Honors Program Theses
Award/Availability
Open Access Honors Program Thesis
First Advisor
Kimberly Baker
Abstract
The U.S. legal system is difficult to navigate for anyone who is attempting to use it, but non-English-speaking individuals have a unique set of obstacles to overcome. Communicating and understanding legal jargon and processes can become increasingly strenuous when one does not speak English in a predominantly English system. This study is specifically focused on the barriers that Spanish-speaking clients face and potential ways to change the system in order to make the experiences of non-English speakers more accessible. By interviewing attorneys who work with both English and Spanish speaking clients, we gain insight into their perspective on issues they face with their clients. After analyzing the four attorney interviews, we find that dialectical translations, attorney-client relationships, and technological advances from COVID can affect language barriers that Spanish-speaking clients face.
Year of Submission
2024
Department
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology
University Honors Designation
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the designation University Honors
Date Original
5-2024
Object Description
1 PDF (17 pages)
Copyright
©2024 Emma F. Kizer
Language
en
Recommended Citation
Kizer, Emma F., "Language Barriers in the U.S. Legal System for Primarily Spanish Speakers: Attorney Perspectives and Potential Solutions for True Equal Access" (2024). Honors Program Theses. 931.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/hpt/931
