Define what the receiving lawyer needs to do
A translation prepared for initial issue spotting may not be suitable for a signed agreement, witness review, or filing. Tell the recipient the intended use and the level of review completed. Ask the responsible professional to confirm any formal translation requirements for the destination.
For a European matter, do not assume that an English version supplied by a public source has the same status everywhere. Source platforms such as Lovdata and Fedlex provide information that helps a reviewer investigate language and version questions.
Build an index that pairs the right files
| Index field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Document identifier | Pair original, translation, and later revisions |
| Language and date | Identify what was translated and when |
| Scope | State whether the whole document or selected pages were covered |
| Review status | Distinguish machine output, checked text, and certified work |
| Open issues | Point to terminology or legibility questions |
Use filenames that survive export and ordinary sharing. Do not rely on an internal screen label that the receiving team cannot see.
Resolve page-reference problems before handover
Suppose a source has scanned cover pages and a translation begins with the substantive text. A reference to page 12 can point to different material in the two files. Identify both the source reference and the corresponding translated location.
For important passages, include the original paragraph or section identifier and a short description of the issue. Confirm that tables, footnotes, and attachments were included in the translation scope. A preserved visual layout is useful, but the reviewer should still test whether the references work in the exported files.
Explain terminology decisions and unresolved text
Give the receiving lawyer a concise list of recurring terms that required judgment. Record the original expression, chosen working rendering, and any qualification. Avoid silently replacing a jurisdiction-specific concept with a familiar term from another legal system.
When OCR or the original scan is unclear, mark the affected passage and request a better source. Do not turn illegible text into a confident translation. If the ambiguity affects an obligation or evidential point, highlight it in the cover note so the receiving team does not overlook it while reading the fluent surrounding text.
Close the handover with responsibilities and access
Send a short cover note stating purpose, documents, review scope, open issues, and the person who can answer questions. Confirm the authorised recipients and approved sharing channel. Translation can reproduce confidential information just as directly as the original.
Judicio can help translate and compare documents and develop a working draft. It does not replace a qualified translator's certification or the receiving lawyer's legal review. Preserve the final source and translation pair together, and tell collaborators when a revised original makes an earlier translation obsolete.
Sources and next steps
This is an editorial workflow guide for legal professionals. The suggested checks are our practical recommendations, not a statement that a regulator requires a particular software workflow.
- Lovdata: translated Norwegian legislation and language-status notice
- Fedlex: Swiss federal law platform
Explore Translation and Drafting, or review Judicio's regional coverage and limitations. Check the underlying source and your organisation's approved process before relying on an output.