Those who know me are aware that my favourite legal setting to work in is family court proceedings. It's here that I feel most helpful and rewarded for my skills. There is nothing quite like witnessing a family being reunited or a suffering child being placed in a better situation, knowing you’ve contributed to that positive change. Each family case I’ve been involved in stays with me, especially the long-term ones.
However, I often feel frustrated—sometimes desperate—about the lack of clear, unified rules regarding interpreters in family court hearings in the UK. As interpreters, we already face a host of challenges in our daily work. Arriving at a hearing without a clear understanding of expectations only adds to that frustration.
Let me explain. In family court proceedings, interpreters can be appointed by the court or privately hired by solicitors. The challenge lies in the ambiguity surrounding roles and responsibilities, as every county, court, and sometimes even individual judges within the same county seem to follow their own interpretations of how interpreters should be utilised.
County Variations: In some counties, court interpreters are booked only for witness evidence during fact-finding hearings, while solicitors hire private interpreters for all other stages. In others, only court-appointed interpreters are allowed in the courtroom, with privately booked interpreters limited to conferences outside it.
Mixed Roles: Sometimes, judges ask privately hired interpreters to work in the courtroom while the court-appointed interpreters relax—or vice versa. Other times, interpreters arrive only to be told their services aren’t needed, or multiple interpreters show up and are left to sort out roles among themselves. These moments often expose the best (and worst) of professionalism.
Ad-Hoc Adjustments: In the absence of a booked court interpreter, privately hired interpreters are often asked to interpret for the entire hearing, even though they were engaged for a specific task. This leaves interpreters facing a moral dilemma—decline the request and risk delaying proceedings for parents and children separated for months, or step in and shoulder the additional responsibility.
This lack of clarity has far-reaching implications. Not only does it cause stress for interpreters, but it also disrupts the smooth running of hearings, leading to delays and emotional distress for families. Each adjournment represents more time in limbo for parents and children, something I find heartbreaking.
What’s needed is a set of clear, unambiguous, national standards for the use of interpreters in family court proceedings. Interpreters, whether court-appointed or privately hired, need to know their roles and boundaries unequivocally. Solicitors and barristers should also have a clear understanding of when and how to engage interpreters.
With these standards in place, we can:
It’s time for change. Clearer guidelines for court interpreters in family proceedings aren’t just necessary—they’re overdue. Let’s work together to ensure that the legal system supports everyone involved, from professionals to the families we serve.
