About the event

Bookings are now closed.

Please Note: the webinar has been approved for one hour of Law Mutual Approved Risk Management Training.

While it is not surprising that people who are not fluent in English seek out bilingual lawyers, practitioners should be aware of the risks of acting as translator and interpreter.

Recent cases emphasise the importance of assessing when a qualified and independent translator or interpreter should be engaged.

In this practical seminar we will provide an overview of:

• recently reported decisions that have highlighted the dangers of lawyers acting as translators of important documents;
• the types of circumstances that can lead to a claim as a result of instructions leading to issues which were not initially foreseen and provide practical advice on what should be done to mitigate the risk of a professional indemnity claim arising;
• how you can build your skillset for working with interpreters, and learn about your professional obligations.

Takeaways will include:

• How to best ensure you are complying with the Professional Conduct Rules when working with clients whose first language is not English.
• How to gauge if it would be best practice to work with an interpreter.
• You think you need an interpreter –what next?
• Tips for optimum communication while working with an interpreter.

Who knows, we may also throw in a few tales of our own near misses.

This seminar is timely given the likely adoption by the Supreme Court of WA of the Recommended National Standards for Working with Interpreters in Courts and Tribunals in 2021.

Level: General