Interpreter (English–Dari/Pashto) - Volunteer

Volunteer interpreters needed for English–Dari and/or English–Pashto to support pro bono lawyers interviewing displaced Afghan judges, prosecutors and lawyers seeking safety. Sensitive, trauma-aware work that's essential to the legal casework underpinning their applications. What difference will you make? Every case JSI supports rests on our pro bono lawyers being able to understand, accurately and in full, what the person in front of them is telling them, often under real time pressure, and often about experiences of persecution and loss. Without skilled interpreters, that simply isn't possible for the Dari- and Pashto-speaking judges, prosecutors, and lawyers we work with. A volunteer interpreter directly enables our legal casework it means testimony is captured accurately, legal applications are built on a true and complete picture, and clients can communicate their situation with dignity rather than through guesswork or informal help. In practical terms, your work will help determine whether an at-risk legal professional's application for safety succeeds; this is one of the most direct ways a volunteer can contribute to protecting someone whose life is at risk because of their commitment to the rule of law. What are we looking for? Fluency in English and Dari and/or English and Pashto is essential, along with at least three years' professional interpreting or translation experience — this isn't casual bilingual conversation, it needs to hold up as part of a legal process. Experience in legal, community, or public-sector interpreting is especially valued, though we don't require formal legal interpreting qualifications. Beyond language skill, the most important quality is composure our clients may be recounting traumatic experiences of persecution and loss, so we need someone who can interpret sensitive, sometimes distressing testimony accurately and neutrally, without adding, softening, or editorialising. Reliability and flexibility matter too, since cases can be time-sensitive and requests may come at short notice. Above all, absolute discretion and confidentiality are essential given what clients are sharing. Remote What will you be doing? Justice Support International (JSI) supports displaced Afghan judges, prosecutors, and lawyers seeking safety, working alongside a pro bono network of over 200 volunteer lawyers from six international law firms. Many of the people we support communicate primarily in Dari or Pashto, and accurate, sensitive interpretation is essential to the casework our pro bono lawyers carry out — including intake interviews, witness statements, and case-related conversations that inform legal applications. We're looking for volunteer interpreters/translators to work alongside our pro bono legal volunteers, joining interviews (remote) to interpret consecutively between English and Dari and/or English and Pashto, and occasionally translating written statements or supporting documents. Given the subject matter, this is sensitive, trauma-aware work, so discretion, professionalism, and care are essential throughout. We're looking for fluent English–Dari and/or English–Pashto speakers with at least three years' relevant professional interpreting or translation experience. Legal, community, or public-sector interpreting experience is especially welcome, though formal legal interpreting qualifications aren't required. You'll need to be comfortable interpreting sensitive, sometimes distressing testimony with neutrality and care, and able to work flexibly alongside busy law firm volunteers, often at short notice. Fully remote, ad hoc commitment based on casework as it arises, you're free to accept or decline each time based on your availability.