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Reasons Why Legal Translations Are Worth Paying For
Legal translations have become an essential service for many organisations operating across borders. While it might be tempting to cut corners and opt for cheaper alternatives, investing in professional legal translation services can save companies significant time, money, and legal headaches in the long run.
Ensuring Legal Compliance
In the UK, businesses operating internationally must adhere to various legal requirements, including those set by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Inaccurate translations of legal documents such as contracts, terms of service, or privacy policies can lead to non-compliance, resulting in hefty fines or legal action. For instance, under GDPR, companies must provide clear and concise information about data processing in a language that data subjects can easily understand. Failure to do so due to poor translation could result in penalties of up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover, whichever is higher.
Mitigating Legal Risks
Ambiguities or errors in translation can lead to misunderstandings, disputes, and even litigation. In international business dealings, where large sums of money and valuable assets are often at stake, the cost of a legal battle far outweighs the investment in professional translation services.
Consider a scenario where a UK company enters into a contract with a German supplier. If the contract is not accurately translated, discrepancies in understanding key terms or conditions could lead to a breach of contract. The resulting legal dispute could be costly, time-consuming, and damaging to the business relationship.
Professional legal translators are trained to identify potential ambiguities and address them in the translation process. They can also flag any terms or clauses that may not be enforceable in the target jurisdiction, allowing businesses to make necessary adjustments before finalising agreements. Rosetta Translation has experience and expertise in legal translations. Their translators will ensure that your legal translation is word perfect.
Maintaining Confidentiality
Legal documents often contain sensitive or confidential information. When entrusting these documents to a translation service, businesses need assurance that their information will remain secure. Professional legal translation services typically have robust confidentiality protocols in place, including non-disclosure agreements and secure data handling procedures.
In contrast, using free online translation tools or non-professional translators can pose significant risks to data security. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre advises against using public online translation services for sensitive or confidential information, as these platforms may store or share the inputted text.
Saving Time and Resources
While professional legal translation services may seem expensive upfront, they can actually save businesses significant time and resources in the long run. Attempting to translate complex legal documents in-house or using non-specialised translators often leads to errors that require multiple revisions and clarifications.
Time is often of the essence in legal matters. Delays caused by inaccurate translations or the need for extensive revisions can result in missed deadlines, lost opportunities, or even legal penalties.
Facilitating Dispute Resolution
In the unfortunate event of a legal dispute, having accurately translated documents can be invaluable. The precise wording of contracts and other legal documents often plays a crucial role in determining outcomes during arbitration or court proceedings.
If a dispute arises between parties from different linguistic backgrounds, professionally translated documents can serve as reliable evidence. They can help clarify intentions, obligations, and rights as originally agreed upon, potentially saving significant time and costs in legal proceedings.
The UK's Ministry of Justice recognises the importance of certified translations in legal proceedings. Professional legal translators can provide certified translations that meet the requirements of courts and other legal bodies, ensuring that language differences do not become a barrier to justice.