Adjunct Faculty, Paralegal Studies/Legal Interpreter

About The College

Whatcom Community College (WCC) is a public associate and applied baccalaureate degree granting institution with an accomplished faculty and staff who serve 7,604 students annually on its beautiful 72-acre campus in Bellingham, Washington. Whatcom offers transfer degrees, applied baccalaureate degrees, professional and technical training programs, basic education, job skills, and community and continuing education classes. Programs and courses are offered through in-person, hybrid, and online modalities to promote access for a diverse student population. The College is committed to equal opportunity and believes diversity of experiences and cultures enrich our campus community. The College is accredited by The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

About Our Community

The College's campus is located in Bellingham (population 95,960). Bellingham showcases a strong commitment to education and is regularly rated on "best of the Northwest" lists. Bellingham is midway between Seattle, WA and Vancouver, B.C. Canada. The city is surrounded by the rural landscape of Whatcom County (population 226,850), which is home to a thriving network of farms and scenic wilderness. As you explore our community, you'll discover historic neighborhoods, waterfront cities, farmlands and mountain towns all within a few dozen miles of each other. Bellingham and Whatcom County are known for their outdoor activities. Whether your idea of fun is visiting galleries, watching live theater, kayaking, hiking, snowboarding, or unwinding with a good book, you'll love Bellingham and Whatcom County.

General Description Of Work

The Adjunct Faculty, Paralegal Studies/Legal Interpreter will teach within the Business, Education, and Law department's paralegal studies program beginning Winter quarter 2027. Primary teaching will be our new legal interpreter course. Based on experience, there could be additional teaching opportunities that may include legal research and writing, civil litigation, contracts, and related paralegal studies coursework across in-person, hybrid, and/or online modalities. Reporting Structure/Supervisory Relationship This Adjunct Faculty position reports to the Dean for Associate Dean for Business, Education, and Law.

Responsibilities

• Develop, prepare, and deliver high quality, evidence-based education and promote the development of qualified students to help prepare them for the future.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with faculty and administrators to support program development and continuous improvement.
• Apply current subject matter expertise and remain up to date in the field to ensure relevant, workforce aligned curriculum.
• Uses student centered, inclusive, and innovative teaching practices to support diverse learners.
• Maintain office hours at times and places convenient for students and respond to student emails and requests in a timely manner.

Qualifications

• Current certification or registration as a court interpreter by the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).
• Substantial professional experience interpreting in legal or courtroom settings.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and support students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
• Commitment to professional ethics and language access in the justice system.