Interpreter – Public Service / Legal Aid
Overview
Habibi Interpreting and Translation Ltd is looking for experienced and reliable interpreters to join our growing team.
We are currently recruiting interpreters fluent in English and one or more of the following languages:
- Turkish
- Georgian
- Kurdish – Kurmanji
- Kurdish – Badini
- Bengali
- Oromo
- Somali
- Vietnamese
- Arabic
- Amharic
- Tigrinya
Please note: We are currently recruiting only for the languages listed above. Applications for other languages will not be considered at this time.
The majority of our assignments are Legal Aid cases, providing interpreting support to individuals, solicitors, legal professionals and public-service organisations.
Pay
£15.00 per hour
The £15 per hour rate applies to:
- Telephone interpreting
- Video interpreting
- Face-to-face interpreting
For face-to-face assignments, applicable travel expenses, transport costs and mileage will also be paid, in accordance with our applicable travel and expenses arrangements.
Working Arrangements
We offer a variety of interpreting assignments, including:
- Remote telephone interpreting
- Video interpreting
- Face-to-face interpreting
Assignments may be offered on a flexible or ad-hoc basis depending on client requirements and your availability.
Types of Assignments
The majority of assignments are Legal Aid-related, with interpreters supporting communication in settings such as:
- Solicitors' appointments
- Legal consultations
- Court and court-related appointments
- Police interviews
- Immigration and asylum matters
- Healthcare and medical appointments
- Local authority and social services meetings
- Other public-service settings
You will be expected to interpret accurately, impartially and professionally while ensuring that the meaning and intent of all parties are clearly conveyed.
Key Responsibilities
As an interpreter, your responsibilities may include:
- Providing accurate and clear interpretation between English and the relevant language.
- Interpreting spoken communication in real time.
- Accurately conveying the meaning, tone and intent of the speaker.
- Maintaining impartiality and professionalism at all times.
- Maintaining strict confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information.
- Demonstrating cultural awareness and sensitivity.
- Assisting with written translation where required.
- Taking notes or preparing brief summaries following assignments where required.
- Working professionally with solicitors, legal professionals, public-service staff and service users.
Essential Requirements
To be considered for this role, you must have:
- Fluency in English and at least one of the specified languages, ideally at C1 level.
- Approximately 100 hours of interpreting experience, either professionally or through relevant voluntary work.
- The right to work in your country of residence.
- Excellent communication and listening skills.
- The ability to interpret accurately, impartially and professionally.
- The ability to remain calm and professional when dealing with sensitive or challenging situations.
- A strong understanding of confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Willingness to complete a telephone assessment and/or online English proficiency test where required.
- A current Standard DBS or applicable equivalent, where required.
Desirable Qualifications & Experience
The following are desirable but are not essential:
- DPSI – Diploma in Public Service Interpreting, particularly the Law pathway.
- DPI – Diploma in Police Interpreting.
- DCI – Diploma in Community Interpreting, particularly Level 6 qualifications relevant to legal interpreting.
- NRPSI registration.
- A relevant language degree combined with interpreting experience.
- Experience working in legal, police, healthcare, immigration or other public-service settings.
- Knowledge of legal, medical or other specialist terminology.
Relevant qualifications and professional interpreting experience will be considered during the application process.
DBS Requirements
Due to the nature of our assignments, interpreters may be required to hold a current Standard DBS certificate or applicable equivalent.
- Your DBS must be current.
- DBS certificates registered with the DBS Update Service are accepted where applicable.
- If you do not currently have a DBS, you may still apply, but you must be willing to obtain one if required.
- Additional checks may be required depending on the assignment.
Confidentiality & Data Protection
Our interpreters may handle confidential and sensitive information, particularly when working on legal, healthcare, immigration and public-service assignments.
You must:
- Maintain strict confidentiality.
- Comply with applicable data-protection requirements.
- Follow professional standards and company policies.
- Protect client and service-user information.
- Remain impartial and professional throughout all assignments.
Application Process
Shortlisted candidates may be required to complete:
- Verification of interpreting experience.
- Verification of qualifications and professional registrations.
- Right-to-work and identity checks.
- DBS/equivalent verification, where applicable.
- English-language and/or telephone interpreting assessments.
- Additional checks or assessments where required.
When applying, please provide:
- Details of your interpreting experience.
- Approximate number of interpreting hours completed.
- Relevant qualifications and certifications.
- Your DBS status and whether it is registered with the DBS Update Service.
- The languages you interpret.
- Your level of English proficiency.
- Details of any legal, police, healthcare, immigration or public-service interpreting experience.
- Details of any professional registration, such as NRPSI.
Why Join Habibi Interpreting and Translation Ltd?
- £15 per hour for telephone, video and face-to-face interpreting.
- Travel expenses, transport costs and mileage paid for applicable face-to-face assignments.
- Flexible and ad-hoc interpreting opportunities.
- Opportunities to work on Legal Aid and public-service assignments.
- Remote telephone and video interpreting opportunities.
- Opportunities to build your professional interpreting experience.
- Work across a variety of legal, healthcare, immigration and public-service settings.
- Join a growing interpreting and translation organisation.
Apply Now
If you are an experienced interpreter who meets the essential requirements and is committed to providing accurate, impartial and professional interpreting services, we would like to hear from you.
Please ensure your application includes your language(s), interpreting experience, qualifications and DBS status so that we can assess your application efficiently.
Pay: £15.00 per hour
Work Location: Remote
