Legal Interpreting (Spanish/English) Courses

What will I learn?

According to recent figures, about 40,000 people of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity reside in Johnson and Wyandotte counties. Many do not speak English fluently.

This program will help you gain the knowledge and skills needed in legal settings as a Spanish-to-English interpreter and translator.

You’ll learn to quickly, coherently and accurately translate complex questions, answers and concepts. Through practice and role-playing, you’ll learn to adapt how you interpret and translate to meet the comprehension level and understanding of Spanish-speaking clients.

Skills and tools you’ll develop include:

An understanding of cultural concepts, usage and expressions
Awareness of the Spanish language’s varieties, dialects and accents
A basic knowledge of legal rights for persons involved in law enforcement investigations, administrative matters and court proceedings

Progressive courses build upon what you learn, starting with general concepts that lead to increasingly complex skills and knowledge. The course includes five classes developed specifically for the program plus Introduction to Law (LAW 121) and Introduction to Intro to Criminal Justice System (CJ 121).

You can complete the program in 3 semesters, or longer depending on your schedule and personal needs.

Why JCCC?

JCCC’s Legal Interpreting program has had nearly 100 percent completion rates since its inception in 2012. You can get help finding a job through staffing agencies. In fact, our reputation is so well known and respected that many students are recruited before they complete the program.

Our instructors have worked directly within the legal system and bring that experience and knowledge to the classroom. Each spring JCCC hosts the Mid-America Chapter of the American Translators Association (MICATA) conference. Students from the Legal Interpreting program can network and learn more about the industry.

Mary G., JCCC graduate

“JCCC’s Legal Interpreting program has been important to my success in the field, both in getting hired and in the actual outcome of my interpretation.”

This is a selective admission program. See how to apply

Can I get a job?

The employment outlook for interpreters is strong, especially for part-time and on-call positions. Once you complete the program, you may be eligible for employment as salaried or on-call staff interpreters, or as self-employed freelance interpreters. You might also find work with professional interpreting and translating service companies.

While the emphasis of the program is legal interpreting, you can easily apply your skills to other interpreting and translating settings in the community, such as conference and business interpreting or translating written documents.

The U.S. Department of Labor compiles statistics on the careers involving translating. You'll find information specifically related to careers in Kansas, including salary information and the job prospects.