Legal Interpreter Training Program

What is Project CLIMB's Legal Interpreter Training (LIT) program?

In a facilitated community of learning (COL), participants will work through a dynamic, interactive, and bilingual (ASL & English) asynchronous online training curriculum for legal interpreters. The curriculum provides the legal foundation needed for ASL/ English interpreters in the legal specialty. The training includes a structure and approach to talking about the work and supporting colleagues in their professional growth. The curriculum is broken down into modules that cover a wide range of topics, that result in a comprehensive training for project participants.

This innovative and exciting project serves to increase the number and quality of interpreters in legal settings. Additionally, the project aims to increase the number of interpreters of color and/ or interpreters of heritage signing backgrounds by creating career paths for specialization in legal interpreting for practitioners from these underrepresented communities.

Participation is open to any interpreter that meets the minimum criteria outlined below. Applications are being accepted to ensure that communities of learning include individuals with diverse backgrounds. Project CLIMB's communities of learning will focus on individuals who are prepared and ready to commit to an intensive online training program.

About the Program

Want to apply for the LIT Program? 

Recruitment is now open for participants to join our communities of learning focused on interpreting in court and legal settings.

This application should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.

• Application Materials

  Before applying, please have the following information ready:

  • Three references' email address (email addresses of at least one Deaf person and at least one interpreter, preferably one who works in legal settings)
  • Your training, education, and interpreting experience
• Application Review

  Each application will undergo anonymous review by a team of raters using predetermined selection criteria. Applicants for this cohort will be screened based on the following minimum criteria and desirable characteristics:

  Minimum criteria

  • 3 or more years of interpreting experience working in a variety of settings, with a variety of deaf people
  • References that indicate readiness to engage in training to work in court and other legal settings
  • Attendance at the on-site orientation in Greeley, Colorado, 

    May 28th - May 31st, 2020

  Desired criteria

  • Evidence of prior legal training
  • Experience and comfort with online learning/distance education
  • Evidence of commitment to participating in inclusive and effective training opportunities with interpreters from marginalized backgrounds
• Applicant Notification

  Applicants will receive notification of decision by early April, 2020.

• Participant Expectations

  Participants are expected to create time and space in their schedule to engage fully in the online training program, which is expected to take an average of 15-20 hours each week. Participants will be expected to maintain contact with their facilitator and maintain engagement in the learning community throughout the nine-month program.
  
  Attendance at the on-site orientation is an indication that the participant will remain engaged and committed to their community of learning unless there is some unforeseen emergency that prevents their involvement.    

    

  This program requires access to a computer with the ability to:

  • watch a video while recording yourself in ASL (eg, webcam, phone / laptop / tablet camera)  
  • upload videos to GoReact and/or Canvas
  • view multiple screens during Zoom meetings*

  *You can check your ISP speed by using a site such as Speed Test.

  System requirements can be found at the following websites:

  • GoReact
  • Canvas
  • Zoom
• Cost to Participate

  Project CLIMB will cover the participant's overnight accommodations in a shared suite on campus during the on-site orientation. Participants will also be given a stipend to help cover travel costs. The stipend will not be provided until after the onsite orientation.
  
  Participants will be expected to pay a $200 registration fee to attend the onsite orientation. Once accepted into the LIT, you will be provided with information about the travel stipend and the registration process.

  There will be no cost to participate in the 9 month, online community of learning.

• CEUs Available

  Participants can expect to complete 110 hours of training and earn 11 RID CEUs. The onsite AND online components of the program (Parts 1 and 2) must be successfully completed to be awarded CEUs. There is no cost for processing CEUs. No partial CEUs will be awarded.

Questions?

Email us at projectclimb@unco.edu.