What Makes a ‘Good’ Legal Translation? Key Qualities to Look For

So… what exactly is a good legal translation?

It’s difficult to judge translation quality when you can’t speak the language, isn’t it? You might feel completely in the dark about whether you’ve received what you paid for.

Here’s the thing, what makes a “good” translation isn’t always black and white. (Translation is more art than science sometimes!). But this doesn’t mean you can’t evaluate the translator’s work.

There are specific things you should look for when you get your translated legal document back. And as someone who’s paying good money for this service, you deserve to know what quality markers to check for.

So, here are some key quality indicators that professional translators aim for (and that you should expect to see in your finished legal translation).

Key Quality Criteria for Legal Translations

Accuracy

• Conveys meaning and substance of the original text while taking into consideration context and cultural background.
• Does NOT add, omit, or change any parts of the original meaning.
• May be difficult to find the closest equivalent; however, an experienced translator would be able to get it as close as linguistically possible.

Naturalness

• Sounds natural to the native reader in feel, tone and flow.
• Reads like an original text in the target language and not like a translation.

How to Check Translation Quality

You won’t be able to check these criteria if you don’t speak both languages. But If you’re bilingual, you can absolutely use the tips above to spot-check your translator’s work.

Your translator isn’t making mistakes when they don’t translate word-for-word. Some linguistic nuances are difficult to translate and will not be literal, ON PURPOSE!

So trust the process, but if something seems odd, just ask! A good translator will be happy to explain their choices to you.

If You Know the Target Language

Can you read the language your text was translated into? Then you absolutely should!

When you read your translated document, it should feel smooth and natural, just like it was originally written in that language. Does it flow well? Does it sound like something a native speaker would write?

Here’s the test: if you’re stumbling through awkward phrasing, unusual word choices, and choppy sentences, then the translator didn’t do a good job. (And yes, you’re right to be concerned!)

Trust your instincts here. You know what sounds good in a language you understand, and you deserve a translation that meets that standard!

If You’re Not Bilingual

If you don’t speak both languages, here are some basic steps you can take to double check your translator:

• Verify if any and all numbers are correct
• Check the spelling of the names that are usually left untranslated
  • Unless there is an equivalent
• Perform a visual check

Document Appearance and Formatting

Have you ever wondered if your translated document will look exactly like your original? It’s a great question… and the answer depends on what you’re willing to pay for.

Standard translation

If you go with a standard translation, you won’t get all those visual elements included. Your images, signatures, and stamps won’t appear in the final document. Instead, you’ll see descriptions like “An oval stamp of the Head of the Department of Education, John Smith,” or something similar.

DTP (Desktop Publishing)

If you’re looking for that perfect mirror image of your original document, you’ll want to ask about DTP (Desktop Publishing) services. Here’s why it might be worth it for you: A DTP expert will recreate the entire layout, including all those visual elements you care about.

So, in our stamp example you’d actually see the stamp image from the original document along with the translated text.

Ensuring High-Quality Translations

The bottom line is, the absolute best way to get a quality translation is hiring an experienced legal translator.

Any professional translator will proofread their own work; however, having a second set of eyes is imperative.

For bigger projects, you definitely don’t want to do it alone. Finding a trusted agency to manage everything is the most convenient for you.

An experienced agency does so much more than just translate. They’ll oversee quality at every stage, coordinate all the different linguists you might need, and they’ll guide you through this whole complex process.

So what’s your next step? Whether you choose an individual legal translator or an agency, make sure they have the expertise you need and a solid proofreading process. Your legal document deserves nothing less!

At Legal Interpreters every translation is meticulously proofread and quality-checked for complete accuracy. And even with tight deadlines, our pre-vetted translators deliver fast, precise results. Reach out for a quote!

Written by Valentina Rodriguez