How to Choose the Best Interpretation Services for Your Legal Practice

When legal matters cross linguistic boundaries, the differences in language, law, and culture can make an already complex case even more challenging.

Legal interpretation requires an extremely high level of precision and accuracy. These are high-stakes situations, and choosing the right interpreter is crucial to the success of the legal matter. A trusted language service provider can handle the heavy lifting of this process. At the beginning of a project, the provider should fully understand your firm's specific needs and expectations for the interpretation process.

When Expertise and Experience Matter

For non-technical cases, a generalist legal interpreter might suffice. However, for highly specialized technical, scientific, or medical matters, the translation service provider will rely on a carefully selected pool of highly educated, experienced specialist interpreters. For example, if you need a French-German interpreter with a master's degree in engineering to assist with a patent law investigation, or an MD/JD interpreter to handle a malpractice lawsuit, the provider can supply these experts. They can even provide rare language pairs, such as Tamil to Thai.

In the rare event that a suitable interpreter is not already available within the provider's pool, they will recruit and train an interpreter specifically tailored to meet the client's needs.

Translation service providers typically require interpreters to have at least five years of work experience, ensuring they are capable and experienced enough to handle complex legal terminology and sensitive subject matter. Experienced interpreters are also better at adapting quickly to a range of intricate scenarios.

What to Consider When Choosing Interpreters

Clients need to have confidence in their interpreter’s abilities. It's advisable to speak with the selected interpreter before making a final decision. This ensures both parties can check for compatibility, which is essential, especially in this field, where long and sometimes irregular working hours are common.

Firms must also decide what type of interpretation they require: simultaneous or consecutive. The former, often called UN-style interpretation, involves the interpreter speaking over the original speaker after a brief pause. This method requires at least two interpreters for accuracy due to its intense nature. It’s the fastest form of interpretation, making it ideal for larger groups or situations where time is limited.

Consecutive interpretation, on the other hand, allows each party to speak naturally, with the interpreter translating only after the speaker has finished. This type of interpretation is better suited for smaller, more intimate settings, such as depositions. It also allows each party to observe the non-verbal cues of the other side, such as body language, which can enrich the communication.

Streamlining the Process

While legal matters are often complex and challenging, finding the right interpreter doesn’t have to be a daunting task.

The work these interpreters do is as varied as their language pairs. If you'd like to learn more about how our team can assist your legal firm, or how your company can benefit from a dedicated team of interpreters, feel free to contact us. We're here to help your firm succeed in multilingual legal matters.

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