Welcome to the profile of Lawyer-Linguist, the user name for Deborah do Carmo (maiden name: Parry), and one I use because it aptly describes what I do for a living.

As a:

* native English speaker;
* qualified lawyer;
* experienced linguist; and
* absolute stickler for detail,
* with excellent time management and writing skills,

legal translations are my core business. I also offer monolingual legal editing, abstracting and research services.

Subject knowledge is just one of the aspects that truly sets a specialist translation apart, perhaps best expressed by the Latin maxim "rem tene; verba sequentur" (master the subject and the words will follow).

Most legal translators are not qualified lawyers and so cannot be expected to make - and, unfortunately, sometimes do not make - the fine distinctions that are so critical in a legal text.


Academic Qualifications

Law: First class honours and faculty medal winner - University of South Africa

Translation: IoLET Diploma in Translation (Dutch to English: General, Law and Business papers) - Chartered Institute of Linguists, UK

Editing: Postgraduate Certificate in Editing and Revising Technical Texts in English - Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain


Specialist area - EU Law

My translations for the European Commission are consistently rated as 'very good' (the highest possible rating) and have all met the standard required under the governing framework contract, i.e. the translation "... can be used as it stands without further revision …".

Aspects of my work that the Commission's internal revisors have commented on as being particularly positive include my:

a) use of EU-specific or other terminology;

b) command of style and register; and

c) elegant translation solutions


Professional Background

Over a decade spent in mainstream legal practice, as an insolvency practitioner, meant having to adapt quickly to the idiosyncrasies of each type of business. Whether appointed as liquidator of an airline, manufacturing concern, coal mine, farming entity or hotel chain, I often had to step into the directors' shoes at short notice and run the show, in an attempt to sell the business as a going concern with the best possible return for creditors. I draw on that invaluable experience today, getting to grips quickly with the jargon of the specific industry my legal translation work covers.

Practising law in a bilingual system also involved legal drafting, translating, editing, abstracting and research on a daily basis - always under pressure, in the trenches and with absolutely zero-tolerance for errors.

My proven ability to deliver precision under pressure is a further asset I bring to the table. Because I have first-hand knowledge of the legal process, I also understand and can recognise true urgency, why there are often last-minute changes to legal documents, the pressure my legal colleagues are actually working under and the real consequences of failing to deliver. So, although I am practically unflappable under pressure, it is because I know my limits and am frank about my availability and ability at all times.

Further experience with cross-border insolvencies -- i.e. to retrieve assets and/or conduct legal proceedings in foreign jurisdictions -- means I am truly in my element performing comparative legal research between common law and civil law systems. As such, I am able to demystify the often unique terminology of the source legal system, producing clear and intelligible English, whilst always retaining the integrity of the legal information, capturing nuances and respecting the author's writing style.


Added Value

Although there is no lack of competition in the translation industry when it comes to rates, the same cannot be said when it comes to tangible quality and added value. I offer an excellent price/quality ratio, evidenced by the fact that nearly all of my projects are from repeat clients. Apart from that, being a qualified lawyer means I am an "extra pair of eyes" and often thanked for my ability to spot both existing and potential legal issues in source language texts.

So, there is no need to end up red-faced or out of pocket because of blunders made by a self-professed legal translator when a trained lawyer-linguist is available.

Lastly, the fact that I am a lawyer-linguist does not mean I necessarily charge more ... I simply deliver more.