Los Angeles runs on more than a hundred languages, and on any given day someone here needs them to line up perfectly: a witness on the stand, a deposition that has to hold up on the record, a conference stage, a hospital exam, a live broadcast going out to millions. The interpreter in the room is the difference between a message that lands and one that gets lost.
We run an interpreting practice ourselves, so take this for what it is, a roundup from people who do this work. We have still tried to make it genuinely useful. Below is an honest look at the interpreting companies serving Los Angeles, what each one is known for, and the standards worth holding any of them to before you book.
How we judged them
Not every interpreting job is the same, and not every provider is built for every setting. These are the things that actually matter when the stakes are real:
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Certification where it counts. Court and medical settings have real credentials behind them. A provider should know the difference and staff accordingly.
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A vetted roster, not a directory. Anyone can forward a name. The question is whether someone has actually met and worked with the interpreter before they walk into your room.
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Range of settings. A deposition, a conference booth, and a red carpet each demand a different skill set. The best providers staff them differently on purpose.
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Languages and dialects. Los Angeles is deep in Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Armenian, Farsi, Tagalog, and dozens more. Coverage has to be real, not a list on a website.
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Discretion. Legal and entertainment work means confidentiality is the baseline, not a feature.
1. Strommen
We will be upfront that this is our list. We will also stand behind where we put ourselves, and tell you why.
Strommen has staffed interpreters in Los Angeles since 2006, from a roster the founder has vetted personally rather than a marketplace of profiles. That means court-certified interpreters for hearings and trials and depositions, booth teams for conferences, and interpreters who are genuinely camera-ready for broadcast and on-camera work, from red carpets to live fight nights. We also staff medical and simultaneous assignments across 40-plus languages.
The boutique model is the whole point. Because the network is curated instead of infinite, we can match a deposition witness from Guadalajara, a corporate delegation from Madrid, and a broadcaster from Buenos Aires to three different Spanish interpreters who each sound right for the room. You can start at the interpreting hub or go straight to your language, from Spanish and Mandarin to Armenian and Farsi.
2. Chang-Castillo and Associates
Interpreter-owned since 2001, CCA fields AIIC-level conference interpreters and works high-end legal and diplomatic assignments. A strong choice for elite simultaneous work. Visit site.
3. Kaplan Interpreting
A large agency with court-certified interpreters for depositions, trials, and hearings, plus conference work for corporate events. Built for volume across many languages. Visit site.
4. American Language Services
A long-running provider handling simultaneous and consecutive interpretation for courtrooms, corporate events, focus groups, and tours. Broad availability nationwide. Visit site.
5. Interprenet
Known for conferences and conventions, with simultaneous interpretation and live captioning, often working alongside event planners and AV teams. Visit site.
6. Global Language Solutions
A full-service language company offering on-site, over-the-phone, and video remote interpreting for legal, medical, and corporate clients. Visit site.
7. Capital Linguists
Focused on conferences, trade shows, and meetings, with interpreting and AV equipment available as part of the package. Visit site.
8. Cal Interpreting and Translations
Registered and certified interpreters serving Los Angeles and nationwide across legal, medical, and community settings. Visit site.
9. LA Translation and Interpretation
A Koreatown-based firm operating since 2003, with court and medical interpreters and an interpreter training school of its own. Visit site.
10. Elite TransLingo
Offers simultaneous conference interpretation with certified interpreters, alongside a broad certified-translation business. Visit site.
So which one should you call?
If you need raw scale across hundreds of languages on short notice, the big agencies are built for that. If you want an interpreter who has been personally vetted, who fits the exact setting, and who treats your courtroom or your camera with the same care you do, that is the boutique case, and it is the one we built Strommen around.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between a certified and a non-certified interpreter? In California, court interpreters pass a state certification exam to work in legal settings, and medical interpreters hold their own credentials. For a hearing, deposition, or clinical setting, certification is not optional. For a business meeting or conference, experience and subject fluency matter more than a specific certificate.
How much do interpreting services cost in Los Angeles? It depends on the setting, the language, the number of hours, and whether the work is simultaneous (which often needs a team of two). Most providers, including us, quote per project rather than posting a flat rate.
What is the difference between simultaneous and consecutive interpreting? Simultaneous happens in real time, usually from a booth with headsets, and is standard for conferences and broadcasts. Consecutive happens in turns, with the interpreter speaking after each segment, and is common in depositions and medical exams.
Can interpreters travel or work remotely? Yes. Many assignments are on-site in Los Angeles, but interpreters travel nationally and worldwide, and remote interpreting over video or phone is widely available for shorter or distributed jobs.
Need an interpreter in Los Angeles?
Tell us the date, language, and setting, and we will match you from our vetted roster, usually the same business day. Get in touch here, or start at our interpreting services hub.
