ASTM and ISO standards in U.S. legal language services

Abstract

In the United States, legal language services are shaped by both de jure and de facto standards, which encompass not only the professional profile of court interpreters but also the provision of legal translation and interpreting services. This article investigates the potential influence of ASTM and ISO standards on current language services implementations in U.S. court settings in light of the current configuration of de jure and de facto standards. Specific emphasis is placed on the utility of consensus-based standards such as ASTM and ISO due to the unique configuration of language services, particularly given procurement and bidding practices, which complicate the current legal T&I landscape. Possible avenues for integration of ASTM and ISO standards are explored in light of infrastructure-specific as well as translator- and interpreter-specific requirements. The article concludes with a discussion of the compatibility of standards with current practices in the U.S. legal T&I sector.