This presentation is aimed at beginning or established translators who do not have a background in law but want to start specializing in legal translation. We will look at what specific knowledge prospective legal translators need to acquire (such as legal terminology in their source and target languages, and knowledge about the legal systems in their source and target language countries) and how they can acquire it through both traditional and informal study methods.
We will explore various training options specifically for translators already in business who cannot take several years off to attend law school full-time. These options include distance learning and flexible programs in law and legal translation, specialization courses for legal translators, continuing professional development, webinars, MOOCs, summer schools, conferences, etc. We will then look at how translators can efficiently gain the necessary knowledge of the law and improve their legal translation skills through focused self-study. Examples given include reading text books for law students, studying legal language and legal writing, compiling reference documents, analysing the most commonly translated legal documents in both the source and target languages, preparing for legal language exams, etc.
The presentation will feature many practical examples, links and resources, focusing mainly on Europe and the larger European languages (English, French, German and Spanish).
Christine Schmit translates legal, business and administrative documents from German, Spanish and English into French and Luxembourgish for EU institutions, law firms, notaries and SMEs. She holds Master’s degrees in Translation and Terminology from the University of Geneva, Switzerland, and a Law Degree from the University of Paris (Panthéon-Sorbonne), France. She is a sworn translator before the Superior Court of Justice of Luxembourg and a founding member and current Vice-President of the Luxembourg Translators and Interpreters Association.
