The internet these days replaces many functions, particularly those related to services that don’t need the presence of a physical office. Hiring a translator fits into this exactly, as all the paperwork associated with a legal translation can take place online. This doesn’t mean that you know exactly what you are getting when you hire a translator from a portal such as an internet, as the person could be anywhere in the world with little chance of ever coming face to face with clients, either present or future.

Choosing a Legal Translator

The key to accessing the best translator is to firstly choose one who can understand your legal documents and who knows the breadth of a legal translation. Secondly, the translator must have a firm grasp of any legal concepts that need to be translated from the source document into the targeted language.

There are some legal expressions that typically can’t be translated precisely into another language, because the use of certain legal concepts is simply untranslatable.  For example, the term “habeas corpus,” which is used in both the U.K. and the U.S., either isn’t used in other countries or there is no term for it. A second example is the word “consideration” which is commonly in use in contracts related to American Common Law. This is a term that’s virtually untranslatable into other languages without providing a detailed explanation of it.

Legal Translations are Affected by Culture

Legal language used in a country is related to its different cultures and the country’s economic, political and social history, so a legal translator needs to be aware of this before undertaking a legal translation.

Grammar Use May Differ Between Different Languages

It’s not just the translation of legal concepts that is important, but punctuation can change the meaning of a text. The translator needs to be aware of this before taking on a legal translation.

Language Fluency is Essential to a Good Translation

Fluency of the translator in the two languages is of key importance so that the legal language and its terminology can be understood by all parties who are to be recipients of the translated legal document.

In conclusion, the key to getting the best legal translation is finding a translator with lots of experience and an abundance of knowledge of the legal languages to be translated.