Taking a Closer Look at Legal Translation

Foreign language translation is not always as simple as it may seem; it takes a lot more than just referring to a dictionary and replicating the text in a different language. There are many different kinds of legal documents that come into play in transactions involving business contracts, sale or purchase of property, lending or borrowing, or even renting a home, not to speak of disputes and litigation.

Translations of legal documents require more expertise than other forms of text, as there is almost always a financial implication to it. There are no established conventions that define exactly how a legal document should be translated. Some people feel that the original context of the text must be preserved, even if at the cost of clarity and style. Others think it preferable to retain the style and format of the source language. What ever it be, a good rule of thumb would be to ensure that documents are translated in a way that there is no trace of ambiguity left in the minds of all concerned, as to the import of the missive.

Web based translations

Web based translations which can be had for free at the click of the mouse, are quite unreliable. The results thrown up are often a garbled mess of words which don't convey any meaning, and may sometimes result in misinterpretation of critical sentences or paragraphs of the document leading to problems in enforcing the contract at a later date.

Pricing

For a law firm or legal department in need of translation services, cheapest is definitely not the best. You may be able to hire a translator for as low as $0.01 per word. However, a poorly rendered translation can cost your business time, money and above all, your reputation.

If your service provider assures you that he holds a translation certificate, or if he has studied Italian through four years of college, it doesn't follow that he/she will do an effective job of translation. To do justice to the project, a translator must have sound knowledge of both source and target languages, and be able to find the exact equivalents and generally reproduce the sense of the original text.

A well qualified translator may charge anywhere between $0.10 to $0.25 per word, but paying a few hundred dollars for a good service may eventually save the organization thousands of dollars in costs that can arise as a result of faulty or careless work. International evidence taking, international service of process, cataloging and research of foreign legal texts, are some of the capabilities that are desirable for translators engaged in cases of high sensitivity and financial implications.

Finding a qualified service provider

The importance of hiring a qualified and capable service provider to translate important financial or legal documents can hardly be overestimated. Poorly translated documents or faulty interpretation can radically alter the direction and outcome of a case, and be detrimental to the organization's reputation.

Legal departments of organizations often rely on native speakers but omit to check whether the translator has any domain knowledge of the relevant field - this can seriously impact the outcome of the trial.

This is especially true when hiring a court interpreter during the trial proceedings. An article that appeared in the Rocky Mountain News demonstrates the importance of a qualified court interpreter. The interpretation by an Iranian native was completely off the mark, as a result of which the trial against Mohammad Naim Amini, an Afghan speaking Dari, was annulled. Eventually the trial had to be held anew at great cost and mental agony to the accused.

Legal Translators should be chosen not only for their linguistic skills, but also for their technical expertise. Attorneys, engineers, bankers, as well as subject matter experts from different disciplines, who also possess language skills in pairs of languages, would make an ideal choice for executing the work of legal translation.

Expertise is worth a price

Legal translation calls for expertise in translations of patents, summons & complaints, evidentiary & financial documents, judicial proceedings, foreign statutes, and contracts, to name just a few of the wide range of legal documents, each used in a different legal context. It is neither advisable nor fair to put either yourself or your client's company at risk by compromising on the quality of the translation services used. Paying the price for a good quality of service is well worth the effort it takes every time.