A client of ours recently used two different interpreters for the same kind of case, months apart. After the second session, he wrote to us: it went so much better than before. Same case type. Same stakes. Different result — because of who was in the room.
That’s the real story with interpreting. It’s not a line item. It’s part of the testimony.
A quality legal interpreter changes the outcome, not just the delivery
A weak interpreter doesn’t just sound worse. They lose accuracy. They lose nuance. They slow the room down, or worse, they change what a witness actually said without meaning to.
A quality legal interpreter does the opposite. They keep pace with the attorney. They carry tone, hesitation, and emphasis — not just words. The record ends up clean, and everyone in the room trusts what they’re hearing.
What this looks like in a deposition or claims interview
Picture a witness recounting a difficult event. If the interpreter fumbles, pauses too long, or delivers fragments instead of full thoughts, the witness tenses up. The record reflects that tension, even if it has nothing to do with the facts.
A skilled interpreter reads the room. They help a witness relax with nothing more than their tone of voice. That’s not a soft skill — it’s what keeps a deposition or claims interview on track.
Why this matters for law firms and claims teams
You don’t get a second deposition. You don’t get to re-interview a witness because the first interpreter didn’t work out. The interpreter you choose is baked into the record, permanently.
That’s why we treat every assignment the same way, whether it’s a Spanish deposition in the Bronx or a witness statement anywhere in the NYC metro area: match the right interpreter to the case, and get it right the first time.
Book a qualified interpreter for your next case
If you have an upcoming deposition, claims interview, or investigation that needs a qualified Spanish interpreter, reach out to Verbatim Interpreting. We’ve covered the NYC metro area since 1998.