Why Us

• Cultural sensitivity
• Experience
• Accuracy
• Seamless delivery

We draw from a pool of interpreters that has earned the most rigorous and broadly recognized certifications nationwide. These include:

• United States District Court Certification
• Department of State Approval
• State of California Certification
• American Translators Association Accreditation
• International Association of Conference Interpreters

In addition, in order to keep up with the evolution of culture and language and an ever-changing industry, all interpreters meet the continuing education requirements of the Judicial Council of California.

Because It’s the Law!

Since the California legislature passed AB2370 and SB1160, all legal proceedings must be covered by a certified interpreter and the interpreter must state on the record his/her certification number.

What is the difference between a court certified interpreter and a non-certified interpreter?

Certified interpreters have passed an exam with a pass rate of under 10%. To succeed, they have undergone extensive training, including the three modes of interpretation (simultaneous, consecutive and sight), regionalisms, idioms, specialized legal vocabulary, training to learn how to acquire specialized vocabulary and how to avoid common interpretation pitfalls.
Non-certified interpreters are merely people who might be bilingual, but have not passed the exam.

What is the difference between the State of California certification exam and the U.S. District Courts certification exam?

Both exams are difficult. The U.S. District Court exam has a pass rate of around 4%. There are only approximately 1,200 interpreters in the USA that have passed the challenging U.S. District Court exam. This certification is the highest and is accepted in courts all around the nation. The State of California exam is valid in all states that have reciprocity, but not for proceedings in the federal courts.

Poor interpretation skills and lack of cultural understanding have caused serious errors and problems in interpretation, sometimes resulting in mistrials. Don’t settle for a lower quality interpreter. Don’t let this happen to you!

• When “molestar” was mistranslated, the victim’s message that the man was bothering her was translated as ‘molesting’ her. After countless hours of testimony from different interpreters, the case resulted in a mistrial.
• When the witness used the word, “asaltar,” which means to rob or to mug, the interpreter translated as, “to assault,” which resulted in much confusion, hours of testimony by interpreters, and valuable time wasted to determine what the actual charge should be.
• When Jimmy Carter was President of the United States, he mystified the Poles when, instead of saying, “I came to Poland because I love you people,” his interpreter said, “I came to Poland because I want to make love with you people.”
• President Carter was speaking through a not-so-accurate freelance translator who spoke “shaky” Polish. When Carter opened with, “I left the United States this morning,” it was translated to, “When I abandoned the United States.” When Carter mentioned, “I have come to learn your opinions and understand your desires for the future,” it was translated into, “I desire the Poles carnally.”
• At the 2016 Rio Games opening ceremony speech, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach spoke about the need for our world to care for one another. “We live in a world where selfishness is gaining ground,” he said. The translation in Spanish for a Venezuelan TV station was, “We live in a world where the selfies are everywhere!”

These errors are commonplace, and reflect lack of training and cultural knowledge.
Don’t let this happen to you!