Legal Translator and Court Interpreter
Job Description
Legal translators and court interpreters both specialize in legal language. You may have noticed that some legal words are new to you. For example, an emphyteusis is a word you may never have heard before. It is a word to describe a special kind of rental agreement. Other words have a totally different meaning in legal language than in regular use. For example, a prescription in the law means an expiry date instead of a doctor’s order for medication.
Both legal translators and court interpreters must understand multiple languages to perform their jobs. However the type of work they do differs because legal translators focus their time on translating legal documents, while court interpreters focus on interpretation (a kind of verbal translation).
Legal translators are employed in law firms, the government, specialized translation companies or as freelance translators working by themselves. Did you know that the Translation Bureau for the Canadian federal government is one of the largest employers of translators in the world?
Court interpreters carry out their work mostly in the court system or in law firms.
Both legal translators and court interpreters must understand multiple languages to perform their jobs. However the type of work they do differs because legal translators focus their time on translating legal documents, while court interpreters focus on interpretation (a kind of verbal translation).
Translating Legal Documents
Legal translators work on all sorts of important documents, such as contracts, court judgements, wills, legal memos, etc. In Canada, which is a bilingual country, translators are kept busy because all official laws and publications of the federal government must be available in English and French.
Unlike court interpreters, who must do their work on the spot, legal translators are able to spend longer periods of time on their translations. It’s important that they take the time to reflect and check things twice, since the documents they translate are often complex and cannot have mistakes.
Unlike court interpreters, who must do their work on the spot, legal translators are able to spend longer periods of time on their translations. It’s important that they take the time to reflect and check things twice, since the documents they translate are often complex and cannot have mistakes.
Interpretation
Where do legal translators and court interpreters work?
Court interpreters are responsible for instantly translating what is being said in the courtroom for their clients. They may work in many languages, including sign language. Court interpreters also work outside the courtroom during negotiations, and when witness testimony is taken. Like legal translators, people rely on court interpreters because they understand of legal terms and can translate between languages. Court interpreters have to think quickly and don’t have the same opportunity to look at the dictionary as legal translators, since they translate things as they happen in real time!
Legal translators are employed in law firms, the government, specialized translation companies or as freelance translators working by themselves. Did you know that the Translation Bureau for the Canadian federal government is one of the largest employers of translators in the world?
Court interpreters carry out their work mostly in the court system or in law firms.
