Interpreting in State Court

Are you excited when your state court administration calls you for an interpreting assignment? Are you dismayed at the interpreter pay?  Do the court officials make your life miserable?

Some time ago, I e-mailed a colleague to ask her to send me her court certification.  She responded and wrote me that she is doing ministry work in Guatemala, and will not be back in the Carolinas anytime soon.  She suggested that I contact the Office of Language Access Services (OLAS), North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts to see if it might grant me reciprocity.  I followed her advice and received a lovely e-mail from the OLAS Manager with the necessary links to begin the process.  After I completed the form and copied the requested attachments, off I sent it in the mail around December 27, 2012. 

The office was closed on December 31 and January 1.  A clerk in North Carolina called on January 2 to see if I was available for a matter on Friday, January 4. I had a professional development class and Weight Watchers meeting.  Nevertheless, paid work comes first, especially in January which is usually slow (this one started out busy).  I accepted the assignment, and then looked at the NC interpreter directory.  Well butter my buns and cal me a biscuit – my name was added on 12/31/2012.  I was impressed that the post office delivered the mail timely during the holidays, and that OLAS input my name so promptly.  I again e-mailed the OLAS manager this past Wednesday to ask for links and procedures for invoicing court.   The manager replied later that day to provide me with information requested.  For a state entity, I was ecstatic.

January 4 arrived.  By e-mail, I received the Agreement from OLAS.  The clerk was congenial and spoke well of my former colleague.  After lunch, we were far from over, but he signed by Daily Log.  When the day was over, I returned to my home, exhausted, but satisfied that I had done my assignment in North Carolina.

It has been refreshing dealing with the NC Court Administration.  Indeed, though the compensation may lack some luster, I found dealing with with them to be a pleasant and rewarding experience.  It would be my pleasure to work with the courts in North Carolina based on my first encounter.