The British Academy for Training and Development offers this training program in Advanced Legal Translation: English to Arabic, aimed at developing the linguistic and editorial skills of specialized legal translators and enhancing the level of accuracy and professionalism in translating various types of legal texts. Legal translation is characterized by linguistic and conceptual specificity that requires a deep understanding of both legal and linguistic systems.

The program focuses on strengthening participants’ ability to work with precise legal formulations, specialized terminology, and commonly used contractual and judicial expressions in English-speaking legal systems, while providing effective mechanisms for translating them into Arabic both stylistically and semantically. It also covers common challenges in legal translation and methods for addressing them within the context of Arab legal systems, ensuring translations that are clear, accurate, and formally acceptable.

Who should attend?

• Legal translators working in law firms and judicial institutions.

• Translation staff in government entities concerned with legal and international affairs.

• Freelance translators specializing in contracts and legal documents.

• Professionals with linguistic or legal backgrounds seeking specialization in legal translation.

Knowledge and Benefits:

After completing the program, participants will be able to master the following:

• Deepen their understanding of legal terminology and concepts in English.

• Develop accurate translation skills for legal texts into Arabic.

• Gain the ability to handle and linguistically analyze complex legal structures.

• Improve the quality of Arabic legal drafting in line with formal contexts.

• Enable participants to avoid common legal translation errors and distinguish between closely related legal concepts.

• Introduction to Specialized Legal Translation

  • Characteristics of English legal language.

  • Differences between general translation and legal translation.

  • The importance of legal knowledge for translators.

• Legal Systems and Their Terminologies

  • The common law system and the civil law system.

  • Key terms in public and private law.

  • Distinguishing between similar legal concepts.

• Structure of Legal Contracts in English

  • Main sections of standard legal contracts.

  • Common legal verbs and constructions.

  • Use of tense and passive voice in contracts.

• Accurate Translation Strategies for Contracts

  • Identifying the appropriate Arabic equivalent for legal terminology.

  • Handling complex drafting expressions.

  • Translation methods that preserve legal meaning.

• Legal Language in Judicial Documents

  • Drafting judicial rulings and procedural texts.

  • Expressions commonly used in courts.

  • Translating court orders and legal memoranda.

• Translation of Constitutional and Legislative Texts

  • Understanding the legislative structure of official texts.

  • Dealing with rigid and formal formulations.

  • Choosing precise Arabic constructions.

• Analysis of Commercial and Financial Contracts

  • Payment terms, guarantees, and penalties.

  • Clauses related to legal liability.

  • Accurate translation of phrases related to legal risks.

• Translating Joint International Contracts

  • Translating partnership agreements and foreign agency contracts.

  • Dealing with cultural and legal differences.

  • Maintaining consistency in bilingual contracts.

• Formal Legal Drafting in Arabic

  • Standard styles in Arabic legal language.

  • Differences between legal language and judicial language.

  • Using precise legal connectors.

• Comparing English and Arabic Drafting

  • Syntactic structure and tense usage.

  • Differences in sentence order in legal texts.

  • Challenges in translating complex conditional and legal clauses.

• Translation of Arbitration Documents and International Contracts

  • Arbitration clauses and jurisdiction provisions.

  • Dispute-resolution texts.

  • Accurate drafting of arbitration conditions.

• Legal Banking and Financial Documents

  • Translating credit agreements and bank guarantees.

  • Terminology related to finance and investment.

  • Standard forms of joint banking agreements.

• Advanced Rules of Legal Translation

  • Logical sequencing in legal rendering.

  • Preserving legislative intent when translating.

  • Handling legal ambiguity in the source text.

• Common Errors in Legal Translation

  • Inaccurate literal translation.

  • Overlooking differences between technical and general meaning.

  • Inaccurate translation of conditional and exception clauses.

• Legal Translation in International Agreements

  • Terminology of treaties and cooperation agreements.

  • Concepts related to public and private international law.

  • Formal use of language in international bodies.

• Analysis of Terms and Conditions Language

  • Translating Terms of Use and technical contracts.

  • Legal terminology in electronic agreements.

  • Methods used in warnings and limitations.

• Legal Translation in Employment Contracts

  • Clauses on employment, wages, and mutual obligations.

  • Provisions on termination and penalties.

  • Handling differences between local and foreign labor laws.

• Translation of Judicial Judgments and Decisions

  • Analyzing the formal structure of judicial rulings.

  • Translating operative parts and legal grounds.

  • Preserving the logical sequence of the translated judgment.

• Legal Language in Corporate Law

  • Translating articles of incorporation and bylaws.

  • Terminology of shares, stakes, and capital.

  • Precise drafting of shareholder agreements.

• Legal Translation in Criminal Law

  • Terminology related to penalties and procedures.

  • Differences between felony, misdemeanor, and minor offense.

  • Accurate translation of arrest and charge orders.

• The Role of Context in Legal Translation

  • Importance of context in understanding precise legal meaning.

  • Handling multi-meaning legal terms.

  • Considering differences between formal and customary use.

• Functional Equivalence in Legal Terminology

  • Finding the correct functional equivalent—not just a linguistic one.

  • Tools for verifying legal terminology.

  • Handling terms that have no direct translation.

• Unifying Legal Terminology in Institutional Translation

  • Preparing a unified internal glossary.

  • Reviewing texts to ensure terminological consistency.

  • Coordinating with legal teams to ensure accuracy.

• Final Editing of Translated Legal Texts

  • Reviewing structures, style, and terminology.

  • Assessing clarity and legal accuracy.

  • Approving the final version for publishing or official use.