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Posted on4 February 2025

Atlas Translations: The Key to Confidential Legal Document Translations

By Rachel Lambert | rachellambert.biz | Copywriting | Content Creation | White Papers | Technical Writing

Rachel Lambert

Confidentiality should be more than a best practice in legal translation—it should be necessary. Legal documents contain sensitive, high-stakes information; even the slightest security lapse could lead to severe legal, financial, or reputational damage. Whether it’s a corporate contract, a court ruling, or a personal document, safeguarding client data is the key to confidential legal document translations. Here at Atlas Translations, that attention to confidentiality is the core of what we do.

So, how do we make sure our clients’ information stays protected? Excellent question, 10 points to Gryffindor! Let’s walk you through our beliefs and how we approach guaranteeing confidentiality in every legal translation project we handle.

Confidential legal translations at Atlas Translations are always handled with the care they deserve. Here’s why confidentiality in legal translation is non-negotiable:

  • Legal Consequences
    • A breach of confidentiality in legal documents can lead to lawsuits, contract disputes, or even regulatory penalties.
  • Financial Risks
    • Sensitive business or financial details falling into the wrong hands could result in monetary loss or competitive disadvantages.
  • Personal Privacy Concerns
    • Individuals needing translations for immigration, medical, or legal matters trust that their private information won’t be exposed.
  • Reputational Damage
    • A single data leak can erode trust, making confidentiality a top priority for any business handling legal translations.

At Atlas Translations, we take these risks seriously. Our systems, policies, and people are all aligned to protect client information at every stage of the translation process.

How Atlas Translations Protects Client Confidentiality

We don’t leave confidentiality to chance. Our security protocols are designed to keep sensitive information safe from start to finish.

Stringent Confidentiality Agreements

Every translator, linguist, and project manager working with Atlas Translations must treat all legal projects with strict confidentiality.

We understand that some clients, business or personal, require more protection for their information. That’s why we’re more than happy to ask our translators and other staff to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) or Confidentiality Agreement. For extra reassurance, these agreements make sure no information is disclosed, shared, or used beyond the scope of the project.

Secure File Handling and Data Protection

Keeping legal documents secure starts with safe file transfer and storage. We use encrypted platforms for sending and receiving files, meaning your documents won’t be exposed to unauthorised access or security breaches.

Our team follows strict data protection policies, including compliance with GDPR and other international regulations, ensuring client information is handled responsibly and lawfully.

Legal translation demands expertise—not just in language but in confidentiality, too. That’s why we work exclusively with:

  • Native-speaking legal translators who understand the nuances of legal terminology.
  • Professionals with verified credentials and extensive experience handling sensitive documents.
  • Linguists who have undergone security screening to determine trustworthiness and reliability.

We don’t take chances with who we trust to work on your documents, and neither should you.

graphic showing a client quote from the Scottish Prison Service SPS confidential legal translations

Limited Access: A Need-to-Know Approach

Not every translator or project manager sees every document. We follow a need-to-know basis for handling legal translations, which means:

  • Documents are shared only with the linguists assigned to your project.
  • No unnecessary third parties have access to your files.
  • Internal procedures strictly regulate who can view, edit, and store documents.

The fewer people handling a document, the lower the risk of a confidentiality breach.

Secure Disposal of Documents Post-Project

Once your translation is complete, what happens to your files? At Atlas Translations, we follow a clear policy on document disposal:

  • Files are securely archived or deleted based on client preferences.
  • Any printed copies used for reference are shredded immediately after project completion.
  • Digital files are stored only for as long as needed, in compliance with data protection laws.

Your information won’t sit in an unprotected database or linger in an inbox—we take care of it properly.

Legal translation applies to a wide range of documents, and confidentiality is a must for all of them. Some of the most common documents we handle securely at Atlas Translations include:

  • Contracts and business agreements
  • Court documents and litigation materials
  • Intellectual property filings and patents
  • Medical records (when used in legal proceedings)
  • Immigration documents
  • Financial and tax records

Regardless of the document type, our team treats every project with the highest level of discretion and professionalism.

graphic showing a client quote from the university of york confidential legal translations

How Clients Can Play a Role in Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a two-way street. While we implement strict security measures, there are a few steps clients can take to help protect their documents:

  • Choose a trusted translation provider (we have an ah-maaaz-ing recommendation for you 🥰) that prioritises security and follows strict confidentiality protocols.
  • Avoid free online translation tools that don’t guarantee data security and can expose your documents and information to unauthorised access.
  • Request a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) if you need an additional level of confidentiality in place throughout your project.
  • Be mindful of how you share files by using encrypted or secure file-sharing platforms rather than sending sensitive documents via unsecured email.

It’s a Wrap!

Confidential legal translations require more than just linguistic expertise—they demand a commitment to security and trust. At Atlas Translations, we’ve built our reputation on handling legal documents with the highest level of discretion and professionalism.

From strict NDAs and secure file handling to working with vetted legal translators, our processes are designed to keep your information protected. Whether you’re a business handling corporate legal matters or an individual needing a certified translation for personal documents, you can count on us to keep your details safe.

Confidentiality isn’t optional—it’s an Atlas standard.

Contact Us

We’d love for you to contact Atlas Translations! We’re always here for a chat or to answer questions!

photo of the atlas team seated in front of a map and at a table confidential legal translations
The A-Team (l to r: Steffi, Rhys, Clare, Joanna, Jim, and Anna—not shown is our Amy)

Call us on +44 (0)1727 812 725 or email us at team@atlas-translations.co.uk to let us know what you need. We respond quickly to all enquiries!

If you’d like to meet us face to face, learn more about our translation and language services, or deliver documents, please email or call us ahead of time to arrange a meeting.

Use the Live Chat option during UK working hours to ask us any questions. You’ll chat with a real, live human—we’re a bot-free zone! Just click the little icon at the bottom right of your screen to start chatting with us.

If you need a quick quote, we have a handy Get a quote button located at the top of our website where you can get an estimate for your needs.

Can I Trust Atlas Translations?

Yes, you can! But if you’re after something a little more concrete, here’s some info:

Atlas Translations holds two ISO certifications — ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management) and ISO 17100:2017 (Translation Services).

If the project is highly confidential, we can sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for added peace of mind.

Are you wondering if we’re up to date on privacy? We registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) over 20 years ago and have always placed a high importance on data protection.

You can read more about our commitment to quality here.

Atlas Translations prides itself on providing fast, friendly, and high-quality language services. But don’t just take our word for it—see what our clients are saying about us.

We’re also on TrustPilot, and you can read our reviews here.

Global Voice, Local Touch

If you’re looking for some top tips for partnering with Atlas Translations, we have some top tips to share! We answer 25 of our clients’ most frequently asked questions, ranging from typesetting queries to discussing reference materials.

Click to download Global Voice, Local Touch

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ISO 17100 – ISO 17100:2017 for Translation Services (since this standard began, in 2008, externally audited annually).
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Mindful Employer Plus – As a Charter member, our team have access to an Employee Assistance Program with 24/7/365 support, as we work toward achieving better mental health at work.
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Atlas Translations has been accredited by the Fair Tax Foundation since February 2024. The Fair Tax Foundation is a not-for-profit social enterprise developed by a team of tax justice, corporate responsibility, and ethical consumer experts. It was launched in 2014.

We’ve been registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) since 2004. Go to https://ico.org.uk/ for more information.

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Certified since 2003, externally audited annually. ISO 9001:2015 is the international standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS), applicable across all sectors. ISO 9001 provides a framework to respond to changing quality requirements in line with changing demands across society, economics and the environment.
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Corporate membership of the ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting) since 1994. Corporate Member of the Year 2021. ITI is the only UK-based independent professional membership association for practising translators, interpreters and all those involved in the language services sector.

CIEP: We’ve held Corporate membership Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading since 1993. CIEP are an international membership organisation that offers training and community for editorial professionals (copy editors and proofreaders) while helping members develop business confidence.

ATC: We hold full membership with the Association of Translation Companies, a trade association representing the interests of language service companies in the UK and internationally. It is the leading voice for companies operating in the UK’s language services industry.

Living Wage Employer: As a living wage employer, we believe our staff deserve a wage which meets every day needs. The Living Wage Foundation has a mission to encourage employers to play their part in tackling in-work and post-work poverty and provide a decent standard of living by paying the real Living Wage, adopting Living Hours and Living Pensions as well as wider good employment practices.
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