I have been interpreting legal proceedings for America’s best lawyers and Judges since 1980.   I have perfected my skills by learning the process of each proceeding and by paying attention to the needs of the attorneys and judges. The several thousand cases I have interpreted in have presented a wide range of experiences in responsiveness and settings that have taught me to be flexible while maintaining efficiency. I have edited text books on interpreting and published scores of articles on the profession in professional journals and national magazines.  I am licensed by the State of Texas as a Licensed Court Interpreter.  I have passed leading national law enforcement agency and ICE linguist examinations and I hold a top level security clearance.  I keep my skills sharp with continuing education classes.  My work ensures that language is not a barrier to full participation by all parties and their legal representatives.

With Diane as your interpreter , you can count on the following:

• Adherence to the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility of the Licensed Court Interpreters Administrative Rules

• Professional dress, demeanor and punctuality.

• Terminology and legal procedure expertise. 

• Accent less language fluency. 

• Verbatim interpreting in either Consecutive or Simultaneous mode.

• Impartiality and officer of the court level performance. 

Why do you need to hire licensed court interpreters?
House Bill 2735, passed by the 77th Legislature in 2001, requires a court in a county with a population of 50,000 or more to appoint licensed court interpreters if a motion is made requesting an interpreter and the judge determines that an interpreter is necessary.

What does TDLR consider to be court proceedings?
The TDLR considers the following to be court proceedings under this law: civil and criminal trials, depositions, mediations and arbitrations.

Who regulates court interpreters in Texas?
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

For further Resources:

“What do You Mean By That?” Specific Terms in a Q&A Produce Direct Responses by Diane Teichman Claims Magazine National publication of the Insurance management industry

The Interpreters Guide to the Vehicular Accident Lawsuit, by Josef Buenker. Multilingual Matters Publishing

The New Experience of Working with Interpreters by Diane Teichman The Journal of Court Reporting. Magazine of the National Court Reporters Association

Scheduling Details Contact Us

If your firm has a contract with a Court Reporting or a Translator/Interpreting agency you can request they schedule me directly.
I will work in the same high quality standards they hold.

To verify availability or to schedule me please  email me the following information:

• A copy of the notice with the message, Can you cover this?

• Or  the date, time and location of the proceeding and a contact name and phone number

• The type of proceeding for example: Deposition, Pre-deposition conference, Hearing, Trial, Attorney-client interview.

• The case style and contact phone number for 24 hour advance confirmation. 

• Please advise me on the nature of the case for example : personal injury, vehicular accident, medical malpractice, bank fraud, divorce/custody, wrongful death, contract dispute, EEOC, immigration, probate

• For rush (next day) - please call my office at 713-263-9237 with the details listed above.

For trials: Please provide me with the court number, courthouse, the judge’s name and the docket date information to estimate when I could start and whether I will be needed for full trial interpretation or only specified witnesses.

Terms:

Standard terms include a two hour minimum with an hourly rate for every hour after the first two.  Invoice base fee terms are thirty days.  Travel time applies for out of town assignments, overtime is charged after hours and on weekends.  I do not charge mileage.

FAQ’s about Judicial Interpreters :

Who hires us?

For Depositions, Sworn statements and Examinations Under Oath.
The interpreter is scheduled by the law firm that notices the sworn proceeding and who schedules the court reporter and/or videographer.  Diane is often requested specifically by law firms who ask their court reporter to schedule me.  Diane is also scheduled directly by court reporting agencies and by translation agencies.

Diane can also be scheduled by the lawyer for the deponent to verify or monitor the performance of the interpreter of record.  In such cases both interpreters are put under oath. When I monitor another interpreter I only take notes for the client to review.  I don’t interrupt the proceeding nor do I show any disrespect for the interpreter of record. Please contact Diane for a full explanation of how this process can ensure a full participation in the legal proceeding by your client.

Trials, Hearings, Court Proceedings

Interpreters can be hired or assigned by the court coordinator.  Often court systems have lists of approved providers.
Attorneys for either side can hire a qualified interpreter for the testimony of their client or witness.
In either situation, the interpreter is subject to the same requirements of credentials, rules and oath.

Who pays the interpreter’s fee?

The scheduling law firm or court or the agency if under contract.

For further information about Licensed Court Interpreters in Texas and to verify a license please see The TDLR LCI FAQ’s page.

Tips For Legal Administrative Staff On Working With Interpreters And Translators

The ability to interpret or translate from a foreign language is not the same as being bilingual.  Many untested bilingual people try to get interpreting or translation work without any training and without knowing the rules of legal procedure.  Your firm pays the price in inadmissible work, miscommunication and delays. These are the qualification standards I follow.  If you take the time to qualify the interpreter or translator once, before you schedule them then when the need arises you'll be equipped with a list of verified professionals.  If you rely on an Interpretation/Translation agency to meet your requests, review how they qualify their staff.  

Here’s what to look for:

• Texas Department of Licensing Licensed Court Interpreter Number.

• Verify their status at: http://www.license.state.tx.us/LicenseSearch/

• Use Membership directories of professional associations to search for translators or interpreters. ( ATA or NAJIT)

•  Focus on candidates with legal experience and specialization including training and membership in professional associations and certifications. 

• Verify their law firm references Note their training and CE’s (a BA in Spanish is not enough…)

• Verify their fluency in English yourself, (call them, and talk to them!).

• Confirm if the interpreter performs simultaneous or consecutive modes.

• Ask if the interpreter subcontracts and may send another interpreter if overbooked.  If  you approve of this, request the  qualifications of the substitute.

Ask about their rates, payment terms, minimums and advance notice requirements.

• Translators will need to see or be familiar with the contents of the document to be translated before giving you an estimate.

• If you have a large sized translation that is a rush, be aware of the common practice of dividing the assignment among a variety of translators. Verify that only qualified translators share your project. 

Let us know what to expect from your law firm

Not Just Lip Service…  When your non-English speaking client, needs to be contacted, I can make the telephone contact for you or with you in a conference call.  This avoids any misunderstandings in appointment settings, confirmation, transportation arrangements, and confirmation of receipt of notices or correspondence.  If your client is unfamiliar with legal protocol, it is advisable to confirm times, dress codes for trial or video depositions and to remind them to bring necessary documents.

Save Money for the BOSS!  Instead of having a deposition transcript or settlement
Agreement translated ,  Diane can come to your office and read it to them.   This is called Sight Translation and includes a notarized certificate of sight translation.