Legal Spanish in Business, Criminal, and Immigration Law (Presented by the Federal Bar Association Professional Development Committee)

Dr. Björn Arp, Assistant Director | Center on International Commercial Arbitration at the American University Washington College of Law

Dr. Björn Arp is the Assistant Director of the Center on International Commercial Arbitration at the American University Washington College of Law, where he teaches international investment law and international commercial arbitration. Dr. Arp is an attorney admitted in the State of New York. Björn Arp acts as counsel on a wide range of matters of international law, with a focus on practically all Latin American countries. He is on the arbitrator rosters of FINRA (Financial Institutions National Regulatory Agency) in the United States and the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA) in Japan.

Björn Arp has a Law Degree from the University of Alicante in Spain, a Doctorate in International Law from the University of Alcalá in Madrid, and a LL.M. in International Legal Studies from the American University Washington College of Law. He is a member of the American Society of International Law.

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El Dr. Björn Arp es profesor y Director Adjunto del Centro de Arbitraje Comercial Internacional de la Facultad de Derecho de la American University en Washington, D.C., donde enseña derecho internacional de inversiones y arbitraje comercial internacional. El Dr. Arp es abogado por el Estado de Nueva York. Björn Arp actúa como consejero en una amplia gama de asuntos de Derecho internacional con especial experiencia en los países de América Latina. En calidad de árbitro, él forma parte de las listas de árbitros de FINRA (Financial Institutions National Regulatory Agency) en los Estados Unidos y de la Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA) en Japón.

Björn Arp es Licenciado en Derecho por la Universidad de Alicante en España, Doctor en Derecho Internacional por la Universidad de Alcalá en Madrid, y tiene un LL.M. en Estudios Jurídicos Internacionales de la Facultad de Derecho de la American University en Washington, D.C. Es miembro de la Sociedad Americana de Derecho Internacional.

Pablo Perez Salido, Attorney | District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Attorney Pablo Perez Salido is a dual-licensed attorney in his home-country of Spain and the United States both in the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He is based out of Washington, D.C. and focuses his practice on business and family immigration law. In his practice, he represents clients from a broad range of industries and backgrounds in achieving legal status in the United States to establish, develop, and nurture their business and entrepreneurial projects. Attorney Perez Salido also represents individuals in both administrative proceedings with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency and in removal proceedings at the Executive Office for Immigration Review. He is fluent in English, Spanish and French.

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El abogado Pablo Perez Salido es un abogado licenciado en su país de origen España y los estados Unidos en el distrito de Columbia y Pennsylvania. Está basado en el área de Washington, D.C. y focaliza su practica en las áreas de derecho de inmigración de los negocios y de familias. En su práctica, representa a una gama amplia de industrias y origines en la consecución de estatus legal en los Estados Unidos para establecer, desarrollar, y mejorar sus negocios y proyectos de emprendedores. El abogado Perez Salido también representa a individuos en procesos administrativos con la agencia de inmigración USCIS y frente a procesos de deportación con el sistema de cortes de Estados Unidos EOIR. Habla fluido en español, inglés y francés.

I. Importance of Spanish in the Legal Field (demographics, client base, etc.) in the United States | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

II. Key Factors in an Effective Client Interaction and Communication | 2:10pm – 2:20pm 

• Greeting and Introducing Yourself to Spanish-Speaking Clients
• Asking Basic Questions and Gathering Information (e.g., name, address, contact information)
• Explaining Legal Processes in Simple Spanish
• Understanding and Responding to Common Client Inquiries
• Cultural Competency Considerations: Understanding Cultural Nuances in Communication
• A Practical Look in the fields of Business, Criminal, and Immigration Law

III. Legal Documents and Forms | 2:20pm – 2:30pm

• Understanding Basic Legal Document Structure in Spanish
• Identifying Key Sections of Common Legal Documents (e.g., contracts, affidavits)
• Translating and Interpreting Basic Legal Phrases and Sentences
• Practice: Reviewing and Analyzing Sample Legal Documents
• Common errors in legal translations

IV. Courtroom Communication | 2:30pm – 2:50pm

• Understanding Courtroom Protocol and Procedures in Spanish
• Common Phrases and Questions Used in Court
• Working with Interpreters: Best Practices
• Practice: Simulated Courtroom Scenarios (e.g., taking an oath, questioning a witness)
• Ethical considerations related to language barriers

V. Q&A | 2:50pm – 3:00pm