Of all aspects of a legal translation (just like any other translation), the
most important is the quality. In this respect, however, you are not just
dealing with me. Today there are the most various of technical or electronic
aids, which, of course, I use as far as they are practicable: electronic
dictionaries, the Internet, spelling features in WORD, grammar controls, data
base programs such as TRADOS or Transit which all assist in getting rid of
“silly” or other errors. But the only real control, which is available, is to
have the work edited or proofread by a second, qualified translator. For this
reason I have colleagues who help me in this respect with the result that the
price does not become more favourable but the quality better.
And this is where ‘legal translations – straight from the translator’ plays a
part again. If you order your legal translation through an agency or a
translation office, you are usually dealing with people who are not in a
position to judge the quality of a legal translation. Your best choice is
therefore to discuss the result of your legal translation as far as possible
with the translator himself. You will always receive direct and competent
answers to your questions.
In addition, I am in a position to avoid the “sins” of the agencies and
translation offices as I am not, for example, forced to accept every order for a
legal translation come what may. I accept a job if the circumstances are such
that I genuinely know that I can produce the desired result. This means
basically that there is adequate time to achieve the desired quality without
rush or panic. Never are orders split up and distributed amongst colleagues!