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Breaking Language Barriers: The Importance of Professional Translation & Interpreting for Lawyers

Writer's picture: Lauren Shadi | Director of GMYWLauren Shadi | Director of GMYW




Translation and interpreting services play an important role in the legal services industry, especially in the UK where the law covers a wide range of areas. With serving such a diverse population in the UK legal professionals should have access to high-quality translation and interpreting services.


In this blog post, we'll take a look at the definition of legal translation and interpretation, the consequences of neglecting to utilise these services, and areas of law in the UK where translation and interpreting are particularly important.


What is Legal Translation and Interpretation?


Legal translation involves the process of translating legal documents, such as contracts, agreements, and court documents, from one language to another. Legal translators must have a deep understanding of legal terminology and concepts in both the source and target languages to accurately convey the intended meaning of the original document.

On the other hand, legal interpretation refers to orally translating spoken words from one language to another between parties who do not speak the same language. Legal interpreters must have excellent language skills, as well as a solid understanding of legal terms and court procedures in both languages and cultures.


Why a Professional Legal Translator or Interpreter is Necessary


Failure to use professional translation and interpretation services can have serious consequences for law firms and their clients. Inaccurate translations or interpretations can lead to misunderstandings, delays, and unnecessary legal disputes. In some cases, mistakes in legal translation or interpretation can have severe financial consequences, like invalidating contracts or losing cases.

In addition to the legal implications, neglecting to use professional translation and interpretation services can also damage a law firm's reputation and credibility, causing clients to lose trust in the firm's ability to provide quality legal services.


Areas of Law that Require Interpretation and Translation Services


Immigration Law

Immigration law deals with the rights of people who want to come to the UK and become residents or citizens. Many are not fluent in English, and their legal representative must be able to communicate with them. Translation services are required to provide immigrants with written documents in their native language.

This area of law also covers asylum law. In 2022, the UK offered protection to 23,841 people from all over the world. Legal representatives must arrange interpreters for consultations and tribunal hearings to ensure their asylum seeker clients remain informed every step of the way and can give their evidence accurately, or risk facing life or death situations.

Family Law

Family law covers a wide range of issues, including divorce, child custody, and adoption. In many cases, individuals facing these issues may come from different cultural backgrounds and some may not speak or understand English. In these situations, interpreters are required to be present in the courtroom as well as at solicitor appointments, and case documents must be translated into the parties’ mother tongue.


Property Law

Property law encompasses the buying, selling, and leasing of property and can involve complex legal documents. When purchasing land abroad or dealing with a non-English speaking individual, legal documents such as sales deeds, mortgage applications and bank statements would need to be translated. Misunderstandings or miscommunications due to language barriers can lead to costly mistakes that could have been avoided with the help of translation and interpreting services.


Commercial Law

Commercial law deals with business transactions, including contracts, mergers, and acquisitions often involving parties from different countries or language backgrounds. Legal terminology is often difficult to understand for even native English speakers. Translation and interpretation services are necessary to bridge the gap between the parties involved so that everyone understands the legal terms and implications of the agreement in their own language.


Wills and Probate

Wills and Probate is an area of law that involves the distribution of assets and property after someone has passed away. It is a sensitive area, but when foreign parties are involved, translation and interpreting services can help clients fully understand the legal documentation.


Private Client Law

Private Client law deals with the personal and financial affairs of individuals, including estate planning, trusts, and tax matters. Clients in this area may have complex financial situations, and legal professionals need to be able to communicate to them the legal processes and their rights in this area of law.


Labour and Employment Law

Labour and Employment Law deals with the legal relationships between employers and employees. It encompasses a range of issues, including workplace safety, discrimination, and employee rights. Translation and interpreting services are essential when dealing with employees who may have limited English proficiency and need to understand their rights in the workplace.


Criminal Law

Legal professionals need to be able to communicate with foreign clients involved in criminal offences, to gather accurate evidence and reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings. Without translation and interpretation services, innocent people could be prosecuted for crimes they didn't commit while the guilty could go free. Interpreters are needed to interpret during meetings between solicitors and their clients when preparing the defence case, as well as at conferences with counsel at hearings.


Medical Negligence and Serious Injury

Legal translation and interpretation services are important in medical negligence and serious injury cases. Whenever a patient's health or life is involved, accurate and precise legal counsel is essential. If a non-English speaking patient brings a medical negligence case against an English-speaking healthcare provider, interpretation services are required to facilitate mediation between them. If the case is taken to court, all legal and medical documents related to the case would need to be translated.


Give Me Your Word’s specialist legal translation and interpreting services


At Give Me Your Word, legal translation is one of our specialisms. While translation and interpreting remain unregulated professions, our corporate membership with the Institute of Translation and Interpreting demonstrates our commitment to upholding the highest professional standards. As a linguist-led business, we have a thorough understanding of the translation industry. GMYW’s commitment to fair terms attracts and retains the best translators and interpreters, ensuring you receive quality service every time.

We offer legal aid rates and can fulfil your translation and interpreting requirements at short notice.


Legal translation services

Our certified translations are recognised by the UK Home Office. We also provide notarised and legalised translations accepted by authorities abroad.

Examples of documents we translate include:

  • Deeds and contracts

  • Witness statements and affidavits

  • Court documents such as orders, judgements and rulings

  • Supporting documents for hearings including medical, insurance and accident reports

  • Birth, marriage and death certificates

  • Conveyancing documents

  • Divorce documents

  • Personal Injury documents

  • Immigration documents

  • Patents

  • Wills and grants of probate

  • Interview transcripts

Legal Interpreting services

All our interpreters are court-approved, have the DPSI qualification (the benchmark of legal interpreting for over 30 years) and are members of professional bodies governing the industry. We provide face-to-face, remote and telephone interpreters for:


  • Solicitor appointments

  • Tribunals

  • Immigration

  • Barrister conferences

  • Prison visits

  • Court proceedings

  • Business meetings

and more...


For more further information on our legal translation and interpreting services, visit our Law Gazette Legal Services Directory listing or get in touch with our team.







References

Brackenbury, Gemma. “The Importance of Legal Interpreting.” K International, 25 Sept. 2019, www.k-international.com/blog/the-importance-of-legal-interpreting/.

“Language on Trial: How Legal Translation and Interpretation Can Help Bring Justice.” Global Voices, www.globalvoices.com/content-hub/legal-finance/language-trial-legal-translation-interpretation-can-help-bring-justice/. Accessed 30 May 2023

Mulvaney, Beata. “The Importance Of Accurate Translation And Interpretation When Dealing With English Lawyers.” Truth Legal, www.truthlegal.com/the-importance-of-accurate-translation-and-interpretation/. Accessed 30 May 2023.

“When to Use Legal Translation.” Kwintessential, www.kwintessential.co.uk/blog/translation/when-to-use-legal-translation. Accessed 30 May 2023.

“Why Is Legal Translation Important for Businesses?” Intertranslations, www.intertranslations.co.uk/why-is-legal-translation-important-for-businesses/. Accessed 30 May 2023.


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