Translating legal texts is always risky business: loss of meaning, ambiguity, and misinterpretation lurk around the corner constantly. Risk awareness and risk management are of the utmost importance. Therefore, a good legal translation partner is vital for businesses and organisations that want to avoid a myriad of problems, such as financial losses, legal issues, ambiguous contractual clauses, etc.
Network of approx. 4,000 legal specialists
This is where ELAN Languages enters the picture. We have built up a solid international reputation as a reliable legal translation partner with a network of almost 4,000 legal translators. That’s an impressive number, but having such a vast network of legal experts is no luxury if we want to ensure that our international clients get top-notch legal translations of their documents. We contacted one of our legal translators and asked what makes legal translations such a challenging endeavour.
“Precision; that is the most vital aspect of our profession. One misplaced word can completely alter the scope of a clause. The fact that certain terms can have multiple meanings doesn’t help, either. Think of the English word ‘execution’, which can mean carrying out a decree, completing or performing an order, or enforcing a monetary judgment. All of these differ from one another, so a literal word-by-word translation is out of the question. Legal translation is all about context, precision, and a thorough understanding of various legal systems.”
AI as a valuable assistant
From neural machine translation tools to Large Language Models (LLMs) and customised AI solutions, technology has reshaped the translation industry. ELAN Languages, ever the pioneer, aims to combine the power of these technological feats with a ‘human in control’ approach, and this is nowhere more necessary than in the field of legal translations. Technology is a great assistant, but the human expert must remain in charge.
“Translation memories (TM), for example, are incredibly useful. Many legal documents are repetitive, and building TMs means you can work much faster while ensuring consistency.
LLMs can also be handy sparring partners. AI can provide ideas or alternative perspectives to help me solve a difficult clause or section. But you need to have the final say over the translation.
Besides, we also need to keep in mind the rules and best practices regarding data protection. I cannot and will not feed sensitive or confidential data into an AI tool, regardless of its own data protection protocols. I constantly have to assess what I can or cannot do and how I should protect sensitive information. That’s why technology is an assistant: the final responsibility, the legal interpretation, and GDPR compliance still rest on the shoulders of the legal translator.”
To summarise: putting your trust in an expert who understands the legal system, has experience, and can use the technology at hand to deliver high-quality legal translations is obviously the best approach.
Sworn translations?
When organisations need translated documents for submission to authorities in another language and country, an authenticated (sworn, legalised, notarised, …) translation is required. Wait, hang on. Sworn translation? Legalised? What are we talking about? In case you’re not sure what these terms mean, check this brief (and non-exhaustive) ABC of legal translations:
- Sworn translator: A translator who took an oath before a competent court.
- Stamp: Sworn translators used to have a physical stamp with which they certified their translations. However, Belgian sworn translators have had a digital signature to authenticate their translations since 2022.
- Sworn translation: Once a sworn translator has stamped their translation, they certify its authenticity.
- Legalised translation: An administrative procedure that authenticates a translator’s stamp and signature. This is a necessary requirement for certain documents and countries.
- Notarised translation: A legal translation that is certified in the presence of a notary.
When do organisations need authenticated translations?
Knowing which documents require which forms of authentication in which countries is a specialisation all its own. For example, the UK does not have a formal system of sworn translators. Legalised or notarised translations are often required for documents to be officially accepted (this is often referred to as ‘certified translations’). Countries such as France or Spain, however, do work with recognised sworn translators, so you will need sworn translations of certain documents when doing business in these countries.
Does all of this sound complicated? Well, that’s because it is indeed often complex. No worries; simply contact ELAN Languages if you have any questions regarding your legal documents.
Three examples
There are many instances in which an organisation might need a sworn translation. Once you are active abroad, you will undoubtedly need to translate certain legal documents at some point. Here are three examples of situations in which organisations need a sworn or certified translation:
Company registration: When you want to establish a business presence in a foreign country, you need sworn or certified translations of your articles of incorporation and formal registration documents.
International financial documents and contracts: Invoices, professional contracts, financial reports, permits, etc. might require sworn or certified translations to be accepted by the countries in which you’re working or investing.
Legal and commercial registry filings: Commercial registries and courts often require sworn or certified translations of diplomas, contracts, and company documents. This is vital when organisations want to submit official documents to legal bodies in countries with a different official language.
ELAN to the rescue
Need a fast and reliable legal translation, done by a legal expert who’s assisted by the latest technology? Or are you unsure whether you need a sworn translation, and if so, which documents must be sent to a sworn translator? Would you like to build a high-quality translation memory for your legal documents to achieve a faster translation process and more consistent output? Or maybe you have another query regarding your multilingual legal documents?
Get in touch with Valerie Kerten: valeriekerten@elanlanguages.com – +32 11 49 04 68.
She will answer all your legal translation questions and can tell you whether you need a sworn translation and, if so, what the deadline would be. Valerie can also provide you with a no-obligation quote.