Many lawyers go into the industry enjoying the actual practise of law. They find something reassuring about sets of rules and using those rules intelligently in order to find the best legal solutions for their client. But not all lawyers go into the practice for the love of law. Travel, status, financial reward and the hope of becoming partner can also influence the choice for this career.
But there are many people out there who would prefer to work within legal translation services. They simply don’t have confidence to create a job for themselves in the language sphere. At the time, getting a business or law degree may have seemed like the sensible choice, but not necessarily one a person is passionate about.
If this sounds like a familiar situation, it’s time to recognise that your heart just isn’t in a legal career anymore and it’s time to work towards legal translation services.
When it comes to starting your own business, research and organisational skills are key. So are negotiation and communication abilities and possessing a basic grasp of how businesses work including marketing and budgeting processes. But if you’ve worked in law, even as a junior lawyer, you will have gained exposure to these areas.
Identify a Niche
Your experience in the legal field will likely have helped you to identify a niche for legal translation services. If you’re fluent in two or more languages, you could start by having yourself listed on the various law-related language databases so that clients (or even other law firms) can contact you to translate legal documentation for them.
As you gain confidence and credibility for your legal translation services, you may realise that working through a database isn’t the most cost-effective option for clients or firms. That’s when it’s time to understand the importance of speedy and precise translation services aimed at lawyers and those within the industry. Identifying your niche is crucial to the success of your new venture.
You’ll also need to find a unique angle for your business if you want to stand out from your competitors. But, before you go big, gain experience in your field. For example, if you have a talent for writing, you’d find it far easier to launch a writing career by initially doing legal writing and editing. So if you’re moving into legal translation services, it will be easier to start with database listings before going it alone.
In so doing, you’ll be able to approach potential contact to help you launch your own business and your legal credibility will go a long way to gaining new clientele. Having been a lawyer, you will better understand what it is your clients need and in what context.
Once you have established your skills and reputation, then you can start branching out. Although you may plan on specialising in legal translation at first, you might move into other sectors such as insurance, healthcare and financial translations.
Be sure to carefully research your field and market.