Introduction

Legal English is undoubtedly the lingua franca of international commerce and dispute resolution. Within the EU, Legal English is the general language of contracts and client communication between parties from different Member States. In private or government contracting with and between Third Country Nationals, the preferred legal language will invariably be Legal English; it provides something of a common linguistic foundation.

The World is just starting to grapple with the need for a common legal language. Often general English will not be the native tongue of any of the parties, nor of their legal advisers. Remember too that most native speakers of any language have little understanding of the language of the law. The problems raised by this global phenomenon require an understanding and use of both Plain English and Plain Legal English.

For lawyers, business people, legislators, civil servants and others working across borders with legal text, this process of understanding and clear communication, needs the guidance of qualified and experienced language professionals. Lawyers may prepare the source text, but lawyers are generally not legal linguists, even in their own legal language. Thus, translators are often the starting point in translating between legal languages. Translators may or may not be specialist legal translators. Often translations present problems of equivalence between the two languages or legal systems; but unless there is a lawyer linguist available, the errors may not be identified. Legal translators are generally not lawyers and are not trained in the legal concepts of their own legal system, nor are they comparative lawyers with training in the legal system into which, or from which, they are translating. The field of legal linguistics is an emerging one.

The Public Sector within the EU is highly aware of legal linguistic issues relating to EU legislation. EU law is translated into the Official Languages by teams of specialised translators, with checking by lawyer linguists. Member States often arrange for their own National Laws to be translated into English for information purposes, for example so that people from other countries can understand the legal requirements under that country’s commercial code, or labour code.

Legal-English.cz provides a range of linguistic and legal linguistic services that are outlined on this website. They include training for lawyers, legal support staff, and others required to work with Legal English. This may include training in drafting legal text, or reading and understanding legal text. Another aspect of training is preparing lawyers, legal translators and others to sit for the Cambridge International Legal English Certificate (ILEC) which is a standardised international legal language qualification sought by employers and legal staff alike. Legal English for Contracts, Legal Writing and preparing Persuasive documentation for negotiations or litigation are also important areas for training, or for document audit and review.