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McGill SCS Graduate Diploma in Legal Translation

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The only program of its kind in North America, McGill鈥檚 online Graduate Diploma in Legal Translation is a 30-credit program designed to provide aspiring and working professionals in the legal, business and translation communities from coast to coast with specialized training to enrich their current portfolio and fast-track their career.

Created in close collaboration with the McGill Faculty of Law and the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre for Private and Comparative Law, with funding from Justice Canada鈥檚 Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund, this leading-edge program aims to help you position yourself for rewarding private- and public-sector opportunities and meet the strong and growing demand for professionally trained legal translators and jurilinguists.

Official Partner:

Type:听 听Graduate Diploma
Courses:听 11
Credits: 听30
Schedule:听 听Part time
Time:听 Synchronous and asynchronous
Delivery: Online
Unit:听 听Global and Strategic Communication
Questions? 听 translation.scs [at] mcgill.ca

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Key Features
  • Benefit from the knowledge and experience of highly respected practitioners and scholar-practitioners.
  • Hone your skills in legal translation and communication, revising, writing and co-writing.
  • Engage with leading-edge translation, terminological search and terminology management tools throughout the curriculum.
  • Acquire transferable, work-integrated experience through two practica or applied research projects with hand-picked partners.
  • Cultivate the diligence and professionalism to set yourself apart in this important field for social justice.

The online program can be completed in as quickly as 2 years (6 continuous academic semesters) or stretched out over a longer period (maximum 4 years). Fall and winter entrance options are offered.

Career Spotlight


At the crossroads of translation and law, legal translation in Canada can be an exciting and tremendously rewarding career path.

Like all translators, legal translators must have a thorough command of their chosen language pairs to be able to convert a legal document drafted in a source language into an accurate equivalent in a target language. But they must also have an in-depth knowledge of the respective legal concepts and conventions to ensure the final product meets the context-specific needs of its intended audience.

This is especially true in Canada, where there are not only two official languages, but also two justice systems (common law and civil law), which operate in both English and French. In this context, access to high-quality legal translation is essential to advancing social justice and serving the public interest.

Industry analysts (Prairie Research Associates, 2016) predict a growing demand for legal translators in certain key sectors and a major shortage of qualified professionals on the horizon as their baby boomer predecessors retire from the workplace. Add to this the fact that the number of legislative documents to be translated in Canada has increased over the past 30 years, especially at the provincial level, and it鈥檚 clear that opportunities in legal translation are growing fast. The massive impact of COVID-19 has only added to the need for expert legal translators as the world around us transforms and new laws, judgments and decisions come forth.

Quick Facts

  • Projected job growth in Canada for translators, terminologists and interpreters in all fields between 2018 and 2028: 6.3%
  • Percentage of language service providers that identify legal translation as an expanding area of expertise: 31.4%
Career Paths


This program can help prepare you for the following careers:

  • Jurilinguist
  • Lawyer-linguist
  • Lawyer-reviser
  • Legal language consultant
  • Legal reviser
  • Legal terminologist
  • Legal translator
  • Plain language specialist
  • Specialized reviser
  • Specialized translator


Potential employers:

  • Accounting firms
  • Banks
  • Bar associations
  • Courts and tribunals
  • Government departments / agencies (federal, provincial / territorial)
  • Law firms
  • Legal research centres and institutes
  • Legislative bodies
  • Private companies
  • Securities regulators
  • Self-employed/consultant
Approach to Learning


The online delivery format of the Graduate Diploma in Legal Translation combines live classes, timed assignments and self-paced, instructor-led activities with a focus on student engagement and problem-based learning.

By bringing the classroom to the students, we aim to prepare the next generation of Canadian legal translators and jurilinguists, for whom higher education of McGill University鈥檚 calibre would otherwise be unattainable due to time, logistical or geographical limitations.

Learn from top-notch practitioners and scholar-practitioners, whose sought-after insight and expertise would be difficult to access in a non-online setting.

Interact with your instructor and receive individualized guidance.

Engage with your peers as part of a vibrant learning community: exchange perspectives and learn from one another鈥檚 diverse professional experiences and backgrounds.

Learning Outcomes


Succeeding as a legal translator requires competencies that go well beyond subject matter expertise and language skills in both the source and target language. These include the following (adapted from Prieto Ramos, 2011):

  • Knowledge of Canadian bijuralism, branches of law, history and hierarchy of sources of law, and equivalence between legal concepts and structures in Canada鈥檚 legal traditions
  • Knowledge of legal linguistics and the features of legal discourse in the source and target languages
  • Use of specialized sources and state-of-the-art translation technologies听for research and terminology management
  • Interaction with clients and other professionals and adherence to codes of ethics
  • Methodological approach: Contextualization of the translation brief, translation problem identification, implementation of translation procedures and strategies, quality control, and overall translation process management.
Program Courses

Graduate Diploma (Gr. Dip.) Legal Translation (30 Credits)

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants must have an undergraduate or graduate degree, or its equivalent, in Translation, Law or a related discipline for which faculty approval rests with the School of Continuing Studies. A minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 over 4.0 is required, or, of 3.2 out of 4.0 in the last two years of full-time studies.*

    * If your CGPA is lower than the above requirement, please submit the following for consideration with your application and official transcript.

    a)听Letter of Intent: A letter, one to two pages in length, single-spaced, written in English or French, which addresses the following:

    • basis for interest in the program;
    • your knowledge that would be pertinent to the program;
    • your interest in the field of study and the reasons for applying to our program;
    • plans for integrating the training into your current or future career;
    • a description of your professional experience and its relevance, if applicable, to the program;
    • awards received or other contributions;
    • any additional information relevant to your application.

    b) Curriculum Vitae

    c) Two Letters of Reference:听At least one should be from a current or former employer.

Supporting documents:

You will be able to upload copies of your documentation and supporting documents on your MINERVA checklist account. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a detailed email with specific instructions regarding official documentation.

If you have studied outside of Canada, you are strongly advised to request an evaluation of your degree called听脡valuation comparative des 茅tudes effectu茅es hors du Qu茅bec,听from the听Minist猫re de l鈥橧mmigration, de la Diversit茅 et de l'Inclusion.听For further details, you may contact their office at 514-864-9191 or visit them on the web at听. If you have completed an undergraduate degree from a recognized university outside of Canada and are applying to this program for which a minimum CGPA is required, please visit听听for information about international degree equivalencies.

Entrance Exam

As one of the steps for potential admission to the program, applicants must complete and successfully pass an entrance examination. The exam tests participants鈥� preparedness for their studies in both English or French.听

Online Tuition

Students who have been admitted to听online programs听will be subject to deregulated fees if they are studying with a residence address outside the province, as the government does not fund the University for credit activities that are followed outside Quebec. All students will have to self-declare their location of study each term in听. Consult the student accounts website 鈥撎�Online Programs page听for more information.

International Students

This program is an Online (Distance Learning) program.

Since by definition distance learning does not require one to be in Canada, a study permit cannot be issued for this type of program, nor can one鈥檚 immigration status be changed (or renewed). For more information, please visit 听and听.

Financial Aid
  • As a part-time program, the Graduate Diploma in Legal Translation is not eligible for AFE Loans and Bursaries for full-time studies. Students registered in a minimum of 6 credits in a term may be eligible for AFE Loans for part-time studies.
  • More information on SCS Awards and Bursaries
Who Should Apply
  • Bilingual jurists with an interest in exploring a new career path
  • Experienced translators looking to specialize in the legal field
Why Enrol?
  • Enjoy the benefits of a dynamic, specially designed online program from the comfort of your home, workplace or community.
  • Learn from world-class practitioners and scholar-practitioners, whose focus on transmitting their expertise bridges the gap between higher education and the workplace.
  • Expand your professional network and apply acquired competencies through extensive practica or applied research projects.
  • Discover or deepen your knowledge of the latest translation techniques and technologies.
  • Take advantage of a flexible, part-time program that can be completed in as quickly as two years without interrupting your current job.
News and Articles

Dr. Mar铆a Sierra C贸rdoba Serrano explores the complexities of judicial bilingualism in Canada and its impact on access to justice.

The State of Legal Translation in Canada: Bridging the Gap

Ann Marie Boulanger examines the critical shortage of qualified legal translators in Canada and how the Graduate Diploma in Legal Translation is bridging this gap.

As an assignment for the Graduate Diploma in听Legal听Translation, Marie-脠ve Frenette's听legal听text on the use of emojis in e-signatures was chosen among the best in the class and featured on 脡ducaloi's website.
Academic Advising

Have questions about the program? Speak to Academic Program Coordinator Marie-H茅l猫ne Girard (marie-helene.girard2 [at] mcgill.ca).

Videos and Webinars
Legal Translation Information Session

Information Session (pw: aWXUjMV4)
Realities of Jurilinguistics in Canada

This bilingual event will explore the daily realities of balancing language and law in Canada, with sessions offered by professionals from diverse sectors related to jurilinguistics.

Les liens familiaux et le croisement des destins sont au c艙ur des romans de Nicolas Dickner et d鈥橢ric Dupont, deux auteurs qu茅b茅cois adoub茅s par la critique et appr茅ci茅s par des centaines de milliers de lecteurs tant au Canada qu鈥櫭� l鈥櫭﹖ranger.
Testimonials
Emily Rochette

"En tant qu鈥檃vocate de litige et l茅giste, je me suis d鈥檃bord inscrite au dipl么me par curiosit茅 avec le d茅sir de d茅velopper mes comp茅tences r茅dactionnelles juridiques en anglais. N鈥檃yant aucun bagage officiel en traduction, j鈥檡 ai trouv茅 beaucoup plus que ce que j鈥櫭﹖ais all茅e chercher. J鈥檃i d茅velopp茅 un int茅r锚t marqu茅 pour la jurilinguistique et la traduction juridique, 脿 un point tel que je souhaite poursuivre dans le domaine. Le programme est bien con莽u. L鈥檈nseignement est dynamique et l鈥檈ncadrement offert est excellent. Que l鈥檕n soit traducteur ou non, il s鈥檃git d鈥檜ne tr猫s bonne formation 脿 ajouter 脿 son arc. Elle me sert d茅j脿 d鈥檃illeurs fr茅quemment dans mes fonctions actuelles."

脡milie Rochette, LL.M.,
avocate dans la fonction publique qu茅b茅coise
Laure Payer

"Lorsque je me suis inscrite en traduction juridique 脿 McGill, je r茅orientais ma carri猫re. J鈥檃vais en poche un dipl么me en common law et plus de dix ans d鈥檈xp茅rience comme 茅ditrice et r茅viseure linguistique. Les langues et le droit me passionnaient toujours et je souhaitais trouver un emploi qui allait m鈥檕ffrir la possibilit茅 de travailler tout en voyageant.

脡tant donn茅 que les cours se donnent 脿 temps partiel, de soir et 脿 distance, j鈥檃i pu compl茅ter le programme rapidement sans avoir 脿 quitter mon emploi.

Le programme m鈥檃 ouvert la porte 脿 un r茅seau de professionnels tout aussi passionn茅s que moi et qui a ont 脿 c艙ur la r茅ussite de la rel猫ve dans le domaine. J鈥檃i constat茅 tr猫s t么t que les options de carri猫re sont nombreuses. J鈥檃i commenc茅 脿 travailler 脿 la pige comme traductrice d猫s la fin de ma premi猫re ann茅e. L鈥檃nn茅e suivante, j鈥檃i eu la chance de traduire toutes sortes de documents : des jugements, des contrats, des politiques internes, des formations destin茅es aux juges, etc. J鈥檃i m锚me eu la chance de travailler sur un projet de recherche en collaboration avec l鈥橴niversitat Oberta de Catalunya, en Catalogne.

Je termine actuellement mon stage au Bureau de la traduction, o霉 on m鈥檃 offert un emploi pour la suite. Je suis tr猫s fi猫re et honor茅e 脿 l鈥檌d茅e de travailler pour les plus hauts tribunaux canadiens et de contribuer 脿 am茅liorer la qualit茅 de la langue juridique au Canada."

Laure Payer,
traductrice juridique
maite-bertaud

"Le dipl么me d鈥櫭﹖udes sup茅rieures en traduction juridique offert 脿 l鈥橴niversit茅 McGill est un volet important de mon perfectionnement professionnel. Au d茅part, les particularit茅s et les rouages des deux syst猫mes juridiques du Canada m鈥檌ntimidaient. J鈥檃vais peur de ne pas m鈥檡 retrouver et de ne pas saisir certaines nuances! Gr芒ce 脿 l鈥檃ccompagnement d鈥檌nstructeurs comp茅tents et accessibles, j鈥檃i approfondi mes connaissances du droit et aiguis茅 mes techniques de recherche et de r茅daction pour appuyer ma client猫le. J鈥檃ime tous les aspects de ce programme : le soutien personnalis茅 de la direction, les cours de grande qualit茅, les instructeurs passionn茅s, la plateforme MyCourses et les nombreuses occasions de rencontrer des coll猫gues. La composition des cohortes est int茅ressante aussi, puisque j鈥檃i l鈥檕ccasion d鈥櫭﹖udier avec des traducteurs et des juristes. Le dipl么me est con莽u pour les professionnels qui travaillent 脿 temps plein et les cours sont offerts le soir. Je recommande ce programme 脿 tous mes coll猫gues qui souhaitent se sp茅cialiser en traduction juridique."

Ma茂t茅 Bertaud, trad. a.,
traductrice juridique
icon

"As a lawyer whose practice involves a significant amount of work in the translation of legislation, I enrolled in the Graduate Diploma in Legal Translation to validate, build on and diversify my legal translation skills. The program has allowed me to learn from instructors who are passionate and knowledgeable about legal translation as well as highly accessible. It has also given me exposure to different types of legal translation, each with their own challenges, which has permitted me to diversify my skills. Having a background primarily in common law, I appreciated being able contrast and compare civil law principles and concepts through the lens of translation. The program has helped me to further develop the skills that I use every day in my work and left me with an increased confidence in my legal translation abilities."

Ajay Ramkumar,
legislative counsel (bilingual), government of Ontario

Ready to take the next step?

How to Apply

Application Deadlines

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Language Requirements

Resources for Indigenous Learners

Need help applying?

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