Legal Archives

Published On - September 25, 2019

The Importance of Legal Interpreting

What is legal interpreting, and why does it matter? The goal of the legal system is supposed to be to uncover the truth. When the people involved can’t understand each other, the system breaks down. That’s why legal interpreting plays such a vital behind-the-scenes role in ensuring that justice ...

Translating justice the importance of translation and interpreting within the legal industry

Published On - August 14, 2017

Mary Ravenna Inside Track, Legal

Translating Justice

Just over a year ago, figures from the UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ) revealed that more than 2,600 court cases had been adjourned due to failures in interpreting services over the previous five years. The news focused on doubts about the viability of outsourcing firm Capita to fulfil the MOJ’s requ...

Legal Translation 4 Times It Changed History

Published On - September 25, 2015

Mary Ravenna Language Blog, LegalTags: History

Legal Translation: 4 Times It Changed History

Legal translation is one of the most difficult forms of translation. The stakes are high, as money, lives and freedom hang in the balance. It requires absolute familiarity with both everyday language and legal jargon in both languages, and it’s essential to get it right the first time. For per...

Published On - September 14, 2015

Gemma Brackenbury Inside Track, Language Blog, LegalTags: Translation

What is Legal Translation?

The term legal translation refers to the translation of any text used within the legal system. As documents used for legal purposes are generally required to be submitted in the official language of a relevant jurisdiction the term can encompass a wide variety of texts including, but not limited to,...

Published On - December 11, 2013

Mary Ravenna Government, Inside Track, Language Blog, Legal, Public Sector InterpretingTags: Government

Legal Responsibility for Government Translation

Translation and the Law When developing your Government department’s language policies and communication strategies it is advisable to consider the following articles of law. This research should be used to help you to decide what you translate and when you use interpreters (or telephone inter...

Published On - November 30, 2011

Gemma Brackenbury Language Blog, LegalTags: Sign Language

Deaf Jail

Can you imagine being held prisoner by people you cannot communicate with, with no idea why you are there or when you will be released? That’s what happened to Timothy Siaki, an American man imprisoned in a Colorado jail for 25 days without an interpreter. That’s almost a month! How did ...

Published On - October 21, 2011

Gemma Brackenbury Accessibility Services, Language Blog, LegalTags: Braille

Braille Keyboard for Tablets

Touchscreens for Braille For several years, smooth, sleek touchscreens have dominated the tech gadget world. Touchscreens are said to be more intuitive than other input methods, as even infants instinctively know how to use them. However, the touchscreen revolution has left one group of people sitti...

Translation Issue Puts Businessman in an Egyptian Jail

Published On - February 14, 2011

Mary Ravenna Language Blog, Legal

Translation Issue Puts Businessman in an Egyptian Jail

An Egyptian-American businessman found himself trapped in an Egyptian jail cell last month, all because of a translation issue. Mostafa Soliman has dual Egyptian and American citizenship and owns an Egyptian health food company called Healthy Harvest. He claims his problems began when he went to Egy...