Translation - art & business » Getting established »
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Getting a Mentor
Thread poster: Heather Walker (X)
Diana Obermeyer
Diana Obermeyer  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:14
Member (2013)
German to English
+ ...
But you already have... Feb 9, 2015

... more academic credentials than most legal translators.

A sound basic understanding of the legal system only requires either reading or a short course.
More in-depth issues need to be researched for individual translations anyway, they will probably change between the point at which you study them to when an issue comes up in a legal text. You will need to continue reading all the time and be aware of changes, otherwise you end up having to spend time on research when under... See more
... more academic credentials than most legal translators.

A sound basic understanding of the legal system only requires either reading or a short course.
More in-depth issues need to be researched for individual translations anyway, they will probably change between the point at which you study them to when an issue comes up in a legal text. You will need to continue reading all the time and be aware of changes, otherwise you end up having to spend time on research when under time-pressure.
There's also nothing stopping you from studying while you're working.

Get started and just be aware of your limitations and comfort zones - especially with agency work. PMs usually don't have legal knowledge and will quite often state that they have an "easy" or "standard" legal text that is anything but. Some do it unknowingly, some may also use those terms to avoid higher charges. So avoid accepting an assignment without reviewing it first.

There is only 2 options: start slow and use any spare time to do the reading you wish/need to do or work for little money and be busy. ▲ Collapse
 
Heather Walker (X)
Heather Walker (X)  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 20:14
German to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Thanks Again Feb 11, 2015

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to give me advice. It was helpful and much appreciated.
 
Michael Wetzel
Michael Wetzel  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 03:14
German to English
A few thoughts Feb 12, 2015

Don't study more! Read books on translation theory and practice and the legal systems of countries where German is a/the national language or where there are areas with German as their official language (in this order [best-paying and friendliest first]: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Austria, Germany and then Belgium and Italy if you feel like it).

If you feel the need to work with agencies at the beginning, as a kind of internship while you get things figured out, that's ... See more
Don't study more! Read books on translation theory and practice and the legal systems of countries where German is a/the national language or where there are areas with German as their official language (in this order [best-paying and friendliest first]: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Austria, Germany and then Belgium and Italy if you feel like it).

If you feel the need to work with agencies at the beginning, as a kind of internship while you get things figured out, that's fine. However, you are something special and big agencies don't want or need you at the fee level you ought to be charging. Direct clients, legal specialists who outsource (especially translators in the UK or English>German translators) and small translation offices specializing in law are what you should be looking for (in that order). If you genuinely have very good German language skills and really figure out the legal systems in a few of those countries, I would think you will be able to name your price. There is probably a lot more demand for translations into UK English/the UK's legal system, but there is also a much larger supply. If you have your name out there with enough people and you do very good work, then I assume you could fairly easily earn three times the average rates listed on this site (particularly if the CHF remains strong). ▲ Collapse
 
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Getting a Mentor







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