Iron Sharpens Iron is an advanced conference geared specifically toward credentialed sign language interpreters who work in legal and judicial settings. Participants must have at least 24 seminar hours of introduction to or fundamentals of legal interpreting training. Interested persons who do not meet the training requirements may be admitted as auditors on a space-available basis.

Auditors are those who do not meet the prerequisites for training and/or credentials. Auditors will receive CEUs, handouts, and pre-readings, but are not allowed to participate in the discussions or ask questions during the presentations, except by submitting questions in writing to a facilitator. The cost of attendance as an auditor is the same as for a qualified registrant.

Registration of auditors is on a space-available basis. Qualified registrants are given priority.

Yes. An auditor must be involved professionally in interpreting, law, or other related fields. Generally, students and non-credentialed interpreters are not registered.

Complete the registration form, checking the "auditor" box, and submit your payment, either by mail or PayPal. Auditor positions are considered in order of date of registration. You will be notified regarding your registration at least one month prior to the conference. If you are not accepted to the conference, your registration fee will be refunded in full.

A copy of your current RID/NAD membership card is sufficient proof of certification. A copy of your RID CEU transcript or copies of certificates of completion is sufficient documentation of training.

CLSLI (now the LASLI Center) was founded by Diane Fowler. As the mission statement sets out, CLSLI, a 501 (c) 3 entity, was founded to "present legal sign language interpreters an opportunity to enhance skills and augment knowledge in the specialized field of legal and judicial interpreting by providing quality training and education in a focused environment conducive to discussion, learning, and mutual mentoring." In pursuit of this mission, we created the triennial Iron Sharpens Iron conference, a unique forum that incorporates distinguished speakers, instructors and leaders from the fields of sign language and spoken language interpreting, linguistics and law. All ISI content is designed for the credentialed and advanced practitioner. The philosophy of ISI is explained in the Proverb from which the title was taken: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverb 27: 17)

It is different from other conferences in nearly all respects. All sessions are in plenary format; there are no breakout sessions. All presenters are personally invited based on their ability to help ISI meet its stated objectives, and the presenters are asked to present new material. Each presentation is structured to allow time for questions and discussions. Iron Sharpens Iron was created and is conducted by legal interpreters, with legal interpreters, and for legal interpreters.

We ask people who the "dream teams" are, calling on their personal experiences as well as their knowledge of the presenters. The responses give us resources for many conferences to come.

Because we didn't feel that interpreters needed more fees to pay. You may apply to be an associate of the LASLI Center; there are requirements but no fees to become an associate.

No board members or officers are salaried. The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws address this.

Yes. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, please send your request in writing to LASLI Center, P.O. Box 2407, Suwanee, GA 30024-0980.

We'd be very glad to have you! Send your contact information in an email or note, telling us specifically what you are interested in doing and your specific strengths in that area.

We can use help in a variety of areas, but we always have a need for experienced and successful grant writers.

Only those RID and NAD certifications listed meet the pre-requisites. However, we're aware that there are state certifications (e.g., Texas) that meet or exceed the requirements of the RID and NAD certifications listed. If you believe your state certification meets the requirements, send us an email, and we'll check it out. You can also apply to have the pre-requisites waived and attend as an auditor.