Legal translation is very different from nearly any other type of translation. Dealing with something that can affect lives and businesses, legal translation doesn’t tolerate mistakes and, at times, there are deadlines that are immovable.
Business Insider in 2017 reported that a British Court unfortunately had to rely on Google Translate to communicate with a defendant as they did not speak English and had no interpreting in place. It is becoming more common that court cases are delayed because of language challenges facing courts and law firms.
So what is legal translation?
Translation is the written word, with interpreting being the verbal translation.
When it comes to translating legal content and documents, perfection is a must.
A single translation mistake can question the integrity, accuracy and authenticity of your documentation.
In an increasingly globalised world, the demand for legal translation is growing rapidly. Documents used for legal purposes are usually required to be submitted in the official language of the country, which means without legal translation, we’d certainly be in a spot of bother. And, they require a form of certification for submission.
A word, phrase or concept that exists in one language may not have a direct equivalent in another tongue, so conveying meaning can often become very challenging. This requires a strong understanding of relevant legal sub-areas — sometimes of specific laws. Speed is often crucial for legal translation, which means that these people need to be qualified, trained and efficient in the art of translation as a profession.
Mistranslation can also be costly in the judicial realm. Crimes are often interpreted differently across borders and a poor translation can cause a completely different judgment. This risks not only confusion and reputational damage, but also legal exposure and lawsuit, with huge ramifications for those involved.
When it comes to the translation of content for the legal sector, we’re tried, tested and trusted by nearly 1,400 law firms, solicitors and legal counsels.
Being well placed to offer professional human translation and offer guidance on e-discovery and machine translation you know that your case and legal content is in safe hands.
We understand that confidentiality is key to many clients, particularly when it comes to legal. Discretion is very important, offering non-disclosure agreements if required. Needless to say, we provide the relevant industry accreditations and a full commitment to privacy and sensitivity of your documents. The quality of the source documents is key to translation, the translator needs to have clear content to provide that accuracy required.
Once you’re ready to get your papers translated or book your court interpreter call me to discuss your exact requirements. We know from our experience what it takes to complete and deliver your case documents.
If you would like to know more about our human translations versus machine translation call me and let’s book time to discuss what you need and which solution is best for each task.
Jackie Benn. Senior Business Development Manager (Legal). I’ve been building long-lasting relationships in the legal sector for 12 years. A key part of my remit is to deliver solutions that support the variable needs of independent law firms and the in-house legal departments of insurance and investment companies, and technology, consumer retail and manufacturing firms.
