Basics of Working with an Interpreter

 Understand the role of the interpreter  Sole purpose is to transmit information between you and the client  Interpreter should not explain information or give opinions  Do not ask the interpreter to explain or summarize

Basics of Working with an Interpreter  Address the client directly  Look directly at the client while speaking to her/him  Ensure that both you and the client understand what is happening at all times to avoid confusion and losing the client’s attention  If you need to speak with the interpreter about a subject not involving the client (scheduling etc), let the client know what you are talking about

Basics of Working with an Interpreter  Speak slowly and clearly  Speak in short phrases to facilitate interpretation  Use simple words  Ask specific, direct questions to guide the conversation Do not ask: When did you come to the United States? Ask: How many times did you enter the United States? What was the date when you first entered? How long did you stay in the U.S? When did you leave?

Basics of Working with an Interpreter  Be aware of your own reactions and experiences  Working with an interpreter can be frustrating and tedious--do what works for you to stay present and focused  You may naturally connect more with the interpreter— however, make an effort to focus on client

Building Rapport and Communicating with Clients

Building Rapport  Be mindful of body language  Be aware of where you are sitting/standing in relation to client  Smile!  Focus on the client first and the case second  Give the client a chance to ask questions at the beginning and the end of the appointment

Building Rapport  Be aware of the client’s perspective  Prior experiences (or lack thereof) working with attorney  Anxiety about deportation/legal process—this is a scary process for clients  Cultural understandings of authority  Differences in power (race, language ability, gender, class, sexual orientation, educational background, etc)

Communication with clients  Clients may speak in a spiral or circular pattern  Be patient and allow extra time for communication  Before you begin the appointment, remind client to speak in short phrases and that you may need to interrupt from time to time  If you do need to interrupt, briefly summarize what you are hearing from the client so they know they have been heard and are able to refocus

Communication with clients  Clients may get emotional when telling their story  You may be the only person the client has shared their story with  Keep tissue available  Ensure that children are not present when client is telling their story

Communication with clients  Clients may have difficulty remembering dates and other details  Issues such as trauma, educational level may contribute  Ask clients to relate dates to other life events Ex: How old was your first child when you came to the U.S.? Ex: How long had you been married when the first incident of abuse happened?  Make written timelines to clarify complicated sequences of events  If the client isn’t sure about a date, it’s ok

Communicating with clients  Every culture has its own norms  Eye contact  Physical gestures  Display of Emotions

Working with Survivors of Domestic Violence

 Your client may still be in crisis and may be facing issues such as:  Homelessness  Food security  Other legal issues (divorce, custody)  Psychological issues (trauma, depression)  Continued harassment from abuser or abuser’s family  Lack of employment or difficulty finding/maintaining employment  Child care  Transportation  Children’s issues (psychological, behavioral, or academic)

Working with Survivors of Domestic Violence  Immigrant survivors of domestic violence may be pressured to stay in or return to an abusive relationship because of:  Economic necessity  Threats of violence  Safety concerns about leaving  Fear of deportation  Fear of losing their children  Isolation  Lack of understanding of U.S. legal system  These factors may affect your client’s cooperation with law enforcement or even with their immigration case

Economic Necessity  “I thought about leaving him at that time, but I didn’t do it because I didn’t have anywhere to go, I didn’t have a stable job. I always looked at apartment ads, I checked out what they asked for, but a deposit was too expensive.”  “I returned to him more than anything for economic stability; if there had been a way for me to arrange my papers back then, I wouldn’t have had to return with him.”

Threats of Violence  “He threatened to kill me and my kids if I said something about the abuse.”  “He said that if I left him, I would pay with my son and my parents, who were still living in my home country.”  “When I told him to leave me, he threatened that he would kill himself and me too.”

Safety Concerns about Leaving  “I started to pack things into my truck to leave, but I was unlucky. I don’t know how he found out, but he realized that I was going to leave. He pulled out a cable so the truck wouldn’t start, and he made me get out of the truck and put both my arms behind my back. When a neighbor saw, he acted like he was playing with me, and the neighbors believed him.”  “I didn’t know how I could leave—I was afraid he would find me even at the shelter. I had reported his abuse to the police before, but he had been bailed out of jail days later, and I was afraid that if I reported him again I would be in even more danger when he got out.”

Threats of Deportation  “He would always say that if I ever left him he would call immigration and have them deport me, and that he would then find me in Mexico and make me pay for everything I had done here.”  “He would threaten to call immigration on my family, and he would threaten to have me and my mother arrested and incarcerated for the rest of our lives if I left him.”

Threats to take the children  “He’d threaten to take my son if I ever left him.”  “He told me: ‘If you don’t want stay, go, but the girls are staying with me. If we fight for custody, I’m going to win because I’m an American citizen and you’re just an illegal without a job or a house.’ ”

Isolation  “I didn’t know about the shelter back then, and I didn’t know where to go for help.”  “He had always told me that I was stupid, that nobody would believe me in this country.”  “Our neighbors saw him as an exemplary man, so they believed what he told them.”

Lies about the legal system  “He had always told me that the police wouldn’t believe me because I didn’t have proof, and I couldn’t speak English anyway.”  “I called the police to report the abuse once, and they said there was nothing they could do. After that, he laughed at me every time I talked about calling the police.”