Chartered Institute
of Linguists
From Words to Law: Different Career Paths for Linguists
Think languages in law means only translation or interpreting? Or that you need a law degree to work in the legal sector? Think again. At CIOL’s recent webinar “From Words to Law: Different Career Paths for Linguists,” we discovered that the reality is far more diverse and accessible than many might assume.
As part of our commitment to supporting linguists interested in Business, Professions and Government (BPG), we brought together two professionals who have built successful careers combining linguistic expertise with legal work, each taking a quite different path into the sector.
The webinar, hosted by Dom Hebblethwaite, Head of Membership and Ventures at CIOL, explored how language skills open doors beyond traditional translation roles, offering practical strategies for linguists looking to enter the legal profession.
The Panel
The panel provided two very different and equally valuable perspectives for our audience:
Marta Mendiondo is Head of Immigration in London at RWK Goodman, bringing 18 years’ experience in immigration and nationality law. Her career began with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Home Office, working as a visa and passport officer in British Embassies in Moscow, Rome, and Madrid before transitioning to the private sector. Marta speaks Spanish (her native language) and Italian, focusing particularly on Spanish and Latin American clients.
Karine Chevalier-Watts is an MCIL Chartered Linguist and recent Chair of CIOL’s Translating Division. She works as a bilingual French/English Paralegal in Stone King’s International and Cross-Border Team, dealing with matters involving international or cross-border elements. As a chartered and qualified translator, Karine also provides in-house sworn legal translations of official documents. She offers an up-to-date perspective on transitioning from freelance translation to in-house legal work.
The Audience
There were a variety of reasons for attending this webinar:
We invited attendees to share where they were joining from via our Slido poll. Among those who responded, we were delighted to see a truly global audience – spanning countries, territories and legal jurisdictions around the world:
Different Journeys into Legal Work
Marta’s Path: From Embassies to Immigration Law
Marta’s route into law was shaped by personal circumstances. As she put it:
“My path in my professional career and the use of languages have been very much defined by love—by meeting my husband at a young age and being a trailing spouse.”
Like so many linguists, her life story has been shaped by languages and the opportunities they bring. With her husband working for the Foreign Office, Marta found herself working in British Embassies abroad, naturally gravitating towards consular services, nationality, and visa work.
When the family returned to the UK in 2013, continuing in immigration law was a logical progression. She joined a firm regulated by the OISC (Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner, now the IAA—Immigration Advice Authority), which was established and run by former Foreign Office and Home Office staff. Importantly, Marta emphasised that she doesn’t have a law degree:
“I trained to be a journalist. I never thought it was going to be a professional career for me, either the legal career or using languages at work.”
Karine’s Path: From Freelance Translation to In-House Legal Work
Karine’s transition was driven by powerful market forces. Following the Brexit referendum, she began receiving increasing requests for certified translations of official documents needed for immigration and naturalisation purposes. Then during the COVID-19 pandemic, with people sadly passing away with assets in multiple jurisdictions, requests surged for translations of wills and estate administration documents.
Her client base naturally shifted from multinational retail and travel companies, sectors heavily affected by Brexit and COVID, to law firms offering international private legal services. Stone King’s International and Cross-Border Team became one of her most regular clients. When she spotted a LinkedIn post advertising for a bilingual French/English paralegal position in their Bath office in summer 2024, she applied and was offered the role.
How Language Skills Are Used in Practice
Building Client Relationships
Both panellists emphasised that their language skills go far beyond simple translation. Marta explained how she serves as a bridge between Spanish-speaking clients and the Home Office:
“I was advising in Spanish and I was working in English. Whether you are advising in the native language, or whether you are translating things presented to you in Spanish, or whether you are working with English to submit these cases to the Home Office—that’s how I use my language skills.”
She stressed the importance of cultural understanding alongside linguistic ability:
“Being a migrant myself, I know where they’re coming from. It’s important that you connect with them in their language, but also knowing what they’re trying to explain to you and that you are aware of the cultural backgrounds.”
Adapting Communication Styles
One particularly insightful observation from Marta concerned adapting writing styles across languages:
“As a native Spanish speaker, we use long phrases, we use passive tense, we are very descriptive in our language. English is a much more direct language. I have to put on my English thinking cap on so I can draft something and then I go back to it and make sure that everything is shorter, more direct.”
Multifaceted Roles
Karine outlined the breadth of her bilingual role at Stone King, which includes communicating with French-speaking notaries, lawyers, banks, and official organisations; providing certified translations of wills, powers of attorney, affidavits, and conveyancing documents; interpreting during Teams meetings between English-speaking solicitors and French notaries; writing articles on UK-French legal issues for expat publications; and researching French governmental websites to track new legislation affecting clients.
She also handles matters independently, such as helping British clients close French bank accounts—a task that sounds simple but becomes complex when language barriers prevent direct communication.
The Value of Language Skills in Law
A trainee solicitor colleague of Karine’s, Mazen, who studied English, Dutch, German, French, classical Latin, and Greek at secondary school, offered a compelling perspective on the value of languages in legal work:
“Languages are an invaluable tool to communicate with people from other countries and to try to build rapport. However, these are only the direct benefits of studying languages, the indirect effects of languages are far greater. Learning languages that are grammatically more complex helps people improve their analytical skills. This can be used directly when writing a legal document and making sure that it is grammatically correct.”
He continued:
“A further indirect benefit of languages is that one gets used to inquiring what the function is of each principle and word in law so that they can extrapolate the legal and natural meanings of the words and principles that are being used.”
Karine concluded that:
“Lawyers and linguists have got a lot in common, as they are acutely aware of the importance of words in their work.”
Practical Tips for Aspiring Legal Linguists
Marta’s Advice: Consider Immigration as an Entry Point
Marta recommended immigration work as a natural starting point for linguists. The IAA (Immigration Advice Authority) regulates firms that recruit regularly and specifically seek language skills. She noted:
“If you’re into languages, you probably want to build bridges with your connections. You want to speak to individuals. You want to put yourself out there to make a difference, to help. Languages help us communicate. When we communicate, we can help people who are in difficult situations.”
For those starting out, she suggested volunteering with NGOs and charities offering pro bono immigration advice, which always need volunteers. This provides exposure to languages, cultures, and real-life cases while building knowledge under supervision before taking regulatory exams.
Karine’s Advice: Build Skills Systematically
Karine offered some detailed practical guidance:
Develop core competencies: Aim for linguistic mastery in both source and target languages, with excellent writing skills and document formatting abilities. Legal documents must be free of spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors, using formal register throughout.
Acquire legal knowledge: Develop understanding of different legal systems—civil law (common in France, Germany, and most of Europe), common law (UK, USA, Canada except Quebec, Australia, India), religious law (Saudi Arabia, Iran), and mixed systems (South Africa, Israel, Louisiana, Quebec). Legal concepts vary significantly across jurisdictions.
Invest in training and resources: Consider courses like the STEP Certificate in Trust and Estate (England and Wales), legal text processing courses (such as those from Pittman Training or CILEx), and resources like the Council of Europe French-English Legal Dictionary. Use research tools like Westlaw, LexisNexis, and the Official Journal of the European Union website.
Obtain professional recognition: Pursue accreditation from recognised bodies like CIOL, consider the Diploma in Translation (DipTrans) with the law option, and seek certified or sworn translator status where required.
Build experience gradually: Start with smaller clients or translation agencies, building a portfolio from civil status documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates) before moving to more complex documents like wills, contracts, patents, and court documents.
Network actively: Join professional associations, attend events like the French Property Show, check law firm websites for vacancies, and consider entry points like receptionist or personal assistant roles that can lead to advancement.
Maintain professional standards: Register with the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office), obtain professional indemnity insurance that covers legal translations, and ensure robust IT security for handling sensitive documents.
The Qualifications Question
Both panellists addressed a key concern: Is a law degree necessary?
Marta was clear:
“I don’t have a law degree. The IAA allows you to practise based on your practical knowledge.”
She qualified through the OISC/IAA route, which involves building knowledge while working under supervision before taking the regulatory exam.
Karine echoed this:
“I don’t have a law degree. I think it’s more important for people who are aiming to become solicitors, which is not my case. I’ve chosen to embrace the career of career paralegal. I am able to deal with legal matters, but under the supervision of a qualified solicitor.”
Both emphasised that ongoing learning is essential—law firms typically provide CPD, webinars, and training.
As Marta summarised:
“It’s an ongoing learning exercise like languages. You’re going to build up your knowledge on the job.”
Conclusions
The webinar demonstrated that the legal profession offers multiple entry points for linguists, from immigration advice to paralegal work to in-house translation. Language skills are not merely an accessory but a core asset that can open doors, build client relationships, and create unique career opportunities.
Whether you’re a freelancer considering a transition, a student exploring options, or an established professional looking to diversify, the experiences of Marta and Karine show that combining languages with legal work is both achievable and rewarding, even without a traditional law degree.
As Marta wisely noted, quoting John Lennon:
“Life happens while you’re busy making other plans.”
The key is keeping your eyes open to opportunities and being willing to learn as you go.
This webinar was organised as part of CIOL’s commitment to supporting linguists interested in Business, Professions and Government (BPG). Special thanks to Eleonora Di Benedetto for originating the idea for this event.
The webinar is available for all CIOL members in the Webinar Library. If you are not a member you can still watch the webinar in full via on CIOL’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/VU8Sz00Ce1Y
Dom Hebblethwaite is the Head of Membership for the Chartered Institute of Linguists. For more on Dom see his profile here.
Views expressed on CIOL Voices are those of the writer and may not represent those of the wider membership or CIOL.
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