Legal translations

Translation of documents within the field of law requires expert knowledge. It is not a simple task; the language for this type of texts has to be very exact and without ambiguity. A bad translation of a legal document could origin misunderstanding and huge costs.

Translators of legal texts often consult specialized bilingual law dictionaries. However, some of these dictionaries have poor quality and you should be careful. In consequence, professional translators specialising in legal translation are needed to translate legal documents (Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, University, High School Diplomas, Contracts, Laws, treaties, etc.)

Linguistic structures that are often found in the source language have no direct equivalent structures in the target language. The translator therefore has to find target language structures with the same functions as those in the source language. When translating legal texts, the translator has to be very careful, the legal system of the source text is structured in a way that suits that culture and this is reflected in the legal language, most forms of legal writing, and contracts in particular search to establish clearly defined rights and duties for certain individuals.

All legal translators need to know terminologies about laws, ensuring that translation is both accurate and consistent across even the largest projects. Some important terminologies are: International law, Contract law, Maritime law, Tax law, Property law, Insurance law, Criminal law, Corporations law and Commercial Law.

Some universities offer Legal Translation studies, which are designed to provide practising translators with the essential skills to become a legal translator. Courses focus on providing an overview of the relevant terminology and legal systems, offering extensive training in translating key documents in a wide range of legal fields.