Legal translation services have become more popular in recent years due to several factors. The globalization of business entities has become a strategy for maximizing revenue streams and improving client service. In order to enter a market or acquire a local company, legal documents must be translated into the native language of the target audience.
If a company wishes to operate in the Middle East, for instance, documents must be translated both in English and Arabic. Multiple legal documents must be translated and filed in local courts in the course of a global dispute involving multiple legal documents.
All of these factors make it necessary to hire a professional translation agency with the right expertise and experience to translate legal documents. They’re responsible for choosing only native speakers and experienced translators with expertise in the target language.
Translators’ qualifications for providing legal translations
The role of legal translations in Dubai is crucial, no matter what their purpose may be. It is essential that you use someone with legal background and considerable experience in translating legal documents to complete these translations, whether they are used in court proceedings or during deals/transactions.
In order to provide legal translation services, the following qualifications are required:
- It is imperative that a native speaker speaks the target language
- The applicant must present proof of a college degree as well as a background in education.
- Documentation of experience translating legal documents is required.
- Make sure you are familiar with the laws and regulations that govern the country you are targeting.
Legal translators are required to develop an understanding of the legal system in the source language and the target language in order to specialize in providing legal translation services. By understanding source documents clearly, legal translators are able to avoid misinterpretations. Translation errors can occur if the translator does not understand the relevant legal system and cannot grasp the context of the document.
The experience of legal translators allows them to constantly polish their skills by developing and maintaining dictionaries of legal terminologies in the source and target languages.
For a legal translator, experience, gained through years of practice, is more important than knowledge of the legal system.
Throughout their careers, legal translators must constantly practice their profession, as is the case with any other profession. Not only can this help them produce decent quality translations, but it also helps them translate documents in a short period of time, which is an important requirement.
In legal translations, how can I minimize risks?
The fact that you can be liable for damages for mistakes in a legal translation is something we’ve just discussed. What can you do to avoid this? The importance of understanding equivalences – and the lack thereof – cannot be overstated.
In some languages, there are no equivalents of certain terms or concepts. There are also false friends, which are words spelled the same but mean different things; they come from different languages, but look the same. The importance of conducting relevant research for specialized terms cannot be overstated.
When it comes to translation, you should know that equivalence can be divided into three types: functional, descriptive and literal. We’ll examine each of these below so you can minimize risks by utilizing them appropriately.
EQUALITY OF FUNCTIONALITY
There is functional equivalence between two legal systems when the concepts of both are identical or similar. It is ideal if you translate terms from one language into another by translating them into the target language (the language spoken by your target audience).
EQUIVALENCE DESCRIPTIVE
It is possible to modify terms according to their differences in the target language if they differ in both legal systems. To paraphrase a term into another language, you basically have to make sure it is understandable in the target language.
LITERAL EQUIVALENCE
A word-by-word translation or loan can sometimes be used when there is no functional equivalence. In this instance, you should be able to comprehend the meaning very easily, and you should ensure you don’t deal with a fake friend.
Translation certifications
It is not uncommon for translators to need certification before they can become legal translators, certified translators, or translators specializing in certain fields. Taking an oath in court is what makes you “certified” in the legal field. A certified translator is typically required for certain court proceedings if a business does legal translation.
Depending on where certified translators are located, there are different requirements. A Canadian translation, terminology, and interpretation council (CTTIC) exam is required of applicants. There are certain criteria for certification in Germany, and you have to get sworn in by an official. The requirements for becoming a certified translator vary from country to country, but most require some kind of training and certification.
The goal of translation certification is to demonstrate to employers and clients that you are an expert in your field. It’s also good to gain experience in the legal field by working in it, as well as acquiring higher education degrees. In addition, you’ll learn new best practices you can implement every day.
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Translation experience
If clients are looking for a legal translator, they will look for experience. Some things can only be learned through hands-on experience. The terminology and standards of legal translation differ quite a bit from those of other types of translation.
Legal translators often begin by doing general translations before focusing on legal translations. The more you know about the legal field, the documents you might expect to translate, and the terminology used in the field, the better prepared you will be for your career.
Cultural knowledge
It is also essential to have an understanding of the culture of the country in which the documents will be used when translating legal documents. A verbatim translation may not accurately convey the original meaning of the original document if it uses legal, court, or country-specific terminology.
A judge or justice may not exist in some legal systems within other cultures, for example. A reader living in a different culture would not understand these roles if you translated them directly into another language. Furthermore, the American concept of “Pleading the Fifth” will not easily adapt to other cultures because it is purely American.
Become a legal translator by completing the following training
In order to specialize in legal translations, various routes can be taken, but there is no specific qualification required. A fluency in two languages is a must, as is a thorough understanding of both languages, including grammar and legal terms.
A certified or sworn translator may be required in some countries. Legal translators are required to swear an oath to certify their translations in some European and Middle Eastern countries. UAE courts require legal documents filed in Arabic to be translated by a certified translator certified by the UAE Ministry of Justice (MOJ).
Anyone wishing to become a legal translator must have a thorough understanding of the legal systems of the source language and the target language. Despite the fact that there is no shortcut to success, practicing translating a variety of legal documents over time will help you master the tricks of the trade.
Legal translators’ roles
To facilitate communication in the legal field, legal translators perform a wide range of tasks. They typically perform the following duties:
Translating legal documents accurately is the primary duty of a legal translator. It is possible to include documents such as contracts, court transcripts, patents, legislation, and more in these categories. In order for the translation to be successful, the original document’s structure, terminology, and legal nuances must be retained.
Mastery of legal terminology: A legal translator should have a thorough understanding of legal terminology, both in the source language and the target language. Using this method prevents misunderstandings or legal issues from arising from translation errors.
Cultural awareness: It is imperative to be familiar with the legal systems, practices, and cultural nuances of both the source language and the target language. To ensure cultural accuracy and legal soundness, legal translators must navigate these differences.
Proofreading and editing: Ensure that translated documents are free of errors and errors before they are published. A legal translator must meticulously review their work to ensure that it is accurate and of the highest quality.
Confidentiality: Keeping information confidential is crucial in the legal profession. There are a lot of sensitive information and strict ethical standards that translators in the legal field are expected to adhere to.
Find Career Opportunities
Finding a job has finally become a priority. Getting in touch with a translation agency is a safe bet for beginners. Applicants can apply to become in-house translators or freelancers. You save time and effort by working for an agency and you get a head start on your legal translation career. Translators may even choose to continue working this way throughout their careers.
It is also possible to build your portfolio as a freelancer and look for clients. Private companies, such as international corporations, insurance companies, or medical centers, may be a good choice if you prefer a fixed job.