5 Tips for Translating Legal Documents

Posted by Fahad Majid on August 21st, 2019

Do you need to translate a legal document from your native language to another? It's common knowledge that legal translation can be a little complicated. Yes, it is always possible to use Google but the results are never 100% reliable. A trial will reveal a lot of errors in the use of machine or software for translation. Owing to the importance of legal translation, it may inadvisable to make mistakes or errors during the translation. A harmless error could change the complexion of the whole document and could represent a risk to any parties concerned about the document.

The poor translation may prove very costly and it may lead to different types of losses. How best are errors avoided in legal translation? Take note of the following tips on translating legal documents.

Machine translations are erroneous. It may seem like a very simple thing when you copy the contents of documents into an app, such as Google Translate and it gives you results. However, there is a risk of major errors in this result. Yes, there may have been a number of updates made to improve the accuracy of translation software but it still can't be trusted. Legal translation of documents should be done with human assistance or supervision to eliminate any errors.

Pay attention to technical terms and vocabulary. If you'll be translating a word or something quite simple, the case is different. Legal documents are characterized by a number of technical terms and terminologies. These terms have to be treated specially to avoid altering the meaning of such terms or changing totally. 

Avoid hiring intermediate and amateur translators. A legal document isn't to be translated by someone who has limited knowledge of the language. When treating legal documents, hiring intermediate or amateur translators may be harmful and lead to unsatisfactory results. Make sure to identify the qualification of any translator and determine how good they are before hiring any translator.

There are a number of terminologies present in such documents which amateurs may find difficult to deal with, making professionals the best option for you.

Legal translation depends a lot on the legal system involved. The requirements of any legal translation are dependent on the judicial system under which the court is operating. For instance, some courts require that all translation be done by a professional.

Determine the projected use of the document. Try to do your research go determine where the document will be used. Applications of documents call for slight variations in their content. Identifying the need for such documents decides the type of content to be included during translation. Stick to the writing style required for such a document and produce something that suits such a purpose.