Legal Translation Services
Catherine Diallo
Translating meaning is what I do.
As a certified translator (C. Tr.) and non-practising lawyer (LL.B., LL.M.), I am committed to offering professional legal translation services, strategically developed to efficiently navigate language barriers, facilitate international communication, and support your global success.
I also provide financial translation services.
438-883-6989
Professional and certified legal translation services
Legal translation services play a key role in bridging linguistic gaps, avoiding costly misunderstandings, and facilitating cultural & economic exchanges across international borders.
Human
Translation
I translate your legal documents in accordance with the highest standards of accuracy and reliability. I also adapt the translated text to local requirements and customs.
Bilingual
Editing
Do you already have a human translation and want to make sure it’s flawless? I’m happy to review the work for you to guarantee accuracy and style.
Translation
Consulting
Are you uncertain about which legal documents require a translation? I can advise you based on your specific needs and goals, helping you avoid any unnecessary spending.
Certified language combinations
Professional and certified legal translation of the following texts
Legal text types include
*but are not limited to
Agreements
Articles of Association
Birth Certificates
By-laws
Company Policies
Compliance Manuals
Conventions
Contracts
Court Documents
Death Certificates
Ethical Codes
Investment Prospectuses
Legal Marketing Material
Marriage Certificates
Official Documents
Patient’s Provision
Power of Attorney
Privacy Policies
Protection Mandates
Terms & Conditions
Vital Records
White Papers
Wills
What you’re looking for in professional legal translation services
Quality
You may be worried that the translator won’t understand complex legal or financial terminology, so you consider translation skills and subject-matter expertise as equally important when hiring a translator.
Costs
You received a large volume of documents from your client and need to figure out which ones must be translated, but you don’t have the time or language skills to do so. The last thing you want is to pay a middleman or spend money on unnecessary work.
Time
You need to get a complicated legal document translated for an upcoming trial. The translation must be certified, and time is of the essence.
Communication
You would like to reach out to the translator directly, rather than dealing with ever-changing project managers.
Confidentiality
You wish to entrust your confidential documents to one person only and hire them again if needed.
Recognition
You must make sure that the translation respects all formal requirements as set out by the requesting authority.
Why hire me for legal translation services
Providing professional legal translation services requires an understanding of the original text’s legal meaning.
Several lawyers I work with have told me that their main concern is whether the translator understands the original text. That appears to be more of a concern than the actual translation / language abilities.
As a lawyer, I know what to look for in legal texts, and what questions to ask if something does not seem clear. Sometimes, entire parts of the original text are inconsistent or refer to other legal texts that may use different terminology, but mean the same thing.
And when that happens, someone who understands both the language and the law is required.
Some people describe me as a consistency addict. As my client, you will benefit from that trait in various ways. Your text will be translated using consistent terminology while accounting for context and keeping the original meaning.
Translating meaning is what I do.
I work with law firms, notaries, legal departments, and individuals that require the translation of court documents, wills, etc. for personal purposes.
Experience
Trained lawyer (non-practising) with 10 years of experience in legal drafting and legal, financial, and business translation.
Areas of expertise
I focus on certified and non-certified translations for legal professionals, financial professionals, and international companies. If your request is not within my field of expertise, I will refer you to a trusted colleague.
Reliability
Over 1,000 successfully completed translation projects.
Never miss a deadline
My translations are delivered on time.
Honesty
When clients hire me as a consultant, I inform them of what needs to be translated for their specific undertaking. No “squeezing the lemon.”
Alignment
I ensure that my translations are accurate and reflect the original document’s content, cultural nuances, and tone.
Flexibility
Any formal requirements, such as a stamp on each page or specific wording in the certified translator’s statement, can be accommodated.
Responsiveness
I remain available for questions throughout and after the translation process.
Trust
I am legally bound by confidentiality obligations and will not disclose your documents to any third party without prior approval.
“I have collaborated with Catherine as an editor and proofreader on German-English legal texts of immense complexity. Catherine has an astonishing and nuanced command of legal English. Her arbitration knowledge from her background as a lawyer makes her highly skilled at translating complicated and sensitive texts. She is an especially meticulous translator who strives to make legal language clear and readable. I would recommend her for any legal document for which you need a particularly knowledgeable and agile translator.”
– Hannah B., OTTIAQ/CALT Certified Translator (IT-ES-FR-DE>EN)
Pricing
I bill my legal translation services by the hour or by the project. I also offer discounts for 3- and 6-month retainers.
FAQ
Some translators charge their legal translation services by the word. The per-word fees for legal translation services, performed by a certified translator and legally trained professional, range somewhere between CAD 0.3 and CAD 0.4 per word, depending on text length, complexity, and turnaround time. Additional fees will normally apply for certification and hard copy delivery.
Legal translation services, unlike certified translations of personal documents, aren’t usually billed by the page. A certified legal translation combines legal translation services (text translation) with certified translation services (certification with an official translator’s stamp) and will typically be billed by the word, by the hour, or by the project.
When it comes to using certified translations for official purposes, such as immigration processes, court procedures etc., the services of a translator who’s a member of a provincial translator’s association are typically required.
The fee for translation services depends on various factors, such as the language pair, the turnaround time, the text type, whether a certification is required, etc.
Artificial intelligence is becoming a widespread tool to help translators manage large volumes of text. Nuance and tone, however, cannot be recognized or translated by machines. It is also impossible to achieve a consistent text with AI tools. For example, the terms “contract” and “agreement” tend to be used interchangeably—and mistakenly—in machine translations. Lawyers cannot let such errors affect their image. To ensure your texts perfectly reflect the intended meaning, you need a translator who understands and knows how to convey that meaning.
I communicate proactively with clients to understand their terminology and other preferences. My multilingual glossaries and translation memories ensure that translated texts are consistent in terms of expression, tone, and format.
It may sound old-fashioned, but I print complex translations for revision. Despite the help of automated grammar and spell checks, nothing beats reading a text on paper with a fresh set of eyes.
Depending on the level of complexity, the translation is reviewed by a trusted colleague if budget and time constraints permit.
As every document is different, turnaround time can only be determined once I know more about the document. Please contact me to get a quote and an expected turnaround time.
Yes, there is an additional fee for an expedited turn around.
Ultimately, it’s up to you. I usually send them via email in PDF format, but some clients prefer Word. Besides PDF format, I can also provide certified translations in hard copy.
I accept credit card payments, bank transfers, checks, and Interac e-transfer.
Yes. If your referral leads to a one-time assignment, you will receive a 15% discount on your next translation. If it leads to a long-term agreement with advance payments, you will receive a 20% discount.
Professional affiliations
