Engaged Interpreting
About the Engaged Interpreting Training
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA), in partnership with our collaborators, is building a network of skilled interpreters with a commitment to language justice. This 50-hour introduction to community legal interpreting is open to aspiring and experienced interpreters of all levels. Graduates will receive a certificate of completion and may have opportunities for paid interpreting work with CRLA.
This training does not certify participants for court or healthcare interpreting, though many of our graduates go on to pursue formal certification.
Collaborators
- Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño (CBDIO)
- Centro Profesional Indígena de Asesoría, Defensa y Traducción, A. C. (CEPIADET)
- Instituto de Traductores e Intérpretes en Lenguas Indígenas en el Estado de Guerrero (ITILIG)
- Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)
- Mixteco Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP)
Cost
There is a $300 sliding scale fee for the training. Scholarships are available. Fees and scholarships will be decided later on at the time of registration.
Priority Languages
Amharic, Amuzgo, Arabic, Armenian, Azorean Portuguese, Chatino, Dari, Farsi, Hmong, Japanese, Khmer, K'ich'e, Korean, Mam, Mixteco, Náhuatl, P’urhepecha, Pashto, Punjabi, Q'eqchi', Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Tigrinya, Tlapaneco, Triqui, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Zapoteco
Priority Counties
Colusa, Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Madera, Monterey, Riverside, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tulare, Ventura, Yuba
Dates and Times
The training is 100% remote learning through live classes on Zoom, mandatory practice sessions in language teams, homework, and self-directed study. Active participation in all sessions is required.
The training includes two cohorts that meet separately, one with instruction in English and one with instruction in Spanish.
Cohort A: Instruction in Spanish, August 6 - December 11, 2025
- Classes meet every Wednesday, 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm Pacific Time
- Participants will meet 1 hour per week in language teams on a self-selected schedule
Cohort B: Instruction in English, August 7 - December 11, 2025
- Classes meet every Thursday, 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm Pacific Time
- Participants will meet 1 hour per week in language teams on a self-selected schedule
Before You Apply
Please read the application thoroughly. Before you apply, please note the following requirements:
- Candidates must complete an interview and pass a linguistic proficiency assessment.
- Participants must be part of a team with 2+ members who share the same languages. Teams will be formed after screening; no need to apply as a team.
- Candidates must be available to interpret with CRLA.
- Priority given to applicants who speak priority languages and either a) live in the rural CA areas served by CRLA or b) are associated with one of our five partner organizations.
- Apply by June 15, 2025.
About Language Justice at CRLA
CRLA established the Language Justice Initiative (LJI) in 2019 to build on our legacy of collaboration with linguistically marginalized communities. The LJI advances equity for people who use non-dominant spoken and signed languages. The initiative helps ensure inclusive services for immigrant, Deaf, and Indigenous clients, promotes multilingual outreach and education, and strengthens systemic advocacy for language rights.
