TEST YOUR SKILLS AS A LEGAL INTERPRETER OR TRANSLATOR

References for these exercises are the following books:

The Interpreters Guide to The Vehicular Accident Lawsuit by Josef F. Buenker

Interpretation Techniques and Exercises by James Nolan
and a variety of law dictionaries.

Legal Terminology Exercise

These are terms frequently used in interpreted proceedings such as trials, depositions, client meetings and in evidentiary legal documents.

Select the right definition of the term.
Answers are at the bottom of the page.

1. Affix

B) The condition of an object immediately prior to repair.

C) To attach or add something to a document.

2. Misfeasance

A) The non viability of a plan or goal.

B) A proper act performed improperly or in an injurious manner.

C) Inappropriate fees charged.

3. Counterclaims

A) Allegations made by a defendant that the plaintiff violated a duty to the defendant and thus caused damages to the defendant.

B) When a third party adds a claim of their own against the defendant claiming their own damages.

C) The arguments made by the defense attorney during opening statements.

4. Discovery

A) The transcripts of statements made during the investigation on a claim including sworn statements, deposition records, and examinations under oath.

B) The process by which the parties to a lawsuit gather information from each other and from third parties about issues relevant to the lawsuit.

C) The written evidentiary material resulting from process of investigation prior to trial, such as interrogatories, accident reports, and accident reconstruction reports.

5. Prima Facie

A) Upon initial viewing; as things seem at first; establishing existence does not require further support.

B) The first of the two accounts told by a duplicitous person.

C) Artist’s rendition of a face reconstructed after an autopsy.

6. Recovery of Damages

A) Monetary compensation for bodily injuries or property damage.

B) The appointment of a trust administrator in a structured settlement.

C) The financial value placed on pain and suffering.

7. Torts

A) The basing of a judgment on precedent; in that a similar ruling exists

B) Laws relating to government and its function.

C) An injury to a party that occurs due to the breach of some legal duty one person has to another.

8. Dicta

A) Any special instruction given to the jury during the course of a trial.

B) More than one statement made by a judge.

C) The action of taking down the record by the court reporter.

9. Publish

A) Brought forward; announced; made known publicly.

B) The transcription of the record from a deposition into printed and bound format.

C) The handing of the verdict to the judge by the jury foreman, before it is read into the record.

10. Conclusive Evidence

A) Evidence that is presented by the defense in closing arguments.

B) The compilation of all the printed and marked exhibits at the end of a trial

C) Evidence which unquestionably proves something.

Answers
1-c. 2- b. 3-a. 4- b. 5 –a. 6- a. 7-c. 8-a. 9-a. 10-c

Legal Procedural Phraseology Exercise

In this exercise you will find specific judicial procedure settings and specific scenarios and you will select the most appropriate, commonly used statement.

Advance preparation is critical for smooth and accurate interpreting. Beyond just knowing the correct translation for legal specific terminology, you have to be familiar with legal procedure in a judicial setting. You have to be able to recognize when to expect standard phrases which are common to a legal setting. Once you have a list of commonly used statements, study and learn the correct translation in your language pair.

The result of this advance preparation will be even and steady interpreting and best of all confidence in your work!

What’s their Line?

Below you will find specific judicial procedure settings and specific scenarios during which the speaker will make a regularly used statement. Note the indicated speaker’s intention and the point of the process. Select the most commonly used phrase expressed by that speaker in such a setting. The answers are at the bottom of the page.

1. Setting: Deposition
Scenario: Attorney for the plaintiff is deposing the defendant and has finished her line of questions. She thanks the witness for his time. The defense attorney will not ask question of his witness. How does the defense attorney express this?

A) “We will produce our cross examination at a later date”.

B) (Turning to his client) “Do you have anything else to add?”

C) “We reserve our questions until the time of trial.”

2. Setting: Vehicular accident trial in a courtroom that does not have audiovisual monitors on the witness stand or in the courtroom.

Scenario: The plaintiff is on the witness stand being cross examined by the defense attorney about the accident. The defense attorney stands holding a single page document which was just admitted into evidence and is identified as the police report. He wants to ask the plaintiff a question about something written by the police officer on that report. What will he ask the judge?

A) “Can I make extra copies of this?”

B) “Your honor, May I approach the witness?”

C) “Could the bailiff take this to the witness, please?”

3. Setting: Interpreted Videotaped Deposition.
Scenario: All parties are seated and the videographer has handed microphones to the attorneys, the witness, and the interpreter. What is the statement made by the court reporter initiating the deposition?

A) (turning to the witness) “Will you raise your right hand to be sworn?”

B) (to the Videographer) Today’s date is October 11, 2007; please raise your hand to be sworn.”

C) (turning to the interpreter) “Will you please raise your right hand to be sworn?”

4. Setting: Trial
Scenario: The jury has been seated and both sides have just presented opening statements. It is now time for the witnesses to take the stand to give their testimony. The judge starts this phase of the trial by stating:

A) “Mr. (name of defense attorney), you may call your first witness”

B) “Will the court reporter please call the first witness on the list to the stand”

C) “Ms. (name of plaintiff’s attorney), you may call your first witness”

5. Setting: Jury Trial
Scenario: The attorney for the defense notices that the plaintiff’s mother is seated in the courtroom. He wants to have her removed because he will be calling her to testify. What does he say to the judge?

A) “Your honor I would like to voir dire the mother of the plaintiff”

B) “Your honor I would like to list the mother of the plaintiff as a hostile witness”

C) “Your honor, I request that the rule be invoked”

Answers
1. - c. 2.-b. 3.-c. 4.-c. 5.-c.

It is said This way

Which phrase demonstrates the correct way to use the indicated term?

6. Nolo Contendere

A) Your honor my client says he is nolo contendere

B) Your honor, my client wishes to enter a plea of Nolo Contendere

7. Publish

A) Your Honor I would like the jury to publish this photograph of the crime scene.

B) Your Honor, I move this photograph of the crime scene be published to the jury.

8. Notice (n)

A) Did you receive notice of this deposition through your lawyer?

B) Were you noticed for this deposition?

Answers
6.-b. 7.-b. 8.-a

TEST YOUR SKILLS AS A LEGAL INTERPRETER OR TRANSLATOR

References for these exercises are the following books: The Interpreters Guide to The Vehicular Accident Lawsuit by Josef F. Buenker

Interpretation Techniques and Exercises by James Nolan and a variety of law dictionaries.

Legal Terminology Exercise

These are terms frequently used in interpreted proceedings such as trials, depositions, client meetings and in evidentiary legal documents.

Select the right definition of the term. Answers are at the bottom of the page.

1. Affix

A) The result a settlement brings to a cause of action

B) The condition of an object immediately prior to repair.

C) To attach or add something to a document.

2. Misfeasance

A) The non viability of a plan or goal.

B) A proper act performed improperly or in an injurious manner.

C) Inappropriate fees charged.

3. Counterclaims

A) Allegations made by a defendant that the plaintiff violated a duty to the defendant and thus caused damages to the defendant.

B) When a third party adds a claim of their own against the defendant claiming their own damages.

C) The arguments made by the defense attorney during opening statements.

4. Discovery

A) The transcripts of statements made during the investigation on a claim including sworn statements, deposition records, and examinations under oath.

B) The process by which the parties to a lawsuit gather information from each other and from third parties about issues relevant to the lawsuit.

C) The written evidentiary material resulting from process of investigation prior to trial, such as interrogatories, accident reports, and accident reconstruction reports.

5. Prima Facie

A) Upon initial viewing; as things seem at first; establishing existence does not require further support.

B) The first of the two accounts told by a duplicitous person.

C) Artist’s rendition of a face reconstructed after an autopsy.

6. Recovery of Damages

A) Monetary compensation for bodily injuries or property damage.

B) The appointment of a trust administrator in a structured settlement.

C) The financial value placed on pain and suffering.

7. Torts

A) The basing of a judgment on precedent; in that a similar ruling exists

B) Laws relating to government and its function.

C) An injury to a party that occurs due to the breach of some legal duty one person has to another.

8. Dicta

A) Any special instruction given to the jury during the course of a trial.

B) More than one statement made by a judge.

C) The action of taking down the record by the court reporter.

9. Publish

A) Brought forward; announced; made known publicly.

B) The transcription of the record from a deposition into printed and bound format.

C) The handing of the verdict to the judge by the jury foreman, before it is read into the record.

10. Conclusive Evidence

A) Evidence that is presented by the defense in closing arguments.

B) The compilation of all the printed and marked exhibits at the end of a trial

C) Evidence which unquestionably proves something.

Answers 1-c. 2- b. 3-a. 4- b. 5 –a. 6- a. 7-c. 8-a. 9-a. 10-c

Legal Procedural Phraseology Exercise

In this exercise you will find specific judicial procedure settings and specific scenarios and you will select the most appropriate, commonly used statement.

The result of this advance preparation will be even and steady interpreting and best of all confidence in your work!

What’s their Line?

1. Setting: Deposition Scenario: Attorney for the plaintiff is deposing the defendant and has finished her line of questions. She thanks the witness for his time. The defense attorney will not ask question of his witness. How does the defense attorney express this?

A) “We will produce our cross examination at a later date”.

B) (Turning to his client) “Do you have anything else to add?”

C) “We reserve our questions until the time of trial.”

2. Setting: Vehicular accident trial in a courtroom that does not have audiovisual monitors on the witness stand or in the courtroom.

A) “Can I make extra copies of this?”

B) “Your honor, May I approach the witness?”

C) “Could the bailiff take this to the witness, please?”

3. Setting: Interpreted Videotaped Deposition. Scenario: All parties are seated and the videographer has handed microphones to the attorneys, the witness, and the interpreter. What is the statement made by the court reporter initiating the deposition?

A) (turning to the witness) “Will you raise your right hand to be sworn?”

B) (to the Videographer) Today’s date is October 11, 2007; please raise your hand to be sworn.”

C) (turning to the interpreter) “Will you please raise your right hand to be sworn?”

4. Setting: Trial Scenario: The jury has been seated and both sides have just presented opening statements. It is now time for the witnesses to take the stand to give their testimony. The judge starts this phase of the trial by stating:

A) “Mr. (name of defense attorney), you may call your first witness”

B) “Will the court reporter please call the first witness on the list to the stand”

C) “Ms. (name of plaintiff’s attorney), you may call your first witness”

5. Setting: Jury Trial Scenario: The attorney for the defense notices that the plaintiff’s mother is seated in the courtroom. He wants to have her removed because he will be calling her to testify. What does he say to the judge?

A) “Your honor I would like to voir dire the mother of the plaintiff”

B) “Your honor I would like to list the mother of the plaintiff as a hostile witness”

C) “Your honor, I request that the rule be invoked”

Answers 1. - c. 2.-b. 3.-c. 4.-c. 5.-c.

It is said This way

Which phrase demonstrates the correct way to use the indicated term?

6. Nolo Contendere

A) Your honor my client says he is nolo contendere

B) Your honor, my client wishes to enter a plea of Nolo Contendere

7. Publish

A) Your Honor I would like the jury to publish this photograph of the crime scene.

B) Your Honor, I move this photograph of the crime scene be published to the jury.

References for these exercises are the following books:

The Interpreters Guide to The Vehicular Accident Lawsuit by Josef F. Buenker

Interpretation Techniques and Exercises by James Nolan
and a variety of law dictionaries.

Select the right definition of the term.
Answers are at the bottom of the page.

Answers
1-c. 2- b. 3-a. 4- b. 5 –a. 6- a. 7-c. 8-a. 9-a. 10-c

1. Setting: Deposition
Scenario: Attorney for the plaintiff is deposing the defendant and has finished her line of questions. She thanks the witness for his time. The defense attorney will not ask question of his witness. How does the defense attorney express this?

3. Setting: Interpreted Videotaped Deposition.
Scenario: All parties are seated and the videographer has handed microphones to the attorneys, the witness, and the interpreter. What is the statement made by the court reporter initiating the deposition?

4. Setting: Trial
Scenario: The jury has been seated and both sides have just presented opening statements. It is now time for the witnesses to take the stand to give their testimony. The judge starts this phase of the trial by stating:

5. Setting: Jury Trial
Scenario: The attorney for the defense notices that the plaintiff’s mother is seated in the courtroom. He wants to have her removed because he will be calling her to testify. What does he say to the judge?

Answers
1. - c. 2.-b. 3.-c. 4.-c. 5.-c.

Answers
6.-b. 7.-b. 8.-a