Prism Linguistics provides certified translation and professional interpreting in Chicago, IL. We cover 326 languages, send interpreters to appointments across the metro area, and deliver USCIS-compliant certified translations digitally, usually within 24 to 48 hours for short documents.
Last reviewed August 24, 2026 by the Prism Linguistics editorial team
Chicago is the seat of Cook County, and Illinois runs one unified trial court, so there is no separate municipal court. The Circuit Court of Cook County hears felonies in its Criminal Division and larger civil suits in its Law Division, while its Municipal Department, First District, covering the city, takes misdemeanors, traffic offences, evictions, small claims and felony preliminary hearings. Our only office is in New York; a linguist near Chicago covers in-person work. The most common languages among Chicago Public Schools families are Spanish, Polish, Arabic and Chinese, and the district also publishes in Tagalog, Ukrainian, Urdu and Vietnamese. Beyond that list the city holds one of the world's largest Assyrian communities, speaking Neo-Aramaic, and a Rohingya community with its own culture center. Illinois courts have been documented falling short on Q'anjob'al interpreters, with Mam and K'iche' also in demand and thousands of Mayan speakers living downstate. Rare languages like these are why courts approach Prism.
We work with law firms, hospitals and clinics, school districts, government agencies, and private individuals in and around Chicago. Some clients need a single birth certificate translated for an immigration filing. Others book interpreters every week for patient appointments or client meetings. Both are routine for us.
Translation is handled remotely, which means nothing about the process depends on your postal address. You send a scan or a clear photo, we return the finished certified translation by email as a PDF. Interpreting is the part that is genuinely local: an interpreter travels to your location in Chicago, or joins by phone or video when that suits the appointment better.
Word-for-word translations with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy, prepared to meet USCIS requirements. Certified translation
Contracts, medical records, academic transcripts, corporate and personal documents. Document translation
Evidence, judgments, discovery and filings for firms working in IL courts. Legal translation
Patient materials, consent forms and records for providers across Chicago. Medical translation
Reach the multilingual audience in your area with translated web and print material. Website translation
Interviews, depositions, training video and captioned content. Transcription
Interpreting is where being in Chicago actually matters, so it is worth choosing the right format for the appointment. A hospital consultation and a quick insurance call have very different needs.
| Format | Best for | Typical notice |
|---|---|---|
| On-site | Court hearings, medical appointments, depositions, school meetings | 2 to 3 business days |
| Telephone | Short calls, intake, customer service, urgent situations | Same day, often minutes |
| Video (VRI) | Telehealth, remote hearings, sign language | Same day to 24 hours |
| Conference | Events and multilingual meetings in Chicago | 2 weeks preferred |
Ask any agency what qualification the setting requires. Court work in IL may call for a state-certified court interpreter; medical settings often look for CCHI or NBCMI credentials; ASL work involves RID certification. Our interpreters are professionally qualified and background-checked, and we assign someone certified where the setting calls for it. If you tell us the venue when you book, we match accordingly.
All 326 languages are available here. These are the ones clients request most often:
Each language below has its own Chicago page for document translation and a separate one for booking an interpreter:
Need another language here? Browse all languages we cover or every city we cover.
As a guide for the US market, certified translation starts from about $24.95 per page and on-site interpreting typically runs $45 to $95 per hour, usually with a two-hour minimum. Rates vary by language, subject matter and how quickly you need it. Your written quote confirms the exact price before you commit. See full pricing guidance.
Our office is in New York and our interpreters travel to appointments across Chicago, IL and the surrounding area. Translation work is handled digitally, so you can send documents and receive certified translations from anywhere without visiting an office.
For common languages we can usually cover an on-site booking in Chicago with two to three business days notice, and often sooner. Rare languages need more lead time. Telephone interpreting is available the same day, frequently within minutes.
Certified translation typically starts from around 24.95 dollars per page and on-site interpreting generally runs 45 to 95 dollars per hour in the US market, usually with a two-hour minimum. These are guide figures; your written quote confirms the exact price before you commit.
Our certified translations are prepared to meet USCIS requirements: a complete word-for-word translation with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy. They are commonly accepted by USCIS, courts and universities, though acceptance ultimately depends on the receiving institution.
All 326 languages we work in are available in Chicago. Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Russian and Haitian Creole are the most requested, but we also source linguists for rare and indigenous languages on request.
Tell us what you need translated or when you need an interpreter, and we will come back with a firm price and turnaround.