Understanding Refugee Stories: Lawyers, Interpreters, and Refugee Claims in Canada
Date
2015-05-28
Authors
Acton, Tess
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Abstract
The interpreter is overlooked when considering the refugee claim process in
Canada, even though refugee lawyers most often work with interpreters to understand
their clients. Through qualitative interviews with refugee lawyers, this thesis aims to
better understand how interpreters affect the lawyer-client dynamic. Tension surrounding
the appropriate role of the interpreter, the complexity of communicating through
interpreters, and interpreters’ effects on lawyer-client relationships emerged as themes
and are explored with reference to the existing interpretation studies literature. The author proposes that an updated lawyer-interpreter-client relationships framework is necessary to fully encompass the realities of these complex relationships, and offers suggestions for best practices to ensure lawyers, interpreters, and clients maintain productive relationships.
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Keywords
Law, Refugee Studies, Interpretation Studies, Legal Practice, Lawyer-Client Relationships, Intercultural Communication, Language