What is your best project so far? Why?
Although my experience is diverse, my favorite projets were pro bono projects for clients seeking political asylum and victims of domestic violence.This work necessitated compassion and social work skills in addition to French and Spanish language interpreting and translating. Examples of work for pro bono clients include 1) acting as interpreter for meetings. conference calls and mock trials; 2) appearing in court with clients and attorneys to interpret and act as check interpreter; 3) Initiating calls to clients, experts and witnesses to obtain information and provide updates; 4) writing to clients and witnesses, including expert witnesses; and 5) translating article from Réalités from French to English on behalf of asylum client.

What do your students / customers say about you?
Stacy:I highly recommend Sandra Hellestrae as a linguistic professional. Sandra was immensely helpful in assisting a Spanish-speaking client. She volunteered to act as translator for a pro bono matter in which I represented a woman who was seeking visas & employment authorization for herself and her daughter in the U.S. through the Violence Against Women Act. Sandra worked with attorneys who represented this client for over 2 yearsi n meetings with the client during which she had to recount her traumatic ordeal. Sandra was sensitive to the client's emotional state of mind as she related her history and helped us to establish a rapport with her. Sandra subsequently acted as a liaison by providing translations of documents and status updates