Legal translation services refers to where documents and written materials are translated from one language to the next. The translation has to be done by someone with legal credentials and accreditation to offer these services. So, a legal translator has to be trained and legally accredited to offer these services. This is the key difference between legal and regular translation services. A lot of people may assume that legal translation services are only applied in the legal market. However, there are many applications of these services. Let us discuss some of the key ones in the next chapters.
Legal Documents
The fact that the word “legal” is in the term “legal translation” is already proof that this kind of translation primarily includes legal documents. When it comes to translating legal documents, the services of legal translators is essential because it helps you ensure that the translated documents are applicable in legal scenarios. In fact, the law mandates that specific legal documents have to be translated by a registered and reputable legal translator. Examples of legal documents that may require legal translation services are:
- Court transcripts
- Confidential agreements
- Legal statements and disclaimers
- Wills and trusts
- Litigation documents
- Licenses
- Legal depositions
- Contracts
Medical Documents
You can also use legal translation services for medical documents. For instance, if you need to transfer a patient from a facility in one country to another, and there is a language barrier, you will need to have the documents translated. A legal translator is one that is trained and specializes in medical translations. This way, when your medical documents are translated, you can count on their accuracy and applicability. The last thing you would want is to have medical documents translated inaccurately. This could have dire ramifications. Examples of medical documents that can be translated by a legal translator are:
- Medical evaluations
- Research papers
- Medical licenses
- Diagnoses
- Medical test results
- Patient’s health history or medical records
Corporate Documents
Corporate documents like meeting minutes, contracts, terms and conditions of services, and medical certificates, may also require legal translation services. This is because these documents need to exhibit an air of professionalism and credibility. Legal translation services help make this possible.
Academic Documents
Academic documents also require legal translation services because they are critical and serious documents. Legal translation for these documents is especially necessary if the papers are required for legal, governmental, or administrative purposes like applying for a scholarship/grant or transferring from one institution to another. Examples of academic documents are:
- Exam transcripts
- Academic research papers
- Academic diplomas and certificates
Other documents that may need legal translation are:
- Birth certificates
- Death certificates
- Passports
- Visas
- Job applications and more
Conclusion
Legal translation is more than simply converting words from one language to another. It also involves rendering complex terminologies and professional concepts accurately without tampering with the intended meaning. This is why it has to be done by a professional in the specific area. For instance, medical documents need to be translated with someone with legal know-how so that the legal concepts and terminologies are rendered accurately.
