Prestige Network has been providing language services for leading law firms, the judicial system, UK and global companies and government agencies for almost 20 years.
We have found that there is an increasing use of language services by the legal profession with, for example, more and more legal firms providing services and supporting non-English-speaking clients.
With that in mind, we have produced the following guide to using language services for the Legal sector.
What to look for when choosing a language provider:
- How long has the company been established?
- What range of services do they offer?
- How much experience do they have providing the kind of service you need?
- How well do they know the market you operate in?
- How much experience do they have providing services for the language you need?
- Is the company accredited by the relevant Language Quality Assurance organisations?
- Are their translators and interpreters industry aware?
- Are their translators and interpreters culturally aware?
What You need to do
Good communication between you and a language services company is the starting point for ensuring that you achieve the best for your non-English speaking clients. Preliminary preparation is very useful.
When you make a booking, bear in mind these tips for getting the best results:
- Have as much information on the assignment available as possible, including any relevant documents to be translated
- If you know which language and which dialect is required, please inform us. We can help you, if you are unsure
- In many cases, language support can be provided very quickly, but it’s best to make arrangements in advance
- Clarify any unusual procedures or regulations involved
- Be clear about the deadlines you need to be met
- If the booking is for an on-site interpreter, be ready to confirm the date, duration and location
- If you have used the company’s services before, have your account details to hand
What the language services provider needs to do
As soon as the provider receives the go-ahead, they will find their best match of interpreter/translator skills and availability for your assignment.
When finding an interpreter or translator for you, the operations team needs to ensure that he/she has an appropriate qualification in legal work (such as a Diploma in Public Service Interpreting – Law Option, or an MA in Translations and Interpreting).
Other considerations in choice of linguist could include:
- Gender
- Social/ethnic issues
- Age
- Dialects
The linguist will be briefed with as much information as is available, including any factual information and background documents about the case.
For face-to-face interpreting, a pre-session could be arranged between you and the interpreter before the client arrives. This would give you the opportunity to go through:
- Factual information about the case
- The aim of the session
- Any technical terms you expect to use during the session
If you require any help please contact Prestige Network’s legal services team on 01635 292 784 or email legal@prestigenetwork.com
Posted by prestigenetwork 
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