Legal interpreting as a career choice: next steps

This live, interactive series offers practical, hands-on guidance, expert insights, and dedicated time for discussion and questions.

With four standalone sessions to choose from, you can build your own learning journey by attending the sessions most relevant to your circumstances, or join all four for the complete experience.

Who should attend

This workshop series is designed for legal interpreters who have already gained an initial qualification and/or practical experience and are looking to advance their professional skills. It is ideal for those seeking to build confidence, enhance their practice, and develop the expertise needed to work successfully in the dynamic and highly specialised field of legal interpreting.

Why this workshop series is relevant and timely

Legal interpreting continues to offer strong professional opportunities, with sustained demand for skilled practitioners despite advances in AI technology. This workshop series provides a valuable next step for interpreters who have already entered the field, offering advanced guidance, practical insights, and peer discussion to support continued professional growth, whether participants have limited or extensive experience.

Learning outcomes

By attending this workshop series, participants will:

• Understand how to establish an appropriate legal and professional framework for operating as a legal interpreter.

• Learn effective strategies for identifying, attracting, and securing clients who require legal interpreting services.

• Gain insight into the realities of working as a legal interpreter, including the opportunities, rewards, and challenges of the profession.

• Explore sources of high-quality continuing professional development (CPD) and understand how to maintain and enhance professional competence.

• Develop a stronger understanding of professional conduct, ethical responsibilities, and best practice in the highly regulated and litigious legal environment.

Each session focuses on specific topics and skills, as outlined below

Session 1 | 14 January | 2pm - 4pm (GMT)

Setting up as a legal interpreter:

• Choosing a legal structure for your business

• Building and managing a client database

• Income tax and VAT obligations

• Accounting and HMRC requirements

Session 2 | 21 January | 2pm - 4pm (GMT)

Targeting and attracting clients:

• Marketing and branding your legal interpreting business

• Attracting private clients

• Working with legally aided clients

• Agencies with work for legal interpreters

• Demonstrating the value of professional legal interpreters in the age of AI

Session 3 | 28 January | 2pm - 4pm (GMT)

Fee setting:

• Making legal interpreting pay

• Private and Legal Aid clients

• High net worth clients

• Balancing premium fees with regular agency work

• Deposits

• Billing for preparation time

Session 4 | 04 February | 2pm - 4pm (GMT)

Professional conduct and ethics:

• Codes of Conduct and their guidance

• Consideration of professional and ethical dilemmas arising in legal venues

• Responding appropriately when clients seek advice

• Interpreting for the defence AND the court

• Dealing with complex ethical grey areas

Resources for legal interpreters:

• Glossaries and textbooks

• TV and radio broadcasts

• Films and videos

Choose the sessions most relevant to you, or register for all four and take advantage of a discounted package rate.

Your registration includes access to the session recording, so you can revisit the content or catch up on anything you miss. If you can't attend live, you'll still have full access to the learning materials.

 ITI members: £50* per session
 Non-members: £70* per session

 ITI members: £180* for all 4 sessions
 Non-members: £250* for all 4 sessions

Recording will be accessible for those that book this course

 Attendees will receive a CPD certificate and the event will be added to their MyITI CPD log

* Prices shown include VAT. For those who are VAT exempt, please contact training@iti.org.uk once you have completed your booking to request a VAT refund,

Sue Leschen

Sue Leschen is a well-known lawyer–linguist who has married her twin passions of law and languages together. Sue practices as a legal and business French interpreter, as the Director of Manchester-based Avocate Legal and Business French Services Ltd. Sue is a Chartered Linguist (Interpreter status) and a non–practicing solicitor and has worked as a Public Service Interpreter since 2002. She is an NRPSI registrant.   

Sue is a committee member of  the CIOL’s Professional Conduct Committee, ITI’s LIFT committee, and an ordinary member of AIT, NWTN, YTI, ATC and ILETA.

 Sue is an interpreters’ interpreter and is on a permanent mission to improve standards and training for legal interpreters.

https://avocate.co.uk/
sue-leschen-34106b17

Booking link

https://www.iti.org.uk/training/events-calendar/legal-interpreting-as-a-career-choice-next-steps.html