Translation

Translate legal documents while preserving defined terms, citations, and formatting

Legal translation is different from general translation. Defined terms must stay consistent, citations must keep their original form, and sections need to read the way a lawyer in the target language would write them. Translation in Vaquill is built for that - it translates the content while preserving the legal structure.

When To Use It

• Reviewing a contract written in a language you do not read fluently
• Translating a foreign judgment or regulatory filing for a US matter
• Producing a working translation of a cross-border agreement
• Preparing exhibits that need bilingual versions
• Quickly understanding correspondence from foreign counsel

What Stays Consistent

Element	How It’s Preserved
Defined terms	Translated once, then used consistently throughout
Party names	Kept in original form unless customary to translate
Citations	Preserved verbatim (e.g., “12 U.S.C. 1841” stays as written)
Statute names	Kept in original where appropriate, with translated parenthetical
Numbering	Section and subsection numbering preserved
Cross-references	Renumbered consistently if reorganization is needed
Currency and units	Preserved verbatim unless conversion is requested

Supported Languages

The tool works between English and a wide range of languages used in cross-border legal practice. Both directions are supported - you can translate into English to read an inbound document, or out of English for client-facing translations.

How To Use It

1. Upload or pick a document

   Drop in the source document or select one already in the matter.

2. Open Translation

   Launch the tool from the tools menu.

3. Select source and target languages

   Both directions are supported - inbound for reading, outbound for client-facing work.

4. Choose working or polished

   Working mode is fast and accurate for triage. Polished mode adds a second pass for tone and register.

5. Review the side-by-side output

   Click any sentence to see the original, the translation, and any translator’s note.

Ready-to-run prompt

Translation - faithful legal translation that preserves defined terms, citations, and structure.

CopiedCopy prompt

Working vs. Polished

Mode	Use For
Working translation	Internal use - reading a foreign-language document, understanding correspondence, prepping for a call
Polished translation	Client-facing or filing-ready - additional pass for tone, register, and idiom

A working translation is fast and accurate. A polished translation takes longer and produces text that reads naturally to a native legal reader in the target language.

Side-by-Side View

The translated document appears side-by-side with the original. Click any sentence to see:

• The original passage
• The translated version
• A short note if the translation involved a substantive choice (e.g., “no direct equivalent for ‘consideration’; rendered as nearest functional concept”)

Caveats

Translation is a working tool, not a substitute for a certified translator on filings that require one. Sworn translations for court use must be reviewed and certified by a qualified human translator before submission.

For jurisdiction-specific terms with no direct US equivalent, the tool flags the issue inline so you can make the judgment call rather than silently choosing a substitute.

Export

• Word - Translated document with the original as an appendix
• Side-by-side PDF - Original and translated in parallel columns
• Plain translation - Translated document only

Tips

Pin defined terms before you start. For long documents, pin the defined-term list so they translate consistently from cover to cover instead of drifting halfway through.

Pair with Document Analyst. After translation, ask follow-up questions on the translated version to extract specific obligations, dates, and parties.

Use working mode for triage. If you just need to know what an incoming letter says, working mode is faster and cheaper. Reserve polished mode for client-facing output.

Related

Document Analyst

Ask targeted questions about the translated document.

Document Search

Search across all matter documents, including translated versions.

Matters & Workspaces

Keep originals and translations together inside one matter file.

Contract Review

Run a structured clause-by-clause review on the translated agreement.