Equal Access
LEP Resources
The Language Access Toolkit provides tools and resources to improve language access in your court.
Bilingual and/or Translated Court websites
Tools for Providing Services to LEP Litigants
Interpreter and Translator resources
Translated Materials
Informational and instructional materials translated by California superior courts
Bilingual and/or Translated Court websites
| Court | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Cal. Courts | California Courts Self-Help Center |
| Contra Costa | Virtual Self-Help Center |
Effective programs
“Tip of the Day” Radio Program
Developed by the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura.
Spanish Resource Guide to Fresno Superior Court
A Spanish resource guide to the court’s self-help services and jury services published and distributed to 42,000 subscribers inside an issue of Vida en El Valle, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the Fresno area.
Click here for Program Bus Sign in English. Click here for Program Bus Sign in Spanish.
Tools for Providing Services to LEP Litigants
The Language Access Toolkit provides tools and resources to improve language access in your court.
Plain Language Resources including small printable signs in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese that inform people that the court will be closed for the next holiday. It includes separate signs for each of the court holidays.
Tools for Dealing with Cross-cultural communication Issues (prepared for the California Conference on Self-Represented Litigants).
English/Spanish glossary (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Imperial)
Resources for providing services to LEP litigants (prepared for the California Conference on Self-Represented Litigants).
Comparisons between two legal systems (Mexico and U.S.) (prepared by the Superior Court of California, County of Imperial).
Cultural Competence in a Hotline (prepared by Bay Area Legal Aid for the California Conference on Self-Represented Litigants).
Expanding Legal Services: Providing Services to LEP Asians and Pacific Islanders (prepared by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center).
Providing Services to LEP Asian and Pacific Islander Litigants (prepared by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center for the California Conference on Self-Represented Litigants).
Borderland Justice: Working With Culture in Courts Along the US/Mexico Border by John A. Martin, Jose Guillen and Diane Altamirano (March 16, 2007)
Protecting Assets and Child Custody in the Face of Deportation (Rev. 2017). Manual by the Appleseed Network to help families develop plans in advance to deal with critical financial and family issues in the event of deportation, arrest, and other family emergencies.
Multi-lingual glossaries
Legal Glossaries
In 11 languages, developed by the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento.
Supreme Court of Arizona Glossary of Legal Terms
Translating Justice: A Spanish Glossary for New York City. An English-to-Spanish language resource for interpreters and bilingual staff in New York City’s courts, justice agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Prepared by the Vera Institute for Justice.
Interpreter and Translator resources
Court Interpreters Program
Includes a database of Certified and Registered court interpreters.
American Translators Association
Provides information on over 9,500 translators and interpreters.
National LEP Resources
LEP.gov
Clearinghouse for LEP information and tools developed by the Federal government.
Language Assistance Self-Assessment and Planning Tool for Recipients of Federal Financial Assistance
A planning and self-assessment tool to assist in planning efforts to ensure programs have meaningful access for limited English proficient individuals.
Commonly Asked Questions and Answers
Information regarding Executive Order 13166.
“I Speak Cards”
In 38 languages to assist LEP individuals to identify the language they speak.