Why Legal Translation Services are Important
From family matters to workman’s compensation, navigating a client through legal territory can be a daunting task. When you add a language barrier to the list of legal challenges, these tasks can seem insurmountable.
Metaphrasis offers legal translation and interpretation services that bridge the communication gap between the legal services you offer and the ever-growing needs of the multilingual U.S. population.
Speak the Language of Your Client
According to the 2017 “American Community Survey” conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people who speak a language other than English at home is on the rise. This has created a growing demand for multilingual assistance with legal issues.
In addition, legal systems that foreign-born residents are used to may differ greatly from those here in the United States so it’s important to ensure your clients understand their legal rights and responsibilities.
Up to the Judge
The right to an interpreter in court is implied as Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, and by Title IV of the Civil Rights Act.
In fact, the Court Interpreters Act requires the court provide an interpreter for non-English speakers.
In cases where a legal interpreter is needed, there is typically an agreement between the court and attorneys regarding the need for language services. Statutory guidelines may also further clarify the role of interpretation in litigation.
Although the need for interpretation is at times quite obvious, the use of such services is likely to remain a strategic tool an attorney has at their disposal.
Professional Legal Translation is Key to Success
In the judicial realm, using legal translation services is critical to avoid mistranslations, ensure political and social correctness, and guarantee confidentiality.
As legal cases involving multiple languages are on the rise, there is a growing concern about non-professionally trained interpreters and legal translators. Without professional legal translation services, the speaker’s words can get lost in translation. This can present a complicated and serious situation when professionals need to communicate across multiple languages and cultures in legal proceedings or in a court of law.
Issues to be Aware of Around Legal Interpretation
Here are three issues that frequently arise when legal interpreting is required:
Legal Interpretation and its Effect on Testimony
An interpreter is an influential participant in litigation and, if not professionally trained, has the power to quietly shape testimony.
An interpreted response often leads one to ask whose words are really being spoken, and who chose them? This is not an insignificant question for a defendant, witness, expert or legal team member to be asking.
An attorney’s strategy typically depends on the deliberate choice of words in responses, and a precise translation of a carefully constructed phrase may not exist in another language.
Legal Translation Errors
The biggest fear is to have something completely lost in translation by incorrectly translating the words spoken. Phrasing a question to elicit a specific answer can be undermined by interpretation.
Research has found that even consecutive interpretation mistranslated leading questions one-third of the time in the courtroom.
Costly Translation Disputes
If there is a dispute regarding the accuracy of the translation and interpretation in depositions or court, cost increases can certainly come into play.
Translation disagreements also add to the length and complexity of the legal process, and if they cannot be resolved in a timely manner can affect the clarity of transcripts and court records.
Avoiding these altogether by utilizing a professional language services company is the best option.
Contact Us for Legal Translation Services
At Metaphrasis, we carefully select language professionals based on their qualifications and expertise to ensure that your face-to-face interactions are being interpreted by someone who understands the terminology specific to your industry or legal situation.
We pride ourselves on providing professional, quality language services. Above all, we value the partnerships we make with our clients when we assist them with legal translation and legal interpreting experiences.
We not only offer translation services for legal documents, but we also offer real-time interpreters who can attend your depositions and hearings.
Do you have a need for legal interpreting or legal translation services? Contact Metaphrasis by filling out our contact form or calling us at (815) 464-1423.