Legal translations require a high degree of expert knowledge. They involve not only the ability to translate from one language to another, but also a good grasp of different law structures.
If you have recently completed a translation and interpretation degree you might be considering specialising in legal translations. This is an extremely fast developing area, due in part to the global economy created by the internet, and to the financial crashes in recent years which have forced companies to expand their business horizons. This has led to some fantastic career prospects for translation professionals.
Specialising in legal translations requires constant education in both translation, and law, and is a huge responsibility. The repercussions of poorly translated legal documents can end in lawsuits, ruined reputations, and business failure. It is not a job for the faint-hearted.
Having said that, there are enormous rewards for translators who chose to specialise in legal translations, especially those who are prepared to study law at higher levels to gain a solid understanding.
So, if specialising in legal translation appeals to you, read on for our best strategies for progressing your career:
1. Select your Language Combinations
You may specialise in several languages, for instance, English, Spanish, French and Arabic. However, if you are only familiar with one or two legal systems within these countries it would be advantageous to specialise in these initially until you have time to educate yourself with the rest.
Don’t forget that you need to have an in-depth understanding of language, and law.
Choosing only two languages initially will allow you to focus your knowledge, give speedier translations, and ensure your accuracy. When starting out you don’t want to make mistakes in translations, as it may cost you loss of future business.
2. Specialise, Specialise, Specialise
You are primarily a translator so your specialist knowledge is based around language, not legal systems. As law is such a complex discipline even lawyers specialise in certain areas, be it family law, criminal law, and so on, and as a legal translator you should do the same.
Select a branch of the law that you feel most confident with, it could be commercial law, or procedural law, and focus on this initially.
This will allow you to gain confidence in your translations, and give you the opportunity to create a glossary for terminology that is frequently used in these types of legal documents, thus speeding up your translation times.
If you lack the confidence to specialise in a specific branch of law, try focusing on specific documentation instead. You might choose contracts, deeds, or court transcripts, but be sure there is a high demand for these types of documents within your expert language combinations.
3. Productivity/Education
As a translator your livelihood depends upon your productivity; the more words you can translate per hour, the higher your income.
Customers, and translation agencies will compare your rates against those of other translators which can make finding work in the higher price bracket difficult. One way around this is to increase your productivity.
There are two main ways to increase your productivity:
A. Translation tools – CAT tools, glossaries, comprehensive resources, touch typing skills, dictation/speech software, concentration techniques (Pomodoro), and automating tasks and processes can all increase your productivity.
B. Education – a specific education based on the branch of law that you have chosen to specialise in will decrease your research time, and increase productivity.
A highly detailed education in documentation, certification, and terminology will allow you to gather knowledge on precise translation requirements for your chosen field.
You should aim to understand the key legal concepts within your area of expertise, so you can tackle the translation of complex legal documents with ease.
4. Match Clients to your Speciality
Once you have decided upon your speciality, select clients who will require your services as this will increase your productivity, knowledge base, and accuracy.
It is usually more profitable for you to stick within your area of expertise, as learning new terminology, procedures, and so on, can take time, and therefore, money.
Building comprehensive references for specific clients takes time, and effort, but is worth the investment. You will find that translation speed is increased as your confidence grows.
