Selecting the right translation service for your legal translations is not a process that
should be taken lightly. Anyone fluent in two languages can translate a document. But
that doesn’t mean they should be relied upon for your legal translations. A reputable
legal translation agency is knowledgeable in specific laws, rules, and procedures, so
documents are 100% accurate. Here are some things you need to know before
selecting a legal translation service.
Choose Translation Agencies Who Understand Law
Legal terminology is often very specific and requires the translator to understand the
meaning. It’s not only important for the translator to have legal knowledge in the source
language, but they should understand the target language laws as well. Any slight
mistakes or misinterpretations can have major consequences in a court proceeding or
corporate transaction. That’s why translators must understand the law.
A Translator Agency Should Have Efficient Turnaround Times
Legal translations should take time to ensure accuracy. However, it’s also important for
the translator agency to be efficient and capable of meeting tight deadlines. Any
translation service that says they can deliver all translations in 24-48 hours should be
avoided since accuracy is likely an issue. While a single-page document can be
translated this quickly, anything longer than a few pages likely will take at least a few
days to ensure a thorough job is done.
Experience Matters for Legal Translation Agencies
A good indicator of whether a legal translation service can be trusted is in the
experience they have. The minimum amount of experience a translation agency should
have is 10 years, but 20 or more years is even better. The more experience a company
has, the better its training processes are so you can ensure your translations are done
correctly and consistently. It’s tempting to work with a company with less experience for
a cheaper price, but it’s usually not the best decision in the long run.
Ensure The Translation Agency Can Meet Your Needs
Every company has unique needs that have to be met. When interviewing translation
agencies, be sure to highlight these needs so you can get a feel for whether the agency
can meet them. If you aren’t confident in any particular aspect, then it’s usually best to
move on to a different one.
LF Legal Translations has over 25 years of experience translating documents for
medical, scientific, and legal applications. We can translate documents in more than
200 languages, so contact us today for professional translation services you can trust.