In our little corner of Texas, we are obviously moved to do everything we can to support disadvantaged groups successfully navigate the legal system in the United States. This often involves the immigration system, but Limited English Proficient (LEP) community needs access to all types of legal services. Money and communication difficulties are the most frequent obstacles for members of these communities to access these services, which has led Translation Source to start a program for pro bono legal translation and interpretation services.
As we have seen in previous blogs, data has shown that while the number of LEP members of our communities is continuing to grow rapidly, language support for these communities is struggling to catch up. English-language skills have also been causally linked to poverty.
Moreover, as research from the Brookings Institute and Talk Poverty has shown, “adults with limited English skills tend to have higher rates of unemployment and lower wages.” The lack of English skills also prevents them from accessing the resources and information necessary to navigate the often-convoluted public-school systems, the healthcare system, and especially the legal system.
An Overstretched Judicial and Legal System
The legal system, in particular, has faced unique pressures and burdens to sufficiently meet the needs of the LEP communities in the United States. The Department of Justice has informed the courts that “court systems receiving federal financial assistance, either directly or indirectly, must provide meaningful access to LEP persons in order to comply with Title VI [of the Civil Rights Act and] the Safe Streets Act, and their implementing regulations.”
This ensures that Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals are guaranteed access to language services in the court system. Unfortunately, that is often not enough, and the system does not always function as it should. LEPs still often get left behind or are insufficiently supported by the current systems in place. Many are unaware of their rights under the law and simply fear the legal system as they have seen negative outcomes for many of their friends, family, and co-workers.
It is also important to note, however, that when we discuss the justice system in relation to the LEP community, it is not only the immigration court system that presents challenges, as many might assume. LEP community members face the same needs (and challenges) as any other U.S. citizen or resident, just with the added obstacle of inadequate language support.
How the Legal Community Has Responded
For many years, lawyers and legal firms have offered a certain among of pro bono (from Latin, meaning “for the [public] good”) legal services to help indigent or low-income clients in need of legal support. While state bars mostly do not have requirements for providing pro bono legal support, the American Bar Association (ABA) strongly encourages its members to do so, and many legal firms commit to a certain number of hours per year of pro bono services.
With the significant increase in immigrants and refugees from Central and South America trying to enter the United States over the past decade, pro bono legal services have become ever more important. While many advocacy groups and non-profit legal organizations are working tirelessly to ensure that immigrants and asylum-seekers have access to legal representation.
Many law firms have also increased their pro bono services to help, but legal advocacy groups and associations are pushing everyone to do more. This is not limited to immigration law firms, but also the immigration courts. In the U.S. system, the immigration courts are managed by the Department of Justice, not the U.S. Judiciary, which is problematic as there is an innate conflict of interest.
What Translation Source Can Do
As a long-time member of the Houston business community, we at Translation Source are committed to doing everything we can to remedy this dire situation. While many law firms and attorneys generously donate their valuable time, there are frequently other costs involved with supporting pro bono cases. These additional costs can decrease the number of pro bono cases that law firms are able to support.
One of the most significant costs in the field of immigration law is language services, such as translation and interpretation services. While the court system (in theory) is obligated to provide professional, certified interpreter services, that does not cover the costs for interpreting and translation services between an attorney and his/her client before ever even facing a judge.
To allow legal firms to support more pro bono cases for members of the LEP community, Translation Source has developed a program to subsidize pro bono legal translation and interpretation services. This program provides greatly reduced cost services, both for pro bono work, as well as discounts for non-pro bono work and other benefits. It is through this program – and other advocacy efforts – that Translation Source aims to give back to our local community and to ensure equal access to services for the LEP community here in Texas.
If you would like to learn more about Translation Source’s pro bono legal translation and interpretation services, please email us at info@translation-source.com or call us toll-free at (800) 413-7838.
