𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦: 4 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴🕒
In a multilingual society, providing access to information is often a legal requirement, as well as a courtesy.
From courtrooms to clinics, there are clear situations in which UK organisations must provide interpreting services to ensure fairness, safety and compliance with the law.
In this blog, we outline when interpreting is legally required in the UK, what the rules say, and how Wolfestone helps organisations meet their obligations with qualified interpreters.
1. Interpreting in UK courts and tribunals
If someone cannot understand English well enough to follow legal proceedings, they are entitled to a legal interpreter. This applies to both criminal and civil courts, including family courts and immigration tribunals.
According to official court and tribunal guidance on GOV.UK, the justice system must provide interpreting services to ensure equal access.
Courts may give free access to an interpreter:
- If you’re D/deaf or hard of hearing
- If you want to speak Welsh
- If you do not understand English
- If your case involves committal or possession of property or land
- And other reasons.
2. Immigration and asylum interviews
During asylum or immigration interviews, interpreting is not optional.
If an applicant does not speak English fluently, the Home Office is required to provide a qualified interpreter for both screening and substantive interviews.
As confirmed by the Home Office Code of Practice, the interpreter must be independent, experienced and impartial.
This applies to:
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Asylum case interviews
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Visa refusal appeals
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Detention centre interviews
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UKVI document explanations
3. Medical appointments and NHS services
Medical interpreting is a legal and ethical requirement.
The GMC’s ethical guidance and the NHS England framework make it clear that: "healthcare providers must take all the reasonable steps to communicate effectively with patient, including through the use of qualified interpreters."
This includes GP appointments, hospital admissions, informed consent processes and safeguarding conversations.
Using family members or unqualified staff to interpret is not considered acceptable in most clinical scenarios.
4. Local government and public services
Under the Equality Act 2010, public bodies such as councils, schools, housing services and welfare offices are required to make reasonable adjustments for service users with language barriers.
This includes providing Government-specialised interpreting and translation where needed — especially where access to essential services would otherwise be denied.
As stated in Lambeth Council’s official language policy: "Services must be delivered in a way that ensures people who do not speak English fluently are not disadvantaged."
This applies across the UK.
Councils and local authorities must demonstrate language accessibility as part of their equality and inclusion duties.
5. Sign language interpreting and disability access
For D/deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, interpreting is often required under the Equality Act.
According to the government’s quick guide for service providers, providing a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter is considered a reasonable adjustment.
And while the British Sign Language Act 2022 gives official recognition to BSL across England, Scotland and Wales, it also signals increasing expectations for accessibility in public services.
What happens if you don’t provide an Interpreter?
Failing to provide interpreting in legally required situations can lead to serious consequences, including:
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Breaches of the Equality Act
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Dismissal or delay of legal proceedings
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Medical negligence claims
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Poor safeguarding outcomes
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Reputational and regulatory risk
In short, interpreting is an essential service that protects rights, safety and due process.
Can you use a family member or bilingual colleague instead?
In some cases, it's possible.
But in most legal, public service or professional settings, no.
Professional interpreting is recommended (and sometimes mandatory) to ensure accuracy, neutrality and confidentiality.
At Wolfestone, we provide qualified interpreters for:
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In-person or remote court hearings
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Police and solicitor conferences
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Asylum and UKVI interviews
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NHS appointments and hospital settings
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Local authority support, including safeguarding and housing
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Education, tribunals, and sign language needs
Our interpreters are vetted, experienced and aligned with public-sector standards. We also offer 24/7 availability and urgent cover options when required.
Need help meeting your interpreting obligations?
If you work in healthcare, the legal system or the public sector, we can support you with compliant, reliable interpreting services across all formats.
Contact us today for a free interpreting quote.
𝘒𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 2021 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘨𝘰 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴.
