Short answer: It is a translator with a legal background.

Long answer: All lawyer-linguists hold a law degree. They may be qualified to practise law–or not. They must also possess linguistic skills acquired through additional studies or experience. The services of lawyer-linguists are required in situations where legal translations must be flawless. Many international and translational organizations, such as the European Union, employ in-house and freelance lawyer-linguists. Law firms and multinational companies also commonly use the services of lawyer-linguists.

Why do lawyer-linguists exist but not e.g. physician-linguists or engineer-linguists?

The best person to translate a technical text is often a linguist with a background in the specific technical field. For instance, a doctor would be a good choice for a medical text, just like an engineer would be a good choice for an engineering text. Specialised professionals possess the training and experience that allows them to identify and and use the appropriate terminology. However, legal translations are way more complex than that. This is why the title of lawyer-linguist exists and why these professionals are highly sought.

In addition to extreme precision and knowledge of the appropriate terminology, legal translations also require in-depth knowledge of law and the legal systems of different countries. Only an actual lawyer possesses such knowledge, which is necessary to translate terms that have no direct equivalent in the target language. This is often the case when the source and target languages correspond to different “families” of legal systems, e.g. Common Law and Civil Law.

Legal texts can be so convoluted that only a lawyer can decipher and translate their meaning. In addition, only a lawyer can appreciate the nuances of “legalese” and select the most appropriate wording to prevent legal entanglements. For instance, in jurisdictions where employees enjoy strong protection and a host of benefits under labour law, using terms that may connote employment in connection to the services of freelancers must be avoided at all costs .

So what is a legal translator then?

A legal translator is any translator who translates legal documents. A legal translator may be a lawyer-linguist but most legal translators are not.

Do I need a lawyer-linguist instead of a legal translator?

Are your legal documents important or complex? Then the services of a lawyer-linguist are advised.

If you need a lawyer-linguist for your translation, please click here to learn more about my legal translation services.