OCJ - Certified Session Interpreter

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE
JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: SESSION/PER DIEM COURT INTERPRETER
H O UR L Y RA T E : Certified $46.357/hour; Uncertified $37.827/hour
UN I O N: Chicago News Guild
H O UR S : Sessions assigned as needed
L O CA T I O N: All Circuit Court of Cook County Locations
LANGUAGES: SPANISH, POLISH, UKRAINIAN, RUSSIAN, ARABIC

JOB SUMMARY AND DUTIES:
Under the general direction of the Director, the session court interpreter reports directly to the Supervisor of Interpreter Services. The session court interpreter:

• Interprets proceedings, hearings, interviews and other court-related communicative events held by judges and employees of related court services agencies.
• Sight interprets specified foreign language or English documents as required during a proceeding, hearing, interview or other court-related communicative event.
• Translates from English into a specified foreign language, official forms, letters, documents, public signs, notices, posters, form letters, job applications, correspondence and other court-related documents.
• Maintains accurate and contemporaneous records of interpreting and translating activities, including ongoing case next date and disposition information.
• Such other duties as may be assigned.

The duties listed are not set forth for the purpose of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the duties to be performed under the job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee’s normal line of work.

Job Requirements:

• Ability to read, write, speak, understand and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.
• Knowledge of English and appropriate foreign language phonology, vocabulary, grammar and dialectology.
• Knowledge of English and specified foreign language legal terminology.
• Knowledge of theory, method, techniques, ethics and standards of interpreting and translating.
• Knowledge of the methods, techniques and procedures used in interpreting in the simultaneous and consecutive modes.
• Familiarity with the court system and related agencies.
• Ability to interpret in consecutive and simultaneous modes for proceedings, hearings, interviews and other court-related communicative events.
• Ability to translate forms, letters and other court-related documents from English to specified foreign language and from specified foreign language to English.
• Ability to sight interpret specified foreign language or English documents during a proceeding, hearing interview and other court-related communicative events.
• Ability to maintain clear, concise, accurate, and informative records and reports.
• Availability for session work at and ability to travel to various locations throughout Cook County, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• For the certified hourly rate: Certification by the Illinois Supreme Court or the certifying body of a sister state recognized by the Illinois Supreme Court, as a foreign language court interpreter.

• Strong commitment to Access to Justice for all, particularly court users with limited English proficiency.
• Understanding of and demonstrated adherence to the Interpreters’ Code of Conduct.
• Ability to work cooperatively with diverse coworkers and court users.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and spoken and written second language.
• Two years of experience as a court interpreter preferred.
• High school diploma or CED certificate; college degree preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel to all Circuit Court of Cook County courthouses and court annexed locations; access to personal transportation required.
• Proficiency in the use of a smart phone, Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and internet browser.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an interpreter to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• speak and hear
• stand, walk, sit, and use hands and feet.
• communicate clearly on the telephone and with the public and other staff.
• use a telephone, keyboard, and video display terminal.
• lift and/or move objects up to 15 pounds such as files, stacks of papers, reference materials.
• intermittently twist to reach equipment or supplies
• perform simple grasping and fine manipulation

This position requires a pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check. Applicants are advised that as a Drug Free Workplace, use of medical or recreational marijuana is prohibited and will disqualify a candidate from employment.

BENEFITS: Session interpreters hired after January 1, 2011 are in the Tier 2 Plan with the Cook County Pension Fund: Tier 2 Explanation of Benefits - Tier 2 Benefits | Cook County Pension Fund .

THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

It is the policy of the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants for employment. No person is to be discriminated against in employment because of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.

Revised: January 2026