NAJIT Membership and Legal Interpreting Standards
In a deposition last year, an interpreter changed a witness’s answer from “I don’t remember” to “I’m not sure.” That distinction matters. A qualified legal interpreter knows why. A general interpreter might not. NAJIT exists to draw that line.
What NAJIT Is
The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators is the only U.S. professional association dedicated exclusively to legal interpreting and translating. It does not cover medical interpreting. It does not cover conference interpreting. Its entire focus is the legal system.
That specificity matters.
The NAJIT Code of Ethics
NAJIT publishes a code of ethics and professional responsibilities that has become the reference standard for legal interpreters nationwide. Courts cite it. Training programs teach from it. Attorneys rely on it when evaluating interpreter conduct.
The code addresses accuracy, impartiality, confidentiality, limitations of the role, and professional development. It draws clear boundaries. An interpreter does not explain, summarize, or editorialize. An interpreter renders what was said, completely and accurately, in the target language.
These are not suggestions. For NAJIT members, they are professional obligations.
What Separates Legal Interpreters from General Interpreters
A general interpreter may be fluent in two languages. A legal interpreter understands the justice system. They know the difference between a motion to suppress and a motion to dismiss. They know how to interpret a jury instruction without simplifying it. They understand that adding the word “very” to a witness’s testimony is not a small thing.
Legal interpreting requires subject matter expertise on top of language proficiency. NAJIT membership signals that an interpreter has aligned themselves with the organization that defines those standards.
Why Attorneys Should Care
When you hire an interpreter for a legal proceeding, you are trusting that person to be invisible. Their job is to transmit meaning without altering it. If they lack training in legal interpreting ethics, they may step outside that role without realizing it.
They might explain a question to the witness instead of interpreting it. They might soften a hostile question. They might engage in side conversation. Any of these can compromise the proceeding.
NAJIT members have committed to a framework that prevents those errors. It is not a guarantee of perfection, but it is a verifiable professional standard.
What to Ask Your Interpreting Provider
Ask whether the interpreters assigned to your legal matters are NAJIT members. Ask whether they follow the NAJIT code of ethics. If the provider does not know what NAJIT is, that tells you something about their legal interpreting depth.
The Standard That Matters
Legal interpreting is a specialized discipline. The organization that sets its standards is NAJIT. Providers who take legal interpreting seriously know this.
Kaplan Interpreting Services is a NAJIT member committed to the highest standards in legal interpreting. When your case, deposition, or hearing requires interpreters who understand the rules of the courtroom, the professional standards behind the provider matter. Call (833) 547-7770 or visit kaplaninterpreting.com/quote to request an interpreter.
CEO & Founder
Born in Dallas, Texas, Alexandra grew up surrounded by Spanish, English, Arabic, and Italian. After moving to Venezuela, Spanish became her primary language. She holds a Master's in Healthcare Administration from Washington University in St. Louis and is a California court certified and medical interpreter.
She founded Kaplan Interpreting Services after seeing an industry that treated interpreters as interchangeable and clients as ticket numbers. She built a protocol-driven operation where every interpreter is hand-selected and credentialed for the specific setting, every client has a dedicated point of contact, and risk management is built into every assignment.
Her career reached a historic milestone when she interpreted the conversation between President-elect Biden and Pope Francis. That assignment, along with engagements for Nike and the Summit of the Americas, set the standard for every client engagement that followed.
"The same protocols that protected that historic conversation now protect every assignment we handle."