Court Interpreter (Freelance) Languages other than Spanish
While opportunities exist statewide, there is a special need for these language services in New York City and for several counties in upstate New York.
Pay
- Full-day rate: $500.00
- Half-day rate: $300.00
There are no fringe benefits available.
Requirements
- High School Diploma or the equivalent
- Legal right to work in the United States
The NYS Courts provide interpreters in over 100 languages each year. Candidates for ALL LANGUAGES are encouraged to apply. Spanish court interpreter candidates must apply through the open competitive exam that is offered on a different schedule.
About the role
Per diem court interpreters are independent contractors who work on a per-diem basis and are responsible for interpreting between English and another language in the courtroom and/or other settings. They perform simultaneous and consecutive interpretation, as well as translation of court documents and other written material.
Qualifications
To qualify as a per diem court interpreter, individuals must first demonstrate sufficient English language competency by passing the New York State Court System's Written Test of English Language Proficiency and Legal Terminology. This 75-question written test is designed to assess English language proficiency involving grammar, vocabulary, word usage, reading comprehension, idiomatic expressions and legal terminology. Individuals are allowed 90 minutes to complete the written test and must obtain a passing score.
More information about this written test can be found at: English Language Proficiency Sample Questions.
Upon successful completion of the written exam, candidates may be assessed on their oral language skills. Oral Assessment examinations are currently conducted in Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS), Cantonese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi (Eastern), Russian, Urdu, Vietnamese, and Wolof. Please see the Candidate Guide for more information on the oral tests.
Candidates will be required to submit professional references related to their interpreting skills for languages that do not have an oral assessment. Interpreters possessing out-of-state court interpreter certification or other federal certification or professional credentials may apply for state reciprocity for the Registry designated languages or other languages subject to specific conditions (i.e., minimum educational requirements, professional training and experience, and a criminal history check). Additional information on reciprocity provisions may be found at: Reciprocity Waiver.