What to Expect out of a Certified Legal Translation Team
Although the legal industry has its foundations in century’s old law and theory, it’s in a constant state of evolution.
When recent lockdown measures forced lawyers to work from home, the industry had to bolster security measures to prevent data breaches from out-of-network computers. These digital tools join other apps and software that automate data collection and connect law firms with clients from around the world.
As your practice broadens its horizons, the likelihood you’ll work with clients who don’t speak your language is on the rise. So too is the chance you’ll encounter evidence, contracts, and other documents that aren’t in the languages you speak.
To remain relevant in an increasingly global world, you’ll need a professional legal translation service specialising in law. Here’s why:
Legal Translation Services Maintain the Highest Standards
Given the complicated nature of legal documents and the strict legal systems you work under, you must partner with a legal translation service. This kind of company has a roster of dedicated translators with legal experience.
Before a legal translator can join the team of a translation service, these professionals must have the following qualifications:
- Native understanding of the source and target languages
- Extensive professional lexicon that includes the relevant technical vocabulary
- Exceptional writing skills and meticulous attention to detail
- Comprehensive knowledge of the legal systems
- Understanding of the current standards and trends in the legal and translation industries
Legal Translators Follow the Letter of the Law
Legal translation can be challenging for a general translator due to the specialisation of language. Legal documents contain technical vocabulary, and they follow their own grammatical rules that your translator must follow carefully.
Any translation work that deviates from these standards can have devastating effects on the law. The wording of contracts is incredibly important, and even minor changes can alter the meaning of an entire statute.
The best legal translation services employ translators that apply this knowledge whenever converting your documents into your target languages. They follow the governing principles of both the source and target legal systems to ensure an accurate translation of the law.
Legal Translation Services Can Certify Their Work
Whether you’re dealing with contracts, statutes, or rulings, the governing body with which you have to file these documents often requires certified translations. Certification ensures you’re getting a competent translator to help you convert text.
This kind of accreditation goes a step beyond most general translation services, as it requires the translator to swear they’ve created a faithful copy of the original by following all the standards of your field.
A translator puts their professional reputation on the line by certifying their work, so they’ll avoid errors at all costs.
Pick a Professional Who’s up to the Job
As your law firm grows, the more foreign language documents and evidence you’ll face will only increase. Don’t send these documents to a general translator. Although they may produce flawless work for simple projects, they don’t have the necessary experience for sensitive legal issues.
Between the regulatory standards of your profession and the significance of word choice in law, there’s a lot on the line when you translate legal documents. Make sure you partner with a qualified professional that understands the subtleties of legal language.
