The minefield of translation for law firms

The world of law is a complex and confusing place riddled with a minefield of possible technicalities and loop holes. In Law the devil is definitely in the detail with every word of a law or a legal document having to be carefully placed so that it can stand up to the toughest scrutiny. You can imagine then the role of translating legal documents is a not a desirable one. Translation in itself is a difficult task as there are very few occasions that a phrase or sentence translates directly into another language. Therefore any translator of legal documents must have an extensive knowledge both languages being used and the legal field in question. It is without doubt then the most difficult form of translation that brings with it a catalogue of potential errors.

It is however and unavoidable problem that law firms must face however. So long as there are different languages in the world there will be a need for a translator of legal documents. Documents that need translating range from birth certificates and patents to financial statements and business contracts, the possibilities are almost limitless. It is therefore a key role within a law firm and one that requires a lot of time and patience coupled with an eye for detail.

Inevitably however the process does occasionally go wrong with both sides of a dispute sometimes coming together to debate the terminology used within a legal document. Incidents like this can result in unwanted legal costs and endless embarrassment for the parties involved. An incident like this has occurred in recent days over in Ireland. There has been a conflict over the translation of one solitary word within road traffic legislation. The department of transport has come into conflict with a translation service over the correct translation of the word “specimen” when referring to breathalyser tests. The issue is still ongoing, however the word that is selected as the translation could have serious consequences and highlights the difficulties and potential problems that come with the translation of legal documents.