Assisting non-English speakers in finding legal support
Occasionally, you may have a family member or a friend come to you asking for help in seeking legal help and support.
In most cases, this is fairly straightforward. You give the number of someone that you have used before.
What about if there is a language barrier and they do not speak English? We look at how you can assist someone who does not speak English get legal support
Be their translator to relay information to legal counsel
The ability to serve as a translator will assist your friend or loved one in overcoming communication difficulties if you can speak the language fairly confidently. You can sit in on meetings with an attorney and provide interpretations for what each individual is saying.
It will be beneficial to understand how to translate all of the legal jargon. However, it is important to acknowledge that this can bring some legal issues in itself.
The injured party needs to be completely honest about the circumstances and may show reluctance to reveal their complete experience in front of a family member, fearing that they are imposing on them or that they are becoming a burden.
If their family is acting as an interpreter for them, this poses complications. Hiring a professional translator will almost certainly be your best alternative.
Engage the services of a bilingual attorney
It is possible to hire a Spanish-speaking accident attorney, who can communicate successfully in both languages. This is especially true if they are situated in an area with a significant number of immigrants. These attorneys are likely to have a large number of clients who do not speak English. Therefore, they are accustomed to assisting persons who face language barriers.
By conversing with someone who speaks the same language as you, the individual you are attempting to assist will most likely feel more comfortable. This will help reduce the number of communication errors that might arise during translations.
See if there are any legal advocacy agencies that can help
Local legal advocacy organizations may be able to give services in the language of your friend or family member if they are located in your area.
A number of advocacy organizations specialize in specific aspects of the law. They assist people in determining their best options and can help you to find information. This includes finding bilingual attorneys and interpreters who are familiar with legal jargon on this website.
Many of these groups have multiple offices throughout the country. This makes them conveniently accessible to anyone who needs their services.
Help them to learn English
If you work with the individual to improve his or her English language skills, you can be much more beneficial to them. Learning some English words will help the person speak more successfully, even if fluency cannot be achieved. This will also assist your friend or family member in feeling more in control of their lives.
English is not everyone’s native language. However, there are a variety of strategies for overcoming communication difficulties.
