Legally compliant. Confidential. Linguistically precise.
Legal Translations
Contracts, terms and conditions, court and compliance documents. Terminology checked, confidential under NDA and ISO 17100, certified on request.
What are Legal Translations?
In legal texts, linguistic precision determines validity, enforceability and liability. Even a single mistranslated term in a contract, terms and conditions or court document can alter the intended legal effect. Legal translation requires specialist vocabulary and a precise legal rendering into the target language.
COMLOGOS has been working for law firms and legal departments since 2007. Our native-language specialised translators with legal experience work with terminology specific to each client This keeps contracts, clauses and standard passages consistent across different versions and languages.
Legally compliant
Native-language specialised translators with a legal background, four-eyes principle in accordance with ISO 17100 and client-specific terminology.
Confidential
NDA standard, ISO 27001-compliant processes, EU servers, and the same strict confidentiality as in the law firm itself.
Certifiable
On request by sworn translators, with a certification statement and Apostille for recognition abroad.
Three Areas: Contracts, certification, court and authorities
Contracts and commercial law
Terms and conditions, contracts, powers of attorney, confidentiality, licensing and cooperation agreements, policies. Often includes a prevailing-language clause. We deliver consistent, legally precise language versions.
Certification & certificates
Certified translations by translators sworn in and authorised by the regional court, for authorities, courts, offices and institutions, and these can be provided with an apostille for recognition abroad. More details below.
Courts, authorities & compliance
Judicial and court records, minutes as well as data protection and compliance documents (GDPR, data processing agreements, the German Supply Chain Act/CSDDD, Whistleblower Protection Act, code of conduct).
Standards and Legal Framework
| Standard / framework | Area | Relevance for translation |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 17100 | Translation services | Four-eyes principle, qualifications, documented processes. |
| ISO 18587 | Post-editing of machine translation | Suitable for large, non-binding volumes (for example for review). |
| ISO 9001 | Quality management | Traceable processes and responsibilities. |
| GDPR | Data protection | Personal data in contracts and files; EU server, data processing agreement. |
| Professional confidentiality | Confidentiality | Translators working to the same standards as your law firm. |
| Sworn in (Regional Court) | Certification | Authorised translators, certification statement and stamp. |
| Hague apostille | Recognition abroad | Super-legalisation for use abroad. |
Our processes are additionally aligned with ISO 27001, although we are not certified. We use EU servers and have a contractual exclusion of AI training use.
Triple ISO-certified
ISO 17100 (specialised translation with revision), ISO 18587 (post-editing of machine translation) and ISO 9001 (quality management). Only a few service providers in the industry can demonstrate this combination, and it makes every process step transparent and traceable. Our processes are additionally aligned with the requirements of ISO 27001.
Distinction from related services
| Area | Interface | Where we draw the line |
|---|---|---|
| Patent Translations | Related service | Patents are formal legal protection documents with a technical core and specific claim language. Legal translation cover contracts and legal documents that do not constitute a formal intellectual property right. Licensing agreements are the bridge. |
| Technical Translations | Depth of content | Technical content follows standards-compliant documentation language, whereas law follows the specialist terminology of the respective legal system. |
For a cross-cutting overview and target groups, see our industry page on Law & Contracts.
Documents we translate
Contracts, terms and conditions
- Contracts and general terms and conditions
- Powers of attorney
- Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)
- Licensing and cooperation agreements
Corporate and commercial law
- Articles of association and resolutions
- Commercial register excerpts
- Tender/bid texts
- Policies
Court and proceedings
- Judicial documents and court records
- Pleadings and replies
- Minutes
- Judgments and rulings
Certificates and documents requiring certification
- Certificates and attestations
- Diplomas
- Documents with certification and apostille
- Verbatim, legally binding translation
Compliance and data protection
- GDPR and data processing agreement documents
- German Supply Chain Act (LkSG)/CSDDD
- Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG)
- Codes of conduct policies
Financial and tax documents
- Financial reports
- Tax-relevant documentation
- Statutory texts
- Correspondence with authorities
Certified translations
Authorities, courts, institutions and offices generally require certified translations. These are produced by translators who are sworn in and authorised by the regional court, and are confirmed with a certification statement, signature and stamp as a word-for-word, binding rendering of the original. Recognition abroad often additionally requires a Hague apostille. We advise you on the appropriate version for your needs and deliver it.
Languages for legal texts
We translate legal texts into our main languages and over 70 language combinations, always in line with the native speaker principle.
For multilingual contract sets, we provide consistent language versions from a single source, supported by a well-maintained translation memory. View all languages →
The translation process for legal texts
Inquiry and NDA
On request, we can sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before the detailed source texts are sent. You can choose between the COMLOGOS standard template and your own template.
Analysis
The area of law, languages, deadlines and whether certification is needed will be clarified.
Tailored quote
Clear deadlines, including for urgent cases.
Approval and confirmation of deadline
Binding deadline, even at short notice.
Assignment to a specialised translator
Legal expertise, native-speaker principle, sworn if required.
Four-eyes principle (ISO 17100)
Revision by a second qualified translator.
Delivery in your preferred format
Certified on request, including information on Apostille.
Where AI-assisted translation with post-editing plays to its strengths
AI translation with post-editing under ISO 18587 is particularly useful for quickly processing large volumes of text: it provides fast, consistent and cost-efficient results without compromising on expertise or quality.
Review and discovery
Large volumes of files and extensive document reviews can be quickly assessed and pre-structured for further processing.
Routine correspondence
Recurring communication with clients, authorities and partners can be processed efficiently and consistently.
Initial overview of foreign-language documentation
Extensive foreign-language file collections can be reviewed and classified quickly, in coordination with you.
Data protection: EU server, GDPR-compliant, no training on your texts. Details under AI-assisted Translation.
Why choose COMLOGOS for legal translations?
We have been serving law firms and legal departments since 2007
Extensive experience with contracts, compliance and court documents, as well as matter-specific terminology to ensure consistency over the years.
Confidentiality is at the core of what we do
NDA as standard, ISO 27001-compliant processes, EU servers, separate data sets per client, and confidentiality on a par with the law firm itself.
Native-speaker legal specialised translators
Translators with a legal background and experience in the relevant legal system, working according to the native-speaker principle.
Triple ISO standards and certified translations in one place
ISO 17100 / 18587 / 9001 plus sworn translators for certified versions with Apostille.
Related services and industries
Patent Translations
Patent specifications, EP validation, PCT and litigation proceedings as the technical sister of legal translation.
Learn more
Technical Translations
Operating instructions, data sheets and maintenance documentation for topics where technical depth is paramount.
Learn more
Terminology Management
Matter-specific legal terminology for consistent translations across all contract generations.
Learn more
Law & Contracts
Industry hub for law and compliance across all industries, target groups and use cases.
Learn more
Automotive
Quality assurance agreements (QAA), supply contracts and compliance along the supply chain.
Learn more
Mechanical Engineering
Contracts, terms and conditions and QAAs in international machinery and plant business.
Learn moreFrequently asked questions about legal translations
How much does a legal translation cost?
The costs depend on the language pair, volume, complexity and the reuse rate from the translation memory. Revision in line with the four-eyes principle (ISO 17100) is included in the price; certification can be added as an additional service if required. You will receive a non-binding quote within 24 hours.
When do I need a certified translation?
Authorities, courts, and institutions generally require certified translations. These are prepared by translators who are sworn in and authorised by the regional court, and are confirmed with a certification statement, signature and stamp. Recognition abroad often additionally requires a Hague Apostille.
What is an Apostille and when do I need one?
The Hague Apostille is a form of super-legalisation that confirms the authenticity of a document for use in another member state of the Hague Convention. It is requested from the office responsible for issuing it. We advise you on whether your case requires an Apostille and provide the appropriate certified version.
How do you ensure legal precision and consistent terminology?
Through native-language specialised translators with a legal background, the four-eyes principle in line with ISO 17100, and a mandate-specific glossary combined with a translation memory. This ensures that clauses, definitions and standard passages are kept verbatim and consistent across contract generations.
How do you handle confidential documents?
Confidentiality is at the core of what we do. Upon request, we sign an NDA, process data in a GDPR-compliant manner on EU servers and store client data separately. Our processes align with ISO 27001, and our translators work under the same confidentiality standards as the law firm.
What does a prevailing-language clause mean for my translation?
A prevailing-language clause defines which language version of a contract is authoritative in the event of a dispute. We ensure that the subordinate version is fully aligned with the authoritative one and highlight any potential discrepancies, guaranteeing legal alignment of both versions.
Do you use AI for legal texts?
We use AI-assisted translations with post-editing according to ISO 18587, specifically for large, non-binding volumes such as reviews, discovery or routine correspondence. This is done in coordination with you, on EU-hosted servers and without using your texts for training purposes. Binding and sensitive legal texts, such as contracts, court documents and certified translations, continue to be handled in the traditional way, in accordance with ISO 17100.
Which files should I send for a quote?
Ideally, the original files (Word, PDF with a text layer). Please include the following information: Target languages, desired deadline and whether certification is required. If available, existing term lists or previous translations help to keep the terminology consistent.
Ready for your next legal translation?
Talk to us about your project. We are familiar with the requirements for legal and certified translations and the associated deadlines and languages. Initial quote within 24 hours, NDA available on request.
ISO 17100 · ISO 18587 · ISO 9001 · sworn · NDA standard · 24h quote
