Working in Legal Translation After Getting Your M.A. in Translation
Those earning a master’s degree in translation have a wide range of career opportunities at their disposal, and we like to highlight the many options on our blog. Once you have completed either our online or on-campus translation program, one key option is legal translation.
Continue reading for more information on the role of a legal translator, including responsibilities and expectations, as well as courses our program offers that are pertinent to this field.
What Is Legal Translation?
Legal translation focuses on the translation of documents within the field of law. Those who are non-native speakers often need essential legal documents translated accurately. Additionally, legal documents for a variety of businesses often need to be translated into various languages to ensure legal compliance.
Authentication of documents, evidence, and defenses is typically under the discretion of the legal translator. Courts will often reject automated translations for cases, due to their limitations regarding verb conjugations, cultural slang, and regional-specific grammar, all aspects a legal translation expert provides.
Why Are Legal Translation Services Important?
While working in the field, completing specified tasks as a legal translator is incredibly beneficial to the industry, as well as to those in need of legal services. Some features of legal translation can include the following:
- Producing the most accurate legal documentation – Since ambiguous language, misinterpretation, and misrepresentation are all major problems in legal contexts, effective legal translation is vital to help avoid complications throughout your case and beyond.
- Cross-cultural communication – Legal translators can help bridge the gap between one country and another during any legal matter. This helps keep the proceedings on track and running smoothly.
- Legal compliance requirements – Legal documentation is usually required to be presented in the local language to accompany the specific jurisdiction of the courts. That is why some legal translation services can include tasks related to compliance standards for the office they are working with.
Your Role as a Legal Translator
Since law is a culture-based field of work and study, legal translation requires intercultural competence and, oftentimes, close collaboration with legal professionals.
In the M.A. program at Kent State, we will supply you with the tools you need to learn how to translate complex legal documents as you would in your day-to-day role, as well as provide you with a cultural background that can assist you in more complex situations during your legal translations.
Our M.A. in Translation at Kent State University
Our curriculum provides knowledge in varying areas and is tailored to your language of study. These languages include Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. Some of the courses we provide that can aid you in your career as a legal translator include:
- Commercial, Legal, and Diplomatic Translation
- Terminology and Computer Applications in Translation
- Theory of Translation
- Documents in Multilingual Contexts
- Research and Writing
- Literary and Cultural Translation
We take pride not only in our course content but in our dedicated faculty as well. Our instructors have extensive experience in translation and are committed to working closely with our students to help prepare them for their future careers.
Legal translators need to be well-versed in computer-assisted translation tools. Our online students have access to state-of-the-art technology through Amazon WorkSpaces. Our graduates enter the language industry with a firm understanding of how translation memories, machine translation, and termbases can enhance their performance.
FAQs – What to Know About Legal Translation and More
You have questions, and we have answers. Here are some quick responses to our most frequently asked questions about the specialized legal translation industry.
Why is it important that your legal translator is accurate?
When it comes to legal documentation, minuscule errors could equate to substantial consequences, such as misinterpretation or invalidation of your documents, or, in some cases, legal disputes. That is why it is incredibly important to work with an experienced legal translator who is going to assist you throughout the legal process.
What documents usually require legal translation?
Some of the documents that could benefit from legal translation services include:
- Formal agreements
- Contracts
- Patents
- Immigration documents
- Wills
- Intellectual property filings
How do I verify the overall quality of a legal translation?
For the best results possible, the quality assurance process can go through multiple rounds of review. That includes reviews from both legal experts and translators alike. Legal translation documents can also include accompanying certifications that are most often required for official purposes.
For any additional questions, feel free to reach out to our team directly to learn more.
Ready to Get Started? Apply Today!
To get started on your journey to earning your master’s in translation so you can provide legal translation services, apply today. You can also reach out to our team with any questions.
We look forward to speaking with you!