Translation For Lawyers

Earlier we've blogged about document translation in the context of foreign regulatory evidence in products liability cases and about the role of professional translating and interpreting services in enforcing U.S. judgments in Europe. As the business world becomes more and more global, there are increasing instances of conflict of law questions. Essentially, a conflict of law arises whenever a business transaction spans two different countries.

Continue reading "Foreign Language Translation for Attorneys and Law Firms, and International Conflict of Laws" »

The U.S. Constitution guarantees equal access to the judicial system. However, according to a recent study conducted by the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts, some of the leading causes of impeding Asian-Americans’ equal access are the language barriers and cultural differences that exists between East and West cultures.¹

This is particularly true when your Asian-American client is going through probate.

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For any nation, adoption of a new legal system is a major event. It entails a learning curve, not unlike learning a foreign language, or experiencing another culture. And it is certainly true in the case of Japan's plan to institute a new jury system in 2009.

Continue reading "New Jury System Will Alter Japan's Cultural Patterns" »

Which culture would you rather be born into: individualistic, or collectivist?
Can you predict, how your foreign clients will answer this question?

Did you know that English is the only major language in which the pronoun "I" is capitalized? No wonder our mainstream individualistic culture values the "I" mentality, and puts the emphasis on the individual over the group. It is acceptable and appropriate in our culture to blow one's own horn. We even say, "The squeaky wheel gets the grease".

Continue reading "Distinguish Between Individualistic and Collectivist Cultures when Dealing with Foreign Nationals" »