Spanish is the second-most commonly spoken language in the United States, and the first language spoken by tens of millions of residents. Because of this large population, legal practices over the years have made a concerted effort to expand bilingual legal services to better serve Spanish-speaking clients.
Because English is the de facto language of the U.S. legal system, English to Spanish legal translation is critical to helping clients understand the legal situations they may be facing, and to facilitate better communication throughout the legal process. At the same time, Spanish to English translation and interpreting is critical to translating documents, holding depositions, and ensuring seamless communication between the legal system, Spanish-speaking clients, and the legal practice representing them.
But even if you have a bilingual practice, additional English to Spanish legal translation if often necessary to ensure efficiency within your practice and to fully meet the needs of your clients
and the legal system at large—here’s why.
Demand for Bilingual Legal Services Continues to Grow
The population of Spanish speakers in the United States is on pace to keep growing for decades to come. Current projections estimate that more than 100 million Americans will be Spanish speakers by the year 2060.
That large domestic consumer group has high expectations when it comes to choosing the businesses they work with. Having bilingual lawyers isn’t enough: Legal practices also need their online content, including marketing, to speak directly to this audience of potential clients.
Recent growth in the bilingual legal services market means that Spanish-speaking clients have more options when it comes to choosing their representation. Offering bilingual legal services isn’t enough anymore: You need to take the extra step to facilitate two-way communication across language barriers every step of the way. This is achieved by enlisting the support of translators and interpreters who streamline this process at every point of contact for your current and prospective clients.
Professional Translation Can Support Your Bilingual Practice
Bilingual attorneys play an essential role in any legal proceeding involving more than one language. But attorneys don’t have the bandwidth to dedicate their time to English to Spanish translation. They need the support of translators and interpreters who can prepare documents and facilitate conversations in support of legal proceedings, allowing attorneys to fully focus on client representation.
Furthermore, attorneys with bilingual fluency in English and Spanish may not have the linguistic expertise required to manage translations between these two languages. Certified translators and interpreters with a legal subject matter specialty can provide more reliable language services than any bilingual attorney or professional—a crucial consideration when dealing with legal documents and proceedings where the language used is highly specific.
When to Use English to Spanish Legal Translation Services
Whenever you’re dealing with a bilingual legal proceeding, such as a Spanish-speaking client seeking representation in an English-speaking court, it’s wise to have access to translators and interpreters who can quickly provide their services to support your legal proceedings.
Common legal use cases Spanish to English language services include the following:
- Courtroom proceedings
- Immigration law
- Unpaid wage claims
- International real estate law
- International manufacturing law
- Other employment law disputes
If your law office regularly deals with Spanish-speaking clients and/or legal proceedings related to the above areas of specialty, you could likely benefit from access to translation and interpreting services that can support your practice and improve client satisfaction. Protranslating offers a network of more than 5,000 language experts around the globe, including a large network of specialists certified in English to Spanish translations, and vice versa.
Ready to find out how our network of language experts can improve your firm’s success with legal cases involving Spanish-speaking parties? Contact us today.
