| Job Specification JUDICIARY OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Court Interpreter Band Specification
Court Interpreters convey spoken, written or signed communications between two
languages. They possess a native-like mastery of both English and a second
language. Court Interpreters must interpret and translate in a manner that
accurately reproduces in the target language the closest natural equivalent of
the source language message without embellishment, omission or explanation.
LEVEL SUMMARY
Level 1 - Conditionally
Approved/Trainee (Court Interpreter 1- Conditionally Approved/Trainee):
Employees at this level act as trainees and
interpret proceedings of limited legal significance or limited linguistic
complexity and may prepare draft translations of forms,
letters and other court-related documents.
Level 2 - Journey
(Court Interpreter 1- Journey, Court Interpreter 3):
Employees at this level interpret legal proceedings and may translate forms,
letters and other court-related documents.
Level 3 - Mastery
(Court Interpreter 2 - Master):
Employees at this level interpret complex legal proceedings and may translate
forms, letters and other court-related documents.
NOTE: The above summary and following examples of work are for illustrative
purposes only. Any one position may not necessarily include all of the tasks
listed, nor do the examples cover all of the duties, which may be performed. Cumulative tasks; higher levels
include the tasks associated with the lower level.
Level 1
Analyze data
Attend training and professional conferences to develop technical expertise and
knowledge
Assemble materials
Collect information, for example, specialized vocabulary, cases in order to
prepare for the communicative event
Compile records and other written materials
Create and update terminology lists
Deliver interpreting services individually or as a member of a team of two or
more interpreters
File interpreting records or other written materials
Interpret from spoken English into a foreign or language, or reverse, in a
sight, consecutive or simultaneous modes for clients or customers
Operate electronic data processing or peripheral equipment
Operate electronic or manual information systems
Participate in study and training activities in
a group or individually in order to develop and maintain interpreting and
translating skills and techniques
Participate in team/work unit meetings
Produce final or draft translations into English or another language of
documents such as official forms, public signs, notices, posters, form letters,
documents related to applications made to the courts and correspondence written
in another language
Provide cross-training to
co-workers; for example, demonstrate to other staff how you perform your work
Provide quality customer service to court users and/or internal customers
Provide telephonic or video interpreting services and support to other Judiciary
locations as needed
Recommend improvements in operating procedures, programs, standards, work
processes, or administrative practices
Sight interprets appropriate non-English language or English documents as
required during court proceedings, quasi-judicial hearings, complementary
dispute resolution events, court support services, weddings and other
court-related events in person or via a telecommunications device.
Suggest improvements in work unit operation
Use techniques and equipment, such as note taking, self-correction, appropriate
lag time, simultaneous interpreting equipment, telephone interpreting equipment,
etc., when interpreting
Apply statutes, court rules, case law, policies or other regulatory standards to
cases
Assist court employees and others in scheduling interpreting services
Assist in the delivery of interpreting services among vicinages
Give advice or assist staff or team members with work in progress
Orients, schedules and invoices contract interpreters
Proofread written materials
Provide information to judges, attorneys or community organizations
Provide introductory information regarding the role of the interpreter to
attorneys requiring interpreting services
Transliterate between a spoken language and a manual version of that language
(American Sign Language interpreters only)
Level 3
Interpret high-profile and
complex trials, as well as trials involving crimes of the first-degree
Mentor and coach staff or team members; provide direction and feedback
Provide higher level technical
advice and/or expertise to staff, peers or management
Review draft translations prepared by team members
COMPETENCIES
NOTE: The following competencies are cumulative in nature. For example, lower
level competencies are prerequisite to higher levels.
Consecutive Interpreting - Renders
an interpretation of a speaker’s utterance after the speaker has stopped
speaking, taking a turn after each primary speaker finishes.
Customer Service -
Committed to providing quality services. Commands a thorough understanding of
the customer, who he or she is, why and what he or she wants and needs. Focuses
work on meeting and exceeding the customer’s needs. Develops and maintains
strong relationships with internal and external customers, vendors or suppliers.
Builds customer confidence in the ability to serve their needs.
Information Management -
Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information. Organizes
and maintains information.
Integrity/Honesty -
Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization. Displays high
standards of ethical conduct and understands the organization’s standards,
including confidentiality in court operations, when appropriate, and the impact
of violating these standards on the organization, self and others. Trustworthy.
Adheres to and conforms with the practice to the Code of Professional Conduct
for Interpreters, Transliterators, and
Translators; the Standards for Court Interpreting, Legal Translating, and
Bilingual Services; and other laws and policies that relate to the performance
of duties.
Interpersonal Skills -
Shows understanding, respect, collegiality, courtesy, tact, empathy,
cooperation, concern, and politeness to others. Develops and maintains effective
relationships with others; including effectively dealing with individuals who
are difficult, hostile, or distressed. Relates well with people from varied
backgrounds and different situations. Sensitive to cultural diversity, race,
gender, disabilities, and other individual differences. Participates fully in
team activities.
Legal/Government –
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, legal documents, government regulations,
executive orders, agency rules,
New Jersey Rules of Court, government organization and functions.
Oral Communication -
Effectively communicates information, for example, ideas or facts, to
individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature
of the information, for example, technical, sensitive, controversial. Makes
clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens to others, attends to nonverbal
cues, and responds appropriately.
Organizational Awareness -
Knows the organization’s mission and functions, and how its social, political, and technological
systems work, and operates effectively within them, including the programs,
policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization.
Professional Development - Improves
interpreting skills and knowledge, for example, formal course work, conference
attendance, training, professional associations. Expands linguistic and cultural
knowledge through contact with sources such as newspapers, magazines, books and
cultural events. Keeps up-to-date on best practices available in the profession
and attempts to implement those appropriate to the organization’s needs.
Personal Development -
Identifies and follows through on assignments, guidance and feedback to
continuously learn and improve the performance and capabilities of one’s self.
Reading Comprehension - Understands
and interprets written material, including technical material, rules,
regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs or tables in English and one
or more additional languages. Applies what is
learned from written material to specific situations.
Reasoning -
Identifies rules, principles or relationships that explain facts, data or other
information. Asks pertinent questions to acquire needed information. Analyzes
information and makes logical inferences or draws accurate conclusions.
Self-Management -
Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals. Displays a high level of
initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely
manner. Works with minimal supervision. Motivated to achieve. Demonstrates
responsible behavior.
Sight Interpreting - Converts
“on sight” documents written in one language into a different language that is spoken or signed.
Simultaneous Interpreting - Interprets
at the same time as a speaker of the source language is speaking, using either
whispers or electronic equipment.
Stress Tolerance -
Deals calmly and effectively with high stress situations, for example, tight
deadlines, hostile individuals, emergency
situations, dangerous situations.
Teamwork -
Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity.
Fosters commitment and team spirit, works with others to achieve goals.
Technology - Uses
technology in the workplace.
Technical Competence -
Uses knowledge that is acquired through
formal training and/or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one’s job.
Acquires and applies new terminology. Learns meaning of new words or phrases in
source language and either develops an equivalent word or phrase in the target
language or learns equivalent renderings in the target language.
Time Management -
Establishes and manages priorities effectively.
Total Quality Management -
Shows attention to detail, accuracy and thoroughness. Shows a commitment to
quality and excellence. Finds the root cause of problems. Looks for and makes
continuous improvements. Follows through on implementing improvements and
commitments made to others.
Translating - Completes
translations according to assigned deadlines and in accordance with the
Guidelines for Legal Translation.
Transliterating (sign
language interpreters only) - Conveys messages expressed in spoken English into
manually coded English and the reverse.
Volume -
Produces a comparable workload in comparison to other interpreters at the same
level.
Written Communication -
Composes correspondence, reports and other written material that is clear,
concise, well organized and understood by recipient. Recognizes and uses correct
English grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Communicates information, for
example, facts, ideas, or messages, in a succinct and organized manner. Produces
written information which may
include technical material that is appropriate for the intended audience.
Level 2
Cost Efficiency -
Facilitates efficient and cost-effective use of contract interpreters.
Decisiveness -
Makes sound and well informed decisions; perceives the impact and implications
of decisions. Commits to action.
Goal Orientation - Budgets
time. Adjusts priorities in ways that meet optimal conditions. Manages multiple
projects, priorities and deadlines.
Planning and Evaluating -
Organizes work, sets priorities and determines resource requirements. Determines
short or long term goals
and strategies to achieve them. Coordinates with other organizations or parts of
the organization to accomplish goals. Monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
Problem Solving -
Identifies problems. Determines accuracy and relevance of information. Uses
sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make
recommendations.
Level 3
Conflict Management -
Manages and resolves conflicts, confrontations, and disagreements in a positive manner which minimizes negative personal
impact.
Conflict Resolution -
Demonstrates good listening skills. Promptly and proactively resolves conflicts
in a decisive manner based on facts and reason. Takes action to avoid conflict.
Counseling –
Mentors, guides and coaches staff or team members. Provides feedback targeted at
individual development.
Decision Making -
Makes sound, well-informed and objective decisions. Perceives the impact and
implications of decisions. Commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to
accomplish organizational goals. Recommends, devises, and/or implements change.
Effectively deals with ambiguity.
Flexibility -
Open to change and new information. Adapts behavior or work methods in response
to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles. Effectively
deals with ambiguity.
Interpretation & Analysis of Written Materials -
Comprehends and evaluates information, balancing the pros and cons to determine
a desired outcome. Makes recommendations based upon logic or acquired knowledge.
Leadership -
Influences, motivates and challenges others. Adapts leadership styles to a
variety of situations.
Technical Competence -
Works with, understands, and evaluates technical and specialized information
related to the job. Advises others on technical issues.
MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS - SPOKEN LANGUAGE
Eligibility
All levels
Eligible applicants are court interpreters approved by the New Jersey
Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). AOC approved interpreters include
interpreters who have passed the written and performance oral exams of the
National Center for State Courts administered by the AOC or an equivalent test
administered by a member state of the Council of Language Access Coordinators;
or who possess the Court Interpreter Certification from the Administrative
Office of the United States Courts.
Special Note
Prior to translating documents, incumbents must pass the translation test
administered by the AOC.
MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS- SIGN LANGUAGE
Testing - Sign Language
Level 2
Applicants must possess one of the following certificates from the National
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID):
Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC):
Or
Certificate of Interpretation (CI) and Certificate
of Transliteration (CT)
Or
National Interpreter Certification
Level 3
Applicants must process one of the following from the National Registry of
Interpreters for the Deaf (RID):
Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC):
Or
Certificate of Interpretation (CI) and Certificate
of Transliteration (CT);
Or
National Interpreter Certification
And
Sixty hours of legal training as evidenced by providing a transcript of
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) obtained from the Registry of Interpreters of
the Deaf (RID).
Or
Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L).
TRAINING PERIOD
Level 1
Court Interpreter 1 – Conditionally Approved/Trainees will have two years from
the date of employment to test up to a higher level in order to maintain
employment. Court Interpreter 1 – Conditionally Approved/Trainees will be in a
probationary period until they test up to a higher Level.
License
All
levels
Appointees will be required to possess a driver’s license valid in New Jersey
only if the operation of a vehicle is necessary to perform essential duties of
the position.
Effective Date: 11/6/2021 |