You can find out more on the European day of languages website.

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

Find out more about how partnering with Prestige Network can enable your local authority to extract best value from its services or call our local authority specialists on 01635 866888.

Colin Dudley Local Authority Business Development Manager, Prestige Network

Mr Dudley said: “Being able to communicate with staff is crucial for everyone using council services: it enables people to say what they want, to understand what is going on around them and feel connected to others. Translation and interpreting services give people access to support.

“The increased demand for language services by public sector organisations and commercial companies alike is symptomatic of the need to meet the country’s continually expanding and diversifying language base.”

Supporting the legal sector with legal translation and legal interpreting services takes many forms – from working with litigation attorneys and solicitors at court hearings, patent hearings, and fraud cases, to helping out in personal injury claims and matrimonial arbitration to legal document translating services and court transcripts.

Meryem Skinner, Operations Manager at Berkshire-based Prestige Network (with specific responsibility for the legal division), said: “We have always seen the provision of our services to the legal profession as a very important part of what we do. Different skills are employed in the translation of a legal document to those used in supporting an international arbitration case and we ensure that translators and interpreters are hand picked to suit specific tasks.

Read the full article as featured in the Norfolk Law Society Journal, Spring 2009 edition on our translation services website.

At Prestige Network, our professional Legal Interpreters and Legal Translators have extensive industry experience, native fluency in the target language and dialect, linguistics or translation degrees from a major university or language school and relevant experience translating legal documents and materials.

Prestige Network has been providing Legal Translation and Legal Interpreting Services for leading law firms, judicial systems including law courts, UK and global companies, and government agencies for around 20 years.

• Prestige works with many Solicitors around the UK providing interpreters for interviews and court and high quality, professional translations.
• Prestige also works closely with Courts providing experienced interpreters.
• Prestige works closely with many Police Forces throughout the UK. We understand and address their future interpreting requirements tailoring our services to their exact needs, whilst ensuring our language specialists receive job-specific briefs.
• Prestige provides a professional translation and certification service for legal documents including birth certificates, marriage certificates and property documents.

Prestige Network provides you with a simple way to break the legal language barrier with our range of Legal Language services – from Court interpreters to translation of legal documents.

Call now on 01635 292 784 for a professional and friendly legal language service – and right across the UK!

Prestige Network caters for all language and communications needs including legal (Police, Law Courts, Solicitors, Fraud Investigators, etc.), manufacturing, central and local government departments such as DWP, the NHS, charities, the Police and other public organisations; as well as many commercial businesses such as Vodafone.

A 24/7 interpreting service is provided for a number of Police Forces around the UK and can be arranged for you too if required.

Speak to our Sales Department on 01635 292 789 for further details or email salesuk@prestigenetwork.com