Practical tips for legal translation

Legal translation is one of the most sensitive areas of the profession. A minor change in wording or terminology can alter the meaning of a clause or delay an entire procedure.

Consistency of terminology

Legal terms need to be used consistently throughout and across documents.

Party definitions, payment terms and termination clauses should follow a single approved wording.
Key concepts such as jurisdiction, governing law and confidentiality must be aligned with previously approved templates.
Comparing new translations with earlier versions helps to avoid unnecessary variation.

Bridging different legal systems

Every legal system has its own concepts and institutions, which may not have one word equivalents in the target language.

Where there is no exact match, explanatory translations or functional equivalents can be used.
Choice of terminology should reflect the context and the body before which the document will be used.
If needed, short notes or references to relevant legislation can clarify how a term should be understood.

Confidentiality and data protection

Case files, trade secret agreements and documents containing personal data require strict confidentiality measures.

Define who can access which documents and through which channels.
Verify that file transfer systems provide encryption and access logs.
Reduce unnecessary copies and specify how and when archived material is anonymised or deleted.

Additional good practices

Maintain numbering, headings and cross references exactly as in the source document.
Use clear and unambiguous formats for dates, currencies and interest rates.
Keep a version history for contracts that go through several rounds of negotiation and revision.