At ICLS, we know that the accessibility of legal aid is essential for people to maintain housing, health care, financial stability, and so much more. Legal aid is a lifeline for people living in poverty.
To that end, ICLS is proud to announce the launch of our new Spanish language website, designed to make legal information and resources more accessible to Spanish-speaking communities. By breaking down barriers for non-English speakers, we create a more just, effective, and compassionate society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
While ICLS has always strived to meet the needs to Spanish-speaking residents, our website did not reflect the in-depth assistance our Spanish-speaking staff provide on the ground every day.
Our website previously used a Google Translate website plugin that had translation errors, and when we saw how few residents were using that feature, we knew we had to make a change. Legal jargon can be confusing when translated directly, and the legal issues we help address are too serious to leave anything up to question.
With this new site, users will find accurate information edited and translated by our staff, will be able to find translated pages more easily via search engines like Google, and will ultimately be able to more easily access vital information and resources to deal with their civil legal issues.
“This is the culmination of more than a year-long effort,” Communications Manager Margaret Austin said. “We went through an extensive search for the right solutions for our Spanish language website issues, and the result will serve Spanish-speaking residents for years to come.”
When website users switch the language bar from English to Spanish, they will be taken to a mirror site that’s all in Spanish. The navigation and the content is the same as our English site, but the user experience will be greatly enhanced for those who don’t speak English or prefer Spanish when reading about complex topics.
We have integrated Spanish-speaking staff’s and interpreters’ reviews into our new site which offers comprehensive information about our legal aid services, resources, and support in Spanish.
“We couldn’t be more excited for folks to start using this website, and we can’t wait to see the impact it has on our Spanish-speaking neighbors in need of legal assistance,” Austin said.