Talk on interpreting at mental health tribunals by lawyer-linguist Sue Leschen.
This session led by lawyer-linguist Sue Leschen, a full member of AIT, Director of Avocate Legal and Business French Services Ltd. Sue has 24 years experience in interpreting at these tribunals which deal with patients who have been detained (sectioned) under the Mental Health Act .
Attendees will learn about the very special skills required of interpreters in these settings and about the emotional, physical and linguistic challenges for interpreters working in this area. The session will focus on legal terminology and procedure and will be useful for both experienced and less experienced colleagues as well as for DPSI Law candidates.In the session we hope to cover:
- The composition of the tribunal panel: chair, lay member and psychiatric expert
- Others present at the hearing: patient, professionals, family, friends
- Role of the tribunal: detention, discharge, supervision
- Role of the interpreter: tribunal hearing, lawyer consultations
- Procedure before, during and after the tribunal
- Mental Health Act: main sections
- Types of Orders made by the Tribunal
- Challenging professional conduct issues for interpreters
- Interpreting for a distressed client with difficult behaviours
- Remote and onsite work opportunities for interpreters in this field.
Certificates of attendance are available upon request only and are subject to an additional charge of £5, payable directly to the AIT account. For further details, please contact [email protected]
For more information on the session and to purchase a ticket, please visit the event website.
Booking closing date: 29 October 2026
Contact: Irina Sanders
Contact email: [email protected]
Additional information: If you have any accessibility needs, please let us know at least 24 hours before the event so we can make the necessary arrangements where possible by emailing the above contact.
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