6 Tips For Selecting the Best Legal Translation Services


6 Tips For Selecting the Best Legal Translation Services
Beth Worthy

Beth Worthy

7/7/2021

Legal translation is a specialized and complicated area of the translation industry.

That’s because any error in legal translation can result in serious consequences for the law firm, its clients, and other parties involved.

A legal translator should have a thorough understanding of legal terminologies along with experience in both the target and source languages.

Therefore, the significance of choosing a high-quality legal translation service cannot be overstated.

If you are looking for a legal translation service, these guidelines may be useful:

1. Look for a legal translation service provider that specializes in legal translation

Medical translation, commercial translation, administrative translation, technical translation, and other sorts of translations exist.

Most translation organizations have teams dedicated to almost all disciplines, whereas some only accept certain translation tasks from specific sectors.

Companies in the latter category employ specialists who have a greater understanding of the subject matter and their industry. It is recommended to choose a translation service that primarily focuses on legal translation.

Their translators are familiar with legal jargon and will not make any mistakes while interpreting your documents.

You will also receive legal support by having a professional translator who understands the law. You can choose between a translation-only service and a translation-and-interpreting service.

2. Check the reputation of the company

Working with a reputable legal translation business is a good idea. Look into the company's history and find out who their previous clients are.

To assess the company's reputation, look for online references. Contact their clients to learn how they deal with their customers.

A reputable legal translation agency will not only assist you in translating your legal documents but will also help you in understanding and dealing with the obstacles and intricacies of a foreign language.

Moreover, to maintain their brand and protect their credibility, reliable translation companies typically make the best possible efforts to serve their clients in the best possible manner.

This includes maintaining high levels of accuracy and guaranteeing client satisfaction and client data safety.

Therefore, you can be sure that you will receive high-quality services, accurate translations that are properly formatted, and great customer service.

3. Thoroughly understand their confidentiality policy

As far as legal matters are concerned, putting your faith in a third person might be difficult. Selecting an unreliable or dubious organization puts the security of critical legal data in jeopardy.

To avoid any such fiasco in the future, learn about any legal translation service's confidentiality policy before committing to them. Ensure that the service adheres to a strong confidentiality policy.

This includes having airtight Translators Confidentiality Agreements and employing robust mechanisms like foolproof data protection and cybersecurity tools to preserve legal documents and sensitive data.

4. Verify their certifications

You will not be able to tell if the legal translation is trustworthy unless you have good evidence to back it up.

Government departments and courts require evidence to prove that the legal document is valid.  As a result, you will need a verified translation from a reputable translation agency.

Therefore, it is recommended to make sure you use a legal translation provider that is certified.

You could also try opting for a service that is a member of the Association of Translation Companies, which requires its members to follow a strict code of conduct.

Select a translator who is a member of any relevant professional organization if you want to work with a freelancer. An AIIC, Institute of Linguists and Institute of Translation and Interpreting association would be ideal.

5. Verify their familiarity with the legal system of the target country/ region

As previously said, your legal translator should be conversant with the laws of both the source and target countries. Not all legal systems around the world use the same vocabulary and legal jargon.

The translation of legal words into other languages does not always convey the same precise meaning.

Therefore, having a fluent translator in the target country's language and the law is essential. Choose a translator who is familiar with the legal system and the target country's language.

6. Communicate your goals properly

Legal documents often include cover pages, signature pages, handwritten notes in the margins, footnotes, etc. Discuss with your translation provider about which content needs translation and which does not.

Additionally, carefully discuss other details with your translation services provider, such as images, graphs, tables, and the format.

You might prefer bilingual content with the original and the translated content side by side or a monolingual structure replicating the original document.

Also, you can ask for the appropriate reference materials, guides, and glossaries to maintain consistency throughout the translated content.

Final Words

Are you looking for a service that specializes in legal translation? If yes, then GMR Transcription Services, Inc. is the perfect choice for you. 

We have a team of expert legal translators who provide accurately translated content while adhering to quick deadlines at reasonable prices.

If you need assistance with transcription, please reach out to us through our toll-free number at 1-800-731-7412 or browse our website for further details.

Also Read: 5 Reasons Why Hiring an Expert Legal Translator Is Necessary for Businesses

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Beth Worthy

Beth Worthy

Beth Worthy is the Cofounder & President of GMR Transcription Services, Inc., a California-based company that has been providing accurate and fast transcription services since 2004. She has enjoyed nearly ten years of success at GMR, playing a pivotal role in the company's growth. Under Beth's leadership, GMR Transcription doubled its sales within two years, earning recognition as one of the OC Business Journal's fastest-growing private companies. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids.