10 Best Online Resources to Boost your Career in Legal Translation

Looking to advance your career in legal translation? This article explores the 10 best online resources that can help you enhance your skills, stay updated on legal terminology, and connect with professionals in the field.
Mar 25 / Alessia Di Cunto and Alfonso González
Whether you’re an aspiring translator or a seasoned professional, staying ahead in the legal translation field requires continuous learning, access to reliable resources, and strong professional connections. Fortunately, the internet offers many tools to help you refine your skills, deepen your knowledge of legal terminology, and expand your career opportunities.

In this article, we explore the 10 best online resources designed to boost your career in legal translation. These platforms will equip you with the expertise and connections needed to thrive in the industry, from specialized training programs and certification courses to professional networks and terminology databases.

Whether you’re looking to improve your legal vocabulary, gain practical experience, or stay updated on industry trends, these resources will serve as valuable assets on your professional journey.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. IATE

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IATE is the acronym for Interactive Terminology for Europe and it is the official multilingual term database used by the European Union institutions. It provides access to a vast collection of legal and technical terms across multiple languages, making it an essential tool for legal translators working with EU-related documents.

Pros:
 Free and publicly accessible
 Covers a wide range of legal and technical terminology
 Provides term definitions, sources, and usage contexts

Cons:
 Some terms may lack detailed explanations or context
 Focuses primarily on EU-related terminology, which may not cover all legal systems
A good course to apply many of the terms you will find in IATE is Rebeca Encinas' "Traducción de documentos de visados e inmigración".

2. EUR-Lex

EUR-Lex is the official portal for accessing European Union law, providing free access to treaties, legislation, case law, and other legal documents in all official EU languages. This resource is invaluable for legal translators working with EU legal texts, as it allows them to find authoritative references and ensure accuracy in their translations.

Pros:
 Free and comprehensive access to EU legislation and case law
 Available in multiple languages
 An official and reliable source for legal terminology

Cons:
 Complex interface that may be challenging for beginners
 Primarily focuses on EU law, which may not be relevant for all legal systems
The course for a comprehensive training in legal and sworn translation for which EurLex will be a source of reference: "Experto en traducción jurídica y jurada".

3. TechDico

TechDico is a multilingual terminology database that specializes in technical and legal terms across various industries. It combines results from multiple sources, including specialized dictionaries and official documents, making it a useful tool for legal translators who need precise and context-specific terminology.

Pros:
 Covers both legal and technical terminology across multiple fields
 Provides translations in several languages
 Free and easy to use

Cons:
 Some terms may lack detailed context or authoritative sources
 Not exclusively focused on legal terminology, so results may vary in relevance

4. Brocardi

Brocardi.it is an Italian legal resource that provides access to laws, codes, and legal principles, along with explanations and case law references. It is particularly useful for legal translators working with Italian legal texts, as it offers clear definitions and interpretations of legal concepts.

Pros:
 Comprehensive source for Italian law and legal principles
 Includes explanations and references to case law
 Useful for understanding the context of legal terminology

Cons:
 Available only in Italian, limiting accessibility for non-Italian speakers
 Focuses solely on Italian law, making it less useful for translators working with other legal systems
An excellent course about legal translation in Italian where you will need to use Brocardi is "La traduzione legale: aspetti teorici e pratici".

5. Termium Plus

TERMIUM Plus® is the official terminology and linguistic database of the Government of Canada, offering multilingual terms in legal, technical, and administrative fields. It is an essential tool for translators working with Canadian legal documents, as it provides authoritative terminology in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Pros:
 Reliable and government-backed terminology database
 Covers legal, technical, and administrative fields
 Multilingual (English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese)

Cons:
 Primarily focused on Canadian legal terminology, which may not apply to other legal systems
 Some terms may lack extensive definitions or contextual examples

6. Law.com Legal Dictionary

The Law.com Legal Dictionary is an online resource that provides definitions of legal terms commonly used in U.S. law. It is particularly useful for legal translators who need clear and concise explanations of legal concepts in English, helping them understand and accurately translate legal texts.

Pros:
 Free and easy to use
 Provides clear definitions of legal terms
 Focuses on U.S. legal terminology

Cons:
 Only available in English
 May not be relevant for other legal systems
 Lack of multilingual translation options
A must course in English for those entering legal translation is the course by Lucy Makepeace "Introduction to Legal Translation".

7. FindLaw

FindLaw is a comprehensive online legal resource that provides access to U.S. laws, case law, legal news, and articles on various legal topics. It is particularly useful for legal translators working with U.S. legal texts, as it offers insights into legal concepts, terminology, and practical applications.

Pros:
 Extensive database of U.S. laws and case laws
 Provides legal articles and explanations for better context
 Free and user-friendly

Cons:
 Focuses exclusively on U.S. law, limiting its relevance for other legal systems
 Lacks multilingual support for non-English speakers
 Some legal articles are written for a general audience rather than legal professionals

8. Justia

Justia is a valuable legal resource that provides free access to U.S. laws, case law, regulations, and legal articles. It is widely used by legal professionals, including translators, to research legal terminology and concepts in the context of American law. The platform also offers legal blogs and insights on various topics.

Pros:
 Free access to a vast collection of legal materials
 Includes case law, codes, and legal articles for context
 Regularly updated with legal news and insights

Cons:
 Focuses solely on U.S. law, limiting the usefulness for other jurisdictions
 Only available in English
 Some content is more general and not tailored specifically for legal translators

9. UNTERM

UNTERM is the United Nations’ official terminology database, providing access to multilingual legal and technical terms used in UN documents and communications. It is an invaluable resource for legal translators working with international law, UN-related texts, and diplomatic materials, offering authoritative and standardized terminology in multiple languages.

Pros:
 Multilingual database with access to official UN terminology
 Covers legal, technical, and diplomatic terms
 Reliable source for international law and UN-related translations

Cons:
 Primarily focused on UN and international law, limiting relevance for national legal systems
 Some terms may be highly specialized, making them less useful for general legal translations

10. Merriam-Webster’s Legal Dictionary

The Merriam-Webster’s Legal Dictionary is a widely recognized online resource that provides clear and concise definitions for legal terms used in the U.S. legal system. It is an essential tool for legal translators, offering accessible explanations of complex legal concepts and vocabulary in English.

Pros:
 Easy-to-understand definitions for U.S. legal terms
 A trusted and widely respected sourceFree and accessible online

Cons:
 Focuses solely on U.S. law, limiting its relevance for other legal systems
 Only available in English, which may be limiting for non-English speakers
 May not provide in-depth context or usage examples for every term

Conclusion

In the ever-evolving field of legal translation, having access to the right resources is key to staying ahead of the curve. The platforms highlighted in this article offer valuable tools for improving your legal terminology, understanding complex concepts, and ensuring the accuracy of your translations.

Whether you're working with international law, EU regulations, or U.S. legal texts, these online resources will help you refine your skills, expand your knowledge, and build a strong foundation for a successful career in legal translation.

By integrating these tools into your daily practice, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the complexities of legal language and make meaningful contributions to the field.
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A huge thanks to our experts, who provided us with their invaluable tips to create this blogpost: Chiara Bizzi, Alessia Mosca, and Rebeca Encinas Manchado.


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Hisparos

Do you need a sworn translation of any document?
Then, Hisparos has you covered as they offer sworn/legal translations
in multiple language combinations.
And if you use the code "translastars" to get a 5% discount in your translation request.
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