Lawyers Must Address Language Barriers With Clients, ABA Says

Oct. 6, 2021, 3:01 PM UTC

Lawyers must make every effort to effectively communicate with clients with limited English proficiency or who have a hearing or speech impairment, the American Bar Association said.

“Lawyers must communicate with clients in a manner that is reasonably understandable to those clients,” an ABA ethics committee opinion said Oct. 6.

Providing competent legal services may mean that an attorney would need to hire outside help to ensure effective communication.

Communication challenges is an issue more lawyers face due to changing population demographics, the opinion said.

Clients must make informed decisions so lawyers must determine whether an interpreter or technology assistance ...

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