When we talk about documents with legal content, having the right words and phrases in place is very important. A small mistake can get a criminal off on a technicality or send an innocent man to prison. When it comes to translating legal material, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that the exact meaning is conveyed into another language.
Legal translation is a specific branch of translation, which deals with the highly specialized terminology of the judicial system and ensures that all meaning is correctly explained in a different language. In this guide we will explain legal translation in more detail, as well as what to expect from the process and how to ensure the best people are hired for the job.
Here are our top ten tips to help you with legal translation:
Know what really needs to be translated
Before you start looking for a translation partner, make sure you know exactly what you need to translate. Within the legal system there are various specialties, such as criminal, immigration, labor or maritime law. Depending on the case, each different branch will require certain documents to be translated. However, it may not be necessary to translate all of your material. Finding out which parts of your content do and don’t need to be translated can help you save time and money.
Know what languages are needed
Once you’ve figured out what you need to translate, you need to clarify which languages are required. Although this sounds simple enough, regional dialects can have a way of complicating things. The laws generally apply to an entire country or territory, but often multiple languages and dialects may be spoken, each with its own idioms and terminology. Understanding these variations is very important. If you have any questions, a good legal translation company will hire specialists with knowledge of the relevant language and branch of law.
working with the best
There are many people who offer legal translation services, but it is important to be completely sure that the person you choose will provide an accurate translation. There is no room for error in legal translation. Before making your final decision, you should thoroughly research the market. The ideal candidate should have experience in the field of legal translation and a good knowledge of the law in the relevant countries. They should also be translating into their native language.
Definition of a glossary
Defining a glossary of terms is an important part of any translation process, but never more than when it comes to legal translation. The law is full of important words and phrases that have a very specific legal meaning. Making sure these are translated correctly is very important. Agreeing on a list of terms before the translation process begins reduces the margin of error, ensuring that the exact meaning of a term is perfectly clear.
Choose a format style
When you pass on all the information about the project to your translation partner, remember to let them know your preferred formatting style. Legal documents are usually presented as a bilingual document, where both the original and translated languages are presented side by side, or as a monolingual document, translated in its entirety into another language but maintaining specifications such as font and formatting. the original
learning about the law
Most countries in the world now have their own court systems, and each will come with their own particular laws and languages. A clear understanding of the relevant legal system is an absolute must for a successful legal translation, and while your translator should handle this, it never hurts to have some local knowledge.
be sure
Your legal document is likely subject to strict privacy guidelines. Try to understand how your documents should be handled. Security is very important when it comes to legal material, and agreeing with your translation provider how content will be stored and transferred before the process begins can really help minimize risk.
Keep in contact
Try to be quite hands-on with the translation project. At the beginning of the process, gather all the reference material you can find to send to the translator. Stay in touch with them throughout the project. Doing so helps ensure that everything runs smoothly and that any issues are resolved quickly. A good translation company should send you a translated sample at the beginning of the project. If they don’t, ask to see a sample and then give them feedback on style and terminology.
Making sure it stays in court
Once the translation is complete, double check the document before signing it. Some legal translations will need to be validated by the translator to be accepted by the court. Although a watermark is normally used, a statement signed by the translator will also suffice. Make sure the document is proofread, if necessary by using reverse translation. This is the process of translating the document, back into the original language, to ensure that the translation is 100% accurate. Good translation companies should include this as part of their service.
Keep up with changes
New amendments to existing laws are continually published. Even the smallest changes can have an impact on large groups of people, and each change in the law may require you to modify your translated legal documents. Staying on top of the latest updates allows you to keep your documents up to date. A good relationship with a legal translation company can be of great help in this regard. They must use off-the-shelf software that allows quick access to translated documents that can then be modified as needed, saving time and cost.
