Spanish Interpreter, Criminal Defense Practice

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) seeks an English-Spanish Bilingual Interpreter.

BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. Our work with clients is focused on the intersection of the legal systems that disproportionately impact people in Brooklyn who are primarily Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) living below the poverty level.

BDS represents thousands of people each year who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted legal needs. In addition to a zealous legal defense, our interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers and advocates provide a wide range of legal and advocacy services, including housing, public benefits, education, and employment issues. BDS is a public defense office where staff work collaboratively and across disciplines to deliver high-quality legal services that serve the people we represent, their families and communities in Brooklyn.

Interpreters are responsible for providing interpreting and translation support to BDS staff in communicating with their clients, family members and friends, as well as witnesses and other parties. The Spanish Interpreter must be fully fluent in the Spanish language, and fully able to accurately interpret and translate all forms of verbal and written communications. 

Responsibilities

• Interpret between BDS staff and clients including:

o Phone calls or videoconferences

o In-person meetings at the office 

o In-person meetings at court 

o In-person meetings at a jail or detention center

• Interpret during witness interviews. 

• Prepare transcriptions of audio and video recordings.  

• Translation of documents, including reports, records, and correspondence.

• Maintain all client confidences and maintain a professional relationship with BDS staff and clients. 

• Ability to remain impartial in all situations, interpreting accurately and completely, without regard to the content of the communication.

• Additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Fluency in Spanish and English, both oral and written.

• Proficiency interpreting in consecutive and simultaneous modes required. 

• At least 2-3 years of professional translation and interpretation experience required. 

• Qualification as a Certified or Licensed Court interpreter for Spanish/English proceedings by an official state judicial authority is a plus. 

• Ability to translate legal terminology or willing to learn.

• Prior interpretation and/or translation work in the legal field preferred. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to compose, edit and proofread correspondence and documents.

• Excellent interpersonal skills including a demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to individuals of all genders and sexual orientations, all cultures and religions represented in Brooklyn, individuals with a history of mental illness and/or lack of stable housing, etc.

• Experience working with marginalized populations and communities is a plus.

• Comfort interpreting highly sensitive content related to underlying criminal, family, civil or immigration cases, including the basis for claims to asylum, substance of criminal allegations, etc. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. 

• Ability to maintain neutrality in conversations that may be emotional or contain difficult or highly sensitive content, including the factual basis for claims to asylum or criminal allegations, etc.

• Ability to work independently and in a team setting. 

• Ability to take responsibility for multiple tasks, prioritize appropriately, and ensure all tasks are completed on time in a fast-paced, high volume professional environment.

• Fluency or proficiency in another language is a plus. 

Position Information

This is a full-time, non-exempt, salaried position in the Collective Bargaining Unit. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. The position is based at BDS’s offices, and the courts located in Downtown Brooklyn. The current schedule for interpreters is working three days per week in the office and two days per week at home, although these policies are subject to change based on the needs of the office. 

BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. For this position, there is a salary range from approximately $51,880- $75,000 based on the applicant’s experience and education. BDS also offers comprehensive benefits including health and dental insurance, short-term disability and life insurance, a 403(b)-retirement plan with employer contribution, pre-tax commuter benefit, pre-tax flexible spending accounts, and above-average vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies.

Application Instructions 

Click HERE to submit a cover letter and resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. 

Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity and maintaining an equitable and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, expressions, orientations, disabilities, and experiences to apply. If you need an accommodation due to a disability or another reason, please contact the Managing Director of Human Resources, Christina Wallace, at cwallace@bds.org.