Today’s world is highly globalised in practically all aspects of our lives. What this means, in reality, is that consumers can access products and services from practically anywhere in the world almost instantaneously. Business owners know it, and so international expansion is on the ‘to-do’ list of many organisations, even from the SME sector.
However, although globalisation creates excellent opportunities for brands to grow their revenue and market share, it also presents complex challenges they must address to successfully complete their expansion.
One such difficulty is approaching your chosen foreign market in a suitable way, considering linguistic and cultural aspects. As a result, expert providers of legal translation services are at the forefront of international trade, with most global organisations now considering them key business partners.
Agencies specialising in translating legal documents, financial papers, court orders or even official internal documentation play a vital role during a company’s internationalisation process.
In today’s article, we’ll discuss what ‘legal’ translations actually are, why they are so important and where you can find reliable providers of legal translation services. Enjoy!
What does ‘legal translation’ actually mean?
Generally speaking, legal translation is the translation of legal documents, papers or financial documentation intended for use within a legal sector. For example, a law firm or legal professional might need a document translated into English if they work with a foreign client. Similarly, if a person submits an official application outside of the United Kingdom, they might be asked to provide a certified translated copy of their document by the interested organisation.
The terms ‘certified’ and ‘legal’ translations are often used interchangeably. However, ‘certified’ simply means that your documents will be translated by an officially accredited translator, while ‘legal’ translation indicates that the documents will be used within the legal sector.
It’s essential to understand the differences between the two terms, as ‘certified’ translation often focuses on simple certificates – e.g. birth, marriage etc. for official applications, such as Visa or passport, and it doesn’t require in-depth sector expertise. Legal translations, on the other hand, are intended for law firms and used within professional settings. As a result, the documents need to be translated by an expert linguist with an understanding of different legal systems and sector-specific jargon.
Legal translation vs interpreting – know the difference
A significant number of people still confuse the two terms. However, the difference between translation and interpreting is extremely easy to understand.
Legal translations focus on written content, such as documents, papers, financial statements, or digital content.
Legal interpreting, on the other hand, deals with the spoken word. It is a service applied during meetings, court hearings, business negotiations etc.
Although the two services require a completely different skill set, tools and experience, the majority of established translation agencies, such as TS24, London Translations, Wolfestone UK or Gengo are capable of providing both, so you can easily acquire them using a single provider, which can be very beneficial in order to streamline processes and simplify delivery/invoicing.
The importance behind legal translation services
Globalisation is now an essential aspect of practically any business sector. Today, even locally based SMEs can easily approach international audiences and potential business partners. Thanks to the growth of easily accessible internet, trading across borders can be quick, easy and highly efficient.
Nonetheless, in order to ensure that things go smoothly in the long term, companies must invest their budget into professionally translating any legal and financial documents.
For example, if you’re considering an international expansion of your business, it’s essential to convert any warranties, terms and conditions and financial statements into the market’s native language. Doing this correctly can save you much trouble in the long run.
If, for example, a customer decides to launch an official complaint against you, they may have a legal advantage because you didn’t accommodate them by providing all legal documents in the market’s native language.
Tenders, bids and similar documents should also be submitted in a language your business partners abroad can understand easily. This is especially true across Asian and Middle Eastern markets, where mutual respect plays a significant role in business.
Who can provide a legal translation service?
Although legal translation services require an expert approach and in-depth sector knowledge, finding a reliable provider shouldn’t be difficult.
If you’re looking for a UK-based agency to translate your legal documents, it is essential to ensure they have previous exposure and experience in completing similar projects.
To find this out, you can look at the agency’s list of clients, case studies and reviews online.
You can also ask the company for a free, short sample translation. This will allow you to judge their expertise and accuracy firsthand before committing to a larger project with them.
Another critical aspect of choosing the best legal translation agency for your documents is ensuring they are an accredited member of an official body. In the United Kingdom, you can ask whether the company is registered with the ATC (Association of Translation Agencies), the leading standard in the language translation industry. In the United States, such an organisation is ATA.
If working with professional translation agencies doesn’t fit within your budget, you can approach freelance translators directly. This is a more complex alternative, however, in some cases, it can be slightly cheaper. If you decide to go down this route, ensure that your translator of choice is a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL). This guarantees that the person follows the highest industry standards and has previously worked with documents of a legal nature.
Let’s wrap up…
As you can see, legal translations play today an extremely important role within the international business environment. From business-critical documents, contracts, bids or financial documentation – making sure that your content is accurately and reliably translated into your chosen market’s native language can be genuinely beneficial. It is, however, essential to ensure that the provider you choose to work with has previous experience in converting similar documents and is registered with official bodies, as this guarantees higher accuracy and a legalised certification.
