If you are a law firm or run any business, you know that the translation of legal documents can be tricky and should be taken care of very carefully. This involves a process that should be handled by professionals that are not only fluent in the languages involved but also have a certain knowledge of the legal sector. Reaching out to professional translation services is therefore a more appropriate solution that having someone with little knowledge take care of it, or worse, a translation software.

Why are legal translations important?

translation agency

For businesses aiming to expand internationally and operate in foreign countries, there are a number of types of documents and materials to have translated. Legal documents are one of them.

Legal documents will have to be translated at some point to interact with business partners and to meet the requirements of foreign government policies. Mistakes in such formal documents could hurt your business at a legal level, which can cause it major problems and be very costly. To avoid this type of situations, risks should not be taken, and translations should be considered carefully. Google Translate won’t cut the job, as there is a large number of factors to pay attention to when doing the job to guarantee its accuracy and reliability.

Here is what you should consider and look for when picking a translation services provider.

Translation agency’s reliability

You don’t want your official documents to be taken care of by some random company, that has no experience in the industry or that could be dodgy. If you are, for example, a London business owner, you need to make sure that you go through a trustworthy translation agency which has the experience and the recognition that prove its reliability. A company that offers translation services for many languages and works with many translators will be more likely to provide quality services.

You should look for a company that works with native professional translators. Every language is complex in its own way. That’s why no one can use a language better than those whose mother tongue it is. Expressions, technical terms, jargon and even cultural aspects are factors that come into play when translating documents. Unless you are native, understanding a foreign language will always be easier than speaking it, which is why expressing yourself in it can be tricky when professional and technical terms are involved. For translation companies, working with native translators is just more reliable and less risky.

You should also take a look at the company’s reviews, references and check if their customers are usually happy and would recommend their services. These are factors that show professionalism.

Certified translations

Providing translation services within the legal sector requires agencies to meet very specific and rigorous criteria. Going for an officially accredited translation company that provides certified translation services will guarantee you to be provided with quality services. You don’t want to take any risks as legal documents are not something to be considered lightly. Certifications such as the ISO Standard (International Organisation for Standardization) or the ATC Certification (Association of Translation Companies) are a proof of reliability and are awarded to companies legally recognized and able to translate and certify official legal documents. You should therefore pay attention to that, so that the quality of the service is ensured.

Specialised professional translators

Sector expertise is undeniably necessary in many sectors when it comes to translations, including the legal sector. It is important for translators to have a good knowledge of the industry, its procedures and its technical terms to translate documents accurately and reliably. A good knowledge of the law is essential. Being informed of legal codes and norms in general but more specifically for the countries involved in the translation is essential as well.

This is how you can tell if the company has experience in your industry. It should be stated on their website, so you can easily figure out if they do. You should look for a company that has worked with many businesses and firms similar to yours and that has translators with sector-specific knowledge.

Turnaround times

In the legal sector, the demands for document translations can be strict and deadlines can be tight. This can be quite stressful for law firms but also for other types of businesses, as they can have many official and legal documents that need to be translated quickly.

Look for a translation agency that can offer scalability and fast turnaround times without compromising quality. In the area, delays are not an option. You should therefore go for a company that guarantees speed and efficiency. You might find yourself in situations where you need documents to be translated within a very short period of time. You should find a company you can count on that will take care of your projects as soon as you reach out to them, and that has many translators and a high availability.

Good customer service

Customer service is very important to build a relationship of trust with your translation services provider. They should be available for you to stay in touch with them if you need to reach out to their services again. They should also show professionalism by responding to you quickly, listening to your needs and tailoring their services to your projects.

Competitive prices

Obviously, price is a major part of the decision-making process when looking for a translation agency. The prices should remain reasonable, as you don’t want to spend massive amounts of money and waste them when you can find cheaper options elsewhere. However, they shouldn’t seem too low so that the quality of the service is not compromised by inferior costs.

Whether you need to communicate with your customers and business partners or to deal with another country’s law, legal translations are essential within any business area. As you can see, the translation of legal documents is something that shouldn’t be neglected. You should therefore look for a translation agency that meets certain criteria. The one you choose should work with native professional translators that have sector-specific knowledge and experience, provide certified translations, be reactive and reliable, and have a good customer service and competitive prices. By reaching out to the right one, you will ensure the quality of the translation of your documents and avoid the risk of having any problems or mistakes related to them.