2025 On-Demand Training Series for New Federal Defender Interpreters

Interpreters play a vital role in ensuring fair and just criminal proceedings, particularly for defendants with limited English proficiency. Defense team interpreters bridge communication barriers, allowing clients to fully participate in their defense and understand the complexities of the legal process, while also assisting the defense team in its investigation, development, and presentation of the client’s defense. This on-demand training series explores the professional knowledge, skills, and abilities required of an interpreter, how to effectively work with an interpreter, and the differences between court interpreters and defense team interpreters, as well as ethics for interpreters.

Note(s): Interpreters and staff providing interpreter services within their Federal Public and Community Defender offices are encouraged to connect with other interpreters using this email: fdo_interpreters@fd.org.

Although this is not a CLE event, all practitioners attending DSOTD programs can seek certificates of attendance for their participation in a DSOTD program.