In a way, legal translation is unique. Many times texts and phrases are regurgitated repeatedly. You don‘t necessarily need to be a lawyer to translate legal texts. Although, you do have to have experience and understand the framework of the legal system. It is also essential to be familiar with a variety of contracts, juridical documents, and jargon used within the framework of various legal systems. It is, so to say, more than just having a legal dictionary and trying to translate the text at hand. A legal translation has to be very accurate and there is no room for error.
In the case of many translations, there is room for interpretation and a certain level of freedom depending on the text that you are translating. In the case of legal translations, there is usually only a single way text could be translated. That is, in fact, the basis of a good contract for example. It should be so specific that there is no room for interpretation.
One of the tactics used by many small businesses when writing their own contracts is to scour the Internet for contracts of a similar nature and simply adapt them. This saves a lot of time, effort and money. Often, a translator will discover the original text that was used as a basis for the contract. In many cases, there is also an existing translation for this. In addition to that, many legal phrases are used again and again. Sometimes, translating contracts, for example, is just a matter of finding an existing translation. At the same time, the translator has to judge if the text found has been translated correctly. In many cases, many things need adaptation.
Legal translations are usually a bit more expensive than general translations. It is not only because these texts are more complex, but also has to do more with the fact that these texts have to be translated very accurately. In this connection, quality and precision are paramount. A contract that is not correct could lead to a variety of difficulties. A contract that is not correctly translated is worth nothing. Therefore, many translation agencies take extra measures to ensure that contracts and legal documents are translated incredibly precisely and therefore it is often necessary to perform several proofreading runs. Many times, it may even be necessary to consult a legal expert to ensure that the legal text at hand meets the necessary requirements. Buyer beware to those purchasing a translation at bottom dollar. If a legal translation is too cheap, it is most likely too good to be true and either the people working on the translation are not qualified to do so or there is no budget for proper proofreading measures to be taken. As the old saying goes, you pay for what you get. Therefore, when purchasing a legal translation, it is better to pay a little more and ensure that the legal document serves the purpose it is intended for.
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