Webinar Description

When an interpreter is asked to testify about their work product, the party seeking their testimony will seldom be clear about what is expected of them, what questions will be asked, what sort of cross-examination to expect. This presentation will go over the basic requirements to qualify an expert witness under the current Daubert standards as they would apply to an interpreter's work product, which could include a written translation or a transcript and translation of audio or audiovisual material. Attendees will be invited to share their experiences and clarify doubts about this particular aspect of a judiciary interpreter's work.


By the end of this session, attendees will:

  • Recognize the qualifications of an expert witness under the Daubert standards.

  • Evaluate their own qualifications as experts and areas that they need to work on.

  • Identify the direct and cross-examination questions they may be asked as expert witnesses and some of the best strategies to answer them.

Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of expert witness testimony as an interpreter! Register now to gain essential insights, evaluate your qualifications, and learn strategies to navigate direct and cross-examinations with confidence.


**Please note this self-paced course is not currently approved for New Mexico CEUs.

Meet the Instructor

MLS, MA, NCJIT-S, USCCI

Janis Palma

Janis Palma has been a federally certified English-Spanish interpreter since 1981 and has been teaching judiciary interpreters at all levels since 1986. She holds a Master’s in Legal Studies (MLS) from Arizona State University, a Master of Arts (MA) in Puerto Rican and Caribbean History and Literature from the Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y el Caribe, and has recently completed all her coursework towards a PhD in Language Studies. She draws from her self-guided studies as well as formal education in language, literature, and the law, for course contents and publications that she carefully designs to provide her fellow interpreters with new and different topics aimed at furthering their knowledge, skills, and professional expertise.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome to the webinar!

    • Webinar Description
  • 2

    Webinar Replay

    • The Interpreter as Expert Witness: What to Expect When You're Called in to Testify as an Expert

    • Thanks for watching!