Court Interpreter is a single journey-level classification. Employees in this classification perform consecutive and simultaneous interpretation of courtroom proceedings and other related interpreting services as needed and other duties as assigned. Employees in this classification may also perform sight translation (reading written texts and giving an oral translation of the text) as required.

Positions in this class may perform any or all of the below-listed duties. These should be interpreted as examples of the work and should not be considered all-inclusive.

• Interprets from and into English and the applicable non-English language using simultaneous and consecutive modes at court proceedings and for other court-related departments at the direction of the Court.
• Provides sight translations of documents including, but not limited to, court petitions, reports, waivers, felony disposition statement forms, and other documents, for the benefit of the Court.
• Interprets for judges, attorneys, court staff, and other court-related departments at the Court's direction.
• Alerts the Court of impediments to interpreter's performance.
• Researches and understands legal terminology used in Court and functions of the Court, including but not limited to legal, technological, scientific, and medical terminology.
• Receives daily calendar assignments from the Trial Court Interpreter Coordinator or Scheduler.
• Accurately completes and submits daily activity logs or other documentation as required and directed.
• Performs other language interpretation duties as assigned, such as providing general court information at an information counter to the non- English speaking public and processes documents related to interpretation.

Certification: Possess and maintain a valid certificate as a "Certified Court Interpreter" issued by the Judicial Council of California on behalf of the State of California.

Other Requirements:

A valid Class C California driver's license may be required to be eligible for consideration for certain assignments.

Knowledge of:

• As stipulated in California Rules of Court, Interpreter ethics and professional standards rule 2.890 Professional Conduct of Interpreters.
• Correct usage of grammar and vocabulary of English and non-English language; wide range of vocabulary in English and the non-English language, including high and low registers:
• Legal concepts and forensic terminology in both English and non-English language as specified.

Ability to:

• Orally convey the meaning from and into English and the applicable non-English language by interpreting in the simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation modes; interpretation must be precisely expressed without editing, summarizing, adding, or omitting original meaning.
• Concentrate and deliver accurate and complete interpreting services in a busy and fast-paced environment.
• Adjust to speakers with different voices and accents at varying rates of speed.
• Adhere to California statutes, rules of Court, and applicable personnel rules concerning court interpretation.
• Travel within the county to offsite court facilities as needed for an assignment.
• Interact professionally and cooperatively with those contacted in the course of work.
• Use office equipment, transmitter, and receiver equipment provided by the Court for simultaneous interpretation.
• Learn and use software and applications provided by the Court.

Background Investigation:

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a thorough background check, including verification of prior employment, and the provision of appropriate identifying documents to certify eligibility to work in the United States. Please be advised that finalist(s) must be fingerprinted for criminal record check purposes and that continued employment is contingent upon information received in the report. Convictions, depending upon the type, number and date, may be disqualifying. False statements or omission of facts regarding background or employment history may result in disqualification or dismissal.

Special Note:

The Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma is recruiting to establish an eligibility list specifically to appoint part-time intermittent court interpreter positions. Court interpreters provide an essential public service, giving assistance to non-English speaking parties. They perform a wide variety of language interpretation activities on an assigned and as needed basis for the court and for parties to proceedings, other court personnel and the public, and perform other job related duties as the rate prescribed above for four-hour and eight-hour assignments. Employment is for no predetermined period of time.

For an intermittent part-time interpreter to become a part-time interpreter and eligible for benefits, they must work 50% time or more for six consecutive months before becoming eligible for benefits. Further, they must maintain an average of 50% time or more during each succeeding six-month period to be eligible to continue to have benefits, subject to the specific benefit plan permitting. If an intermittent part-time employee becomes eligible for benefits and then fails to continue to be eligible because they have not worked the requisite 50% time, they shall be ineligible for benefits for a period of at least six months.