As the name suggests – legal translation deals with texts within the realm of the law. Legal matters vary from country to country, so only professional translators who specialise in the legal field should work on these documents. The translated work should be exact, as a single mistranslation could result in serious consequences including financial losses or lawsuits.

It is not just documents that require legal translation though – interpreters in a court-room could also be required in some cases.

What do legal translation services cover?

Legal translation services can cover many different areas including contracts and agreements, immigration documents, witnesses statements, court orders, wills, trusts, depositions, patents, litigation documents, articles of incorporation, and property labels, for example.

It is not just documents that require legal translation though – the attendance of an interpreter in a court-room for example could also be required in some cases.

What skills does a legal translator need?

Legal translation is a highly specialised field, and cannot be carried out by a translator who does not have expertise in this industry. A legal translator requires several skills, such as:

Full mastery of both the source and target languages

In-depth knowledge of the legal systems across the two different countries

A firm understanding of the sub-areas of the relevant and specific laws

Qualifications and training in the study of translation

Knowledgeable of technical documents

It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to legal language – each area of the law requires different terminology.

Learning the legal language

It could be said that ‘legal speak’ is a whole language of its own. Like science and religion, legal language requires coherence, precision, and a respect for tradition.

It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to legal language though – each area of the law requires different terminology and delivery. For example, the language used in legal documents such as regulations, wills, insurance policies, deeds, cases and contracts will all be different. The language used in a courtroom is also very specialist, as it involves the courtesies reserved for court officials, counsels and judges.

Legal translation services are required by a range of different industries, ranging media to manufacturing.

The translator must be aware of the cultural, social and linguistic equivalence of both languages. As well as conforming to the specific legal language, the translator must always keep in mind that every phrase, hidden meaning and nuance should be kept as accurate as possible.

Legal specialisations

Legal translation services are required by a range of different industries, ranging from technology and media to finance, life sciences and manufacturing. It is also important to consider that all law firms have different practice areas such as banking, dispute resolution, employment and benefits, insurance, intellectual property, private equity, real estate and litigation.

Legal systems, rights and regulations will differ across countries and cultures, so it is very important the translator has a thorough understanding of the legal system in each respective country.

Legal translation is one of the toughest nuts to crack, but working with a professional and reputable language service provider will assure your translations are accurate, timely and secure.