Our Services
Legal Aid Translation
Professional document translation at LAA rates for solicitors and law firms handling legally aided cases across England and Wales.
Legal Aid Translation
Legal aid translation is the translation of legal documents in cases where the client receives funding through the Legal Aid Agency (LAA). Under the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 and the Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013, translation costs are reimbursable at prescribed rates — meaning solicitors can instruct us without the need for prior authority at standard rates.
We are one of the few translation agencies in the UK that works exclusively within the legal aid sector. This specialism means our translators understand the precise terminology used in care proceedings, immigration tribunals, criminal defence, and civil litigation. We do not simply translate words — we translate legal concepts accurately across languages and legal systems.
Every translation we produce is certified, formatted to match the original document layout, and delivered court-ready. We understand that in legal aid work, accuracy is not optional — it can determine the outcome of a case, the welfare of a child, or the safety of an asylum seeker.
Documents We Translate
We handle the full range of documents required in legal aid cases. Every translation is produced by a specialist legal translator with relevant expertise.
Court Bundles
Complete document bundles prepared for Family Court, Crown Court, and tribunal hearings. We maintain page numbering, exhibit references, and document structure throughout.
Witness Statements
First-hand accounts from parties involved in proceedings. We preserve the voice and tone of the original statement while ensuring legal accuracy in the target language.
CAFCASS Reports
Reports from the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. Our translators understand CAFCASS terminology and the specific language used in welfare assessments.
Threshold Documents
Documents setting out the local authority case in care proceedings under Section 31 of the Children Act 1989. Precision is critical as these form the foundation of the case.
Court Orders
Judicial orders including interim care orders, supervision orders, placement orders, and prohibited steps orders. We ensure all legal terms are translated with their precise legal equivalents.
Expert Reports
Reports from psychologists, psychiatrists, medical experts, and independent social workers. We match translators with relevant subject-matter expertise for technical accuracy.
Social Worker Assessments
Local authority assessments including initial assessments, core assessments, and viability assessments. Our translators understand the statutory framework and terminology.
Medical Records
GP records, hospital reports, mental health assessments, and specialist medical evidence. Translated by linguists with experience in medical-legal terminology.
Police Interview Transcripts
PACE interview transcripts and records of police interviews conducted under caution. Accuracy is paramount as these form part of the prosecution or defence evidence.
Care Order Applications
Section 31 applications and supporting documents for public law care proceedings. We handle the complete application pack including all annexed evidence.
Contact Order Applications
Private law applications under Section 8 of the Children Act including child arrangements orders. We translate both applicant and respondent documentation.
Psychological Assessments
Assessments from clinical and forensic psychologists used as expert evidence. Our translators have experience with psychological terminology and diagnostic language.
Transparent LAA Pricing
All legal aid translations are priced at the rates prescribed by the Legal Aid Agency. For civil and family cases, the rate is £100 per 1,000 source words (10p per word). For criminal cases, the rate is £109 per 1,000 source words (10.9p per word).
The cost is calculated based on the word count of the original (source) document. We count the words, apply the applicable LAA rate, and you see the total before you order. There are no hidden fees — certification, formatting, and digital delivery are all included.
Prior authority from the LAA is not required for translations at these standard rates. The LAA Guidance on the Remuneration of Expert Witnesses (Version 7, September 2022) confirms these rates are accepted without formal prior authorisation.
How to Order
Ordering your translation is straightforward. Follow these steps and we handle the rest.
Why Choose Our Legal Aid Translation Service
- Translators with specialist legal training and DPSI qualifications, not general linguists
- Native-speaker translators who are also qualified in UK legal terminology
- Double-checked by a second legal linguist for accuracy before certification
- Formatted to match original document layout including page numbers and exhibit references
- Certified with company stamp and signed statement of accuracy
- Accepted by all UK courts, tribunals, and the Legal Aid Agency without question
- DBS checked linguists bound by confidentiality agreements
- ISO Certified certified quality management system
- Secure document handling via encrypted channels — fully GDPR compliant
- No prior authority needed at standard LAA rates
Frequently Asked Questions
The current LAA rate for civil and family case translations is £100 per 1,000 words (10p per source word). For criminal cases, the rate is £109 per 1,000 words. These rates are set by the Legal Aid Agency under the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 and Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 respectively.
No. For translation work at standard LAA rates, prior authority is not required. The LAA Guidance on Remuneration of Expert Witnesses confirms that rates of £100 per 1,000 words (civil) and £109 per 1,000 words (criminal) are accepted without formal prior authority. You only need prior authority if you wish to instruct a translator at rates exceeding these amounts.
Standard delivery is 48 hours from when we receive your documents. Urgent 24-hour delivery is available for time-critical court deadlines. For emergency same-day requests, contact us directly and we will do our best to accommodate your deadline.
Yes. Every translation we produce is certified and accepted by the Family Court, Crown Court, magistrates courts, the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal, the Home Office, HMCTS, NARIC, and all UK courts and governmental bodies. We have never had a translation rejected by any court or authority.
We cover over 200 languages including all languages commonly required in UK legal aid work: Arabic, Urdu, Polish, Somali, Farsi, Bengali, Romanian, Albanian, Kurdish (Kurmanji and Sorani), Pashto, Tamil, Turkish, Vietnamese, Tigrinya, Amharic, and many more.
Absolutely. We regularly translate court bundles of 100+ pages. For large bundles, we can assign multiple translators working in parallel to meet tight deadlines while maintaining consistency of terminology through our glossary management system.
Order Legal Aid Translation Now
Upload your documents, select your languages, and receive your certified translation within 24-48 hours.