Not all legal translations are the same, so there are various things you need to consider before going through the legal translation process.

Consider the document type

Before choosing a legal translator for a job you will need to know the following information about the legal translation project.

• What type of document it is.
• The purpose of the translation.
• Where the document translation will be used.
• Whether the legal document is a legally-binding contract.

Resolve issues of the source file

When a client sends the source file for translation it could come in a variety of forms such as a hard copy or a scanned PDF. These sorts of documents make it difficult to use some of the modern translation tools like translation memories so the source document should be converted into a usable file type. You can scan it using OCR technology which will make it electronic so that it is searchable, and translatable when using those translation tools.

Looking for translator expertise

You can’t just use any translator for complex legal documents but you must try to source the best available on the market. That may be more expensive but they will get the job done accurately and probably faster than a less experienced translator who may still be grappling with legal terminology. If the legal translation falls into one of these categories that require even more specialised knowledge you will have to look even further to find the best translator. This includes legal documents related to intellectual property, real estate, taxation, private equity, insurance, and litigation. These documents can’t afford a poor translation.

Controlling the style

Glossaries and style guides are essential for any type of legal translation. These ensure that the translation is clear, correct, and consistent in relation to a specific business’s requirements. It’s sometimes important to keep some words in the source language which could be part of a business’s brand description.

Check the location for the legal translation

Not all laws and legal language are necessarily the same where a language is spoken so, for example, Spanish is a language which is spoken in 26 countries but the laws in these countries may be different. The translators chosen for a project must have knowledge of legal language and the legal environment where the legal translation will end up being used.

In summary, choose your legal translator carefully so that you get the best possible legal translation.