If you’re involved in any sort of legal proceeding, from immigration concerns to starting a business to creating an estate plan, you need to work with someone who can speak your language. They need to be fluent. You need to know that there is no language barrier at all and that you and your legal team are always on the same page.
The problems with language errors
You face a lot of potential problems if your lawyer isn’t fluent in your language. Yes, you can use a translator, but this just adds another layer and another cost. The odds of a miscommunication go up. That’s especially problematic if the legal process involves defining and upholding your rights. You need to understand what those rights are and your legal team needs to understand how to protect them.
Think of it this way: Studies have found that families with “limited comfort with English” who have children in the hospital have double the odds of seeing serious medical errors and mistakes. These mistakes, which can lead to life-long injuries and even fatalities, are twice as common just because of the language both sides speak. The doctor can be a world-class physician in all other regards and make an error because they just did not understand what the patient was trying to communicate to them.
The same thing happens in law. If your lawyer believes they understand your goals and acts on your behalf, it’s critical that they actually do understand your goals. If they don’t, they could be actively working toward an outcome that you do not want, all while accidentally ignoring the outcome you were hoping for. Once again, you could have a world-class lawyer who can’t help you simply because they do not know what you’re telling them and what type of assistance you really need.
We are a different type of firm
Here at The Law Offices of Marjory Cajoux, we’re a different type of firm. We are multi-lingual and fully fluent in Spanish, French and Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen). We’re here for you, and we offer a type of service you literally cannot get from most other firms.