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Studies & Degrees in Legal-Economic Translation

Legal-economic translation is the written translation of legal, financial and business documents: contracts, court rulings, company statutes, powers of attorney, annual accounts, audit reports and tax papers. The translator has to understand two legal or accounting systems as well as two languages, because a term in one system often has no exact counterpart in the other. An error can change the meaning of a contract or a judgment, so accuracy and consistent terminology come before style.

Students learn the basics of law and economics, the document types of each field, terminology work and the use of reference sources, and they practise translating real texts in their language pairs. Sworn or certified translation, where the translator vouches for the text before the authorities, is usually part of the training.

Qualifications and levels

Legal and economic translation is a specialisation, not a first degree of its own. The usual routes are these:

  • Bachelor's degree in translation. Translators typically need at least a bachelor's degree, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Spain, the Grado en Traducción, Interpretación y Tecnologías del Lenguaje of the Universidad Pontificia Comillas is an official four-year degree of 240 ECTS credits, taught on campus in Madrid, in which students train in three foreign languages. Its specialised-translation track includes legal translation in two languages and economic-financial translation, at 3 ECTS credits per course.
  • Master's degrees and professional diplomas. Specialisation often comes after the first degree. In the United Kingdom, the Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) of the Chartered Institute of Linguists is set at master's level and has three units: a general text and two semi-specialised texts, with business and law among the options.
  • A law or economics degree plus languages. Graduates in law or economics with strong languages also enter the field; the Court of Justice of the European Union staffs its language service with experts who have legal training.
  • Short courses. Courses in legal English or in a country's legal system are aimed at practising lawyers and translators.

Sworn translation in Spain

In Spain, a translation into or from Spanish has official status when it is made by a holder of the title of Traductor-Intérprete Jurado, Traductor Jurado or Intérprete Jurado, granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Such translations can be submitted to courts and public authorities, and the translator certifies them with signature and stamp. The main route to the title is an examination that the ministry holds periodically; the other is recognition of a similar professional qualification obtained in another EU or EEA member state. Both routes require citizenship of an EU or EEA country. The title is not a civil-service post. Students from outside the EU should therefore check which sworn-translation system applies in the country where they plan to work.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists three active schools for legal-economic translation, one each in Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States: the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, the University of Wolverhampton, and The Institute for US Law in Washington. Before applying, check which language pairs a programme offers and into which language the translation is taught, since translators normally work into their main language.

Careers

Graduates work as freelance or in-house translators for law firms, banks, auditors, companies and translation agencies, as sworn translators, and in public institutions. The Directorate-General for Translation of the European Commission translates into the 24 official languages of the EU. The Court of Justice of the European Union has two directorates for legal translation. The United Nations translates documents on economic and legal matters, among others, and asks its translators for a perfect command of their main language and, in most cases, an excellent knowledge of two other official languages.

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of interpreters and translators as a whole to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a law degree to become a legal translator?

Not necessarily. Most translators enter with a degree in translation or languages and add legal and economic training. A law or economics degree combined with strong languages is another route.

Is a translation degree enough to sign sworn translations in Spain?

No. Official translations require the title of Traductor-Intérprete Jurado from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, obtained mainly through the ministry's examination and open to citizens of EU or EEA countries.

Is certification compulsory for translators?

It depends on the country and the type of work. In the United States, general certification is typically not required, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while sworn translation in Spain requires the official title.