The Hawaii State Judiciary is seeking individuals who speak English and another language to become court interpreters. The Judiciary’s Office on Equality and Access to the Courts (OEAC) will be hosting free informational sessions for anyone interested in learning how to become a state court interpreter. A one-hour informational session will be offered on the Big Island and Maui during the following dates and times:

• March 10, 2016, 12:00-1:00pm at the UH Hilo Campus Center Room 301 (OEAC staff will be available for additional questions from 10:00am-2:00pm on March 10, 2016, at the UH-Hilo Campus Center Library Lanai)
• March 10, 2016, 5:00pm-6:00pm at the County of Hawaii (Hilo) Aging & Disability Resource Center Training Room
• March 14, 2016, 5:30pm-6:30pm at the Maui Memorial Medical Center, ETSD Room
• March 17, 2016, 5:00pm-6:00pm at the West Hawaii (Kona) Civic Center, Community Meeting Hale

Court interpreters work on a freelance basis as independent contractors in cases when parties or witnesses are unable to hear, understand, speak or use English sufficiently.  Court interpreters are required to complete an orientation workshop (which will be offered later this year), pass a written English proficiency exam and court interpreter ethics exam, and clear a criminal background check.  Depending on their performance on written and/or oral exams, court interpreters are paid between $25 to $55 per hour, with a two-hour minimum. For more information, please visit: /services/court_interpreting/court_interpreting