Interpreters, translators and legal practitioners: a perspective of working together for refugee and asylum-seeking clients in Australia

Abstract

At this moment in the twenty-first century, displaced human beings are increasingly seeking refuge in safe-haven foreign countries. For lawyers assisting refugee clients, communication is a fundamental issue. Frequently the lawyer and refugee client do not share a common verbal language. Consequently, lawyers rely heavily upon the specific expertise of interpreters and translators to ascertain essential information from the client. Administrative decisions by government bodies and courts in Australia demonstrate that a team approach by lawyers, interpreters and translators is required for the optimum preparation of a refugee client's case.