ISO 20228 Certification

Upholding Accuracy, Ethics, and Confidentiality in Legal Communication

ISO 20228:2019 sets the international standard for legal interpreting services, ensuring interpreters working in judicial, law enforcement, immigration, and other legal contexts deliver reliable, impartial, and secure communication.

Certification to ISO 20228 shows your organization’s or freelance practice’s competence and commitment to justice, privacy, and procedural fairness through professional interpreting.

What Is ISO 20228?

ISO 20228 is the specialized standard for legal interpreting, defining:

• Interpreter competence and qualifications specific to legal systems
• Ethical behavior, including confidentiality and impartiality
• Procedures for interpreter assignment and preparation
• Quality, security, and documentation of interpreted legal proceedings

It is suitable for both in-person and remote interpreting in legal settings such as courts, police stations, immigration hearings, and detention centers.

Benefits of ISO 20228 Certification

• Enhance Legal Accuracy – Ensure interpreters are qualified to operate within legal systems
• Maintain Confidentiality – Comply with strict standards on sensitive legal data
• Strengthen Credibility – Win the confidence of courts, clients, and law firms
• Meet Tender & Contract Requirements – Required or preferred in many public legal projects
• Reduce Risk – Limit liability due to misinterpretation or unqualified interpreters

Who Should Be Certified?

• Legal interpreting agencies
• Freelance legal interpreters
• Court systems and judicial service providers
• Immigration or asylum case interpreting units
• Police departments and investigative services
• Law firms managing multilingual legal support

Requirements for Certification

To comply with ISO 20228, your interpreting services must include:

• Qualified legal interpreters with documented credentials
• Clear codes of ethics, impartiality, and confidentiality
• Defined procedures for assignment, role clarification, and conflict of interest
• Proper training and preparation for specific legal contexts
• Evidence of recordkeeping, client communication, and quality review

he USQC 3-Step Certification Process

Gap Analysis & Planning
We assess your current operations and identify areas for alignment with ISO 20228.

Implementation Support
Our experts help you formalize documentation, policies, and interpreter qualification tracking.

Audit & Certification
We conduct a formal audit to confirm compliance. Upon successful review, you'll receive your ISO 20228 certificate—valid globally.

Onsite and remote audits available.

Why Choose USQC for ISO 20228 Certification?

• Industry-leading experience in interpreting standards (ISO 18841, ISO 21998)
• Hands-on support tailored for legal interpreting workflows
• Audit team familiar with multilingual legal service operations
• Flexible options for agencies, courts, and independent professionals
• Option to bundle with ISO 17100, ISO 18587, or ISO 9001