With the growth of the non-English speaking population in the U.S., the number of cases which require translators and interpreters has increased dramatically. Has an attorney ever asked you to find a translator or interpreter at the last minute? Where would you start? Would you search the internet? Would you call a foreign language department at a local college? What is the difference between an interpreter and a translator?

This situation could happen to you--or it may have already happened. There are three kinds of language partnerships that provide support for translation and interpretation needs. This article explains the differences between the three and how to choose the one that fits your particular situation best. It is important to choose the right partnership, because the paralegal is responsible for reducing the risk of litigation due to mistranslation.

The three kinds of language partnerships for translation and interpretation are: 1) Freelance, 2) In-House, and 3) Agency.

Before exploring this topic further, note that an interpreter conveys the spoken word from one language to another, as in a deposition or mediation. A translator, on the other hand, conveys the written word from one language to another, as in an insurance policy or birth certificate.

1) Freelance Language Partnership

In the Freelance situation, you would hire the interpreter or translator and pay them directly. Working with a freelancer means that you only deal with one person (the translator) for the entire project. However, once the project is completely translated, you would also need to hire an editor to proofread the document. A proofreader is necessary because no matter how skilled the translator, there is always room for human error. Error can only be detected if another qualified person reviews the document. In some cases, freelancers use editors, so check with them ahead of time. It is also a good idea to check their references and the number of translations they have completed in the past. Keep in mind that you take on the responsibility for making sure the freelance translator is qualified.

If you use a freelancer to work on a project for a particular case, then you may want to use them for all the projects pertaining to that case. This is important because your projects should maintain consistency of vocabulary and style. Consistency of vocabulary and style not only reflect the image of your firm, they also have legal ramifications. For instance, if some documents are translated in one style by the first translator, and other documents are translated in another style by a second translator, then in court or mediation, opposing counsel might detect this inconsistency and raise concern.

Another consideration when hiring a freelancer, is that he or she works with many other clients. Therefore, in certain situations, this person may not be available to meet your deadlines or work on all your projects, especially when there is a rush request.

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