In order to become a translator for any of the courts of international law or for the United Nations, besides being fast and accurate, you must be able to work in a stressful environment.
Are You Capable of Working in a Stressful Environment?
In order to become a translator for any of the courts of international law or for the United Nations, besides being fast and accurate, you must be able to work in a stressful environment. It will be expected that any translator working on cases with the United Nations is able to provide fast and accurate translations. If this is your career goal, then it will take time to develop your skills to such a degree that you’ll be accepted as a translator in one of these highly sought-after positions.
Finding a Way into These Positions
Just because you have the knowledge and skills required to work on legal cases for the United Nations, you still have to find a way into these positions. Our advice on how to work your way up the ladder and finally reach your goal is to offer your translating services to lawyers who are renowned for trying cases in the international courts. Obviously, you’ll start with small cases and build a client list of lawyers and others involved in the legal profession as a way of showing that you’re familiar with the requirements of the legal profession when it comes to legal translation.
As you progress in your career and take on more translation projects for either translation agencies or direct-client lawyers, you’ll find that opportunities arise where you’re able to offer your services to larger and more prestigious firms who try these international law cases. It will take some time to reach the point where you believe you’re experienced and qualified enough to approach lawyers who are involved in international law. In the meantime, whilst waiting for your opportunity to work on these assignments, you’ll at least be earning a good living whilst building a solid reputation for yourself.
Be Patient and Persevere!
It’s highly likely that you won’t be successful the first time you offer your legal translation services to a lawyer who’s involved in trying international law cases. Further, it may take several attempts before you even pass the United Nations qualifying exam! Keep persevering and making yourself available, because your persistence will ensure that one day you’ll be accepted to translate for one of these lawyers. Perhaps your first case won’t even be an international matter, but this will be your opportunity to impress your influential lawyer. Once you’ve had the opportunity to show your knowledge and skills first-hand, it’s highly likely that one day you’ll achieve your goal of working in international courts. Practice, patience, and persistence! They’ll all pay off one day, so keep your goal alive by visualizing passing the exam and landing that translation job you’ve dreamed of and trained for, for so long. Good luck!
