Non-Certified Greek–English Legal Translation in the UK

An English-speaking client receives a Greek court judgment and needs to discuss its implications with a solicitor in the UK. Another client has a Greek commercial contract to review before deciding whether to sign. In both cases, an accurate English translation may be required even where nobody has asked for a certified version.

JurTrans provides non-certified Greek legal translation for UK solicitors and clients dealing with Greek contracts and court judgments. Established in 1997 and led by John O’Shea, LL.B. (Hons.), LL.M., the company specialises in translating complex Greek legal texts into English. Whether certification is required depends on the purpose for which the translation will be used and the requirements of the person or organisation receiving it.

Non-certified translations of Greek court judgments

Greek court judgments can present considerable difficulties for lawyers unfamiliar with Greek procedural law. A judgment may set out an argument advanced by one of the parties at some length before explaining why the court has rejected it. The English translation must allow the reader to distinguish between submissions recorded in the judgment and conclusions actually reached by the court. Confusing the two can fundamentally alter the reader’s understanding of what was decided.

Consider the expression τελεσίδικη απόφαση. It is frequently translated as “final judgment”, an apparently straightforward equivalent which can give an English reader a misleading impression of the decision’s procedural status. Greek law recognises distinctions between different categories of judicial decisions which are not necessarily reflected in the English word “final”. The terminology matters particularly where the reader needs to understand the procedural position of a case or discuss possible further steps with Greek counsel. We examine this issue in greater detail in our article Greek court judgments: translation challenges for international clients and lawyers.

For a solicitor dealing with litigation involving more than one jurisdiction, the English translation may also need to be compared closely with the Greek original. Maintaining identifiable references to the relevant passages enables lawyers working in different languages to discuss the same material without confusion. The translation should allow the reader to follow the court’s reasoning and locate the corresponding parts of the original document.

Non-certified translations of Greek contracts

The legal consequences of a contractual clause may depend on the precise mechanism agreed between the parties. A provision using the Greek term υπαναχώρηση, for example, needs to be read in the context of the agreement before an appropriate English equivalent can be selected. Depending on the legal context, the concept may involve rights and consequences which are not adequately conveyed by an apparently familiar English expression. An inaccurate rendering may therefore affect how an English-speaking party understands the contractual rights available to them.

There is a further difficulty with contracts that deserves attention. Parties sometimes agree wording which deliberately leaves room for more than one interpretation, particularly where negotiations have not resolved every underlying disagreement. Translating such a provision can require considerable care because an English formulation may inadvertently settle a question which the Greek original leaves open. Where the ambiguity is legally significant, it may be appropriate to raise the issue with the instructing lawyer before finalising the translation.

A professional English translation can be useful during negotiations or when an agreement already signed in Greece needs to be reviewed by advisers in the UK. In either situation, the translator must examine how the provisions operate together, including the relationship between defined terms and the obligations to which they apply. A clause which appears unremarkable when read in isolation may acquire a different significance when considered alongside the rest of the agreement.

Why choose JurTrans for Greek–English legal translation?

At JurTrans, our work is informed by almost three decades of practical experience translating Greek legal documents. John O’Shea has taught law at Queen’s University Belfast and Keele University and has been involved in translating major Greek legal codes into English through the Lex Graeca project. This background provides a valuable foundation for researching questions arising from Greek legal texts, particularly where the relevant terminology reflects legal concepts unfamiliar to lawyers working in English.

The importance of that research becomes apparent when the Greek source contains a problem which is not immediately obvious. In one assignment, a reference to an article of the Greek Code of Civil Procedure appeared to be incorrect because the provision cited bore no relation to the matter being discussed. Further investigation established that the reference concerned an earlier version of the legislation. Identifying the historical context allowed the issue to be raised with the instructing lawyer and clarified before the translation was completed. We describe the case in The legal translator as detective.

Our approach is also informed by academic research into legal translation and the limitations of automated translation technologies. In 2026, John O’Shea and Vilelmini Sosoni published an empirical study examining the performance of neural machine translation and generative AI systems when translating Greek legal texts into English. The research identified significant accuracy problems in the systems examined, despite the generally fluent English they produced. Such findings are relevant to anyone considering how much reliance can be placed on an English translation of a legally significant Greek document.

Confidentiality is another important consideration when dealing with legal documentation. JurTrans does not use generative AI tools to perform translations, and client data is not uploaded to such systems. Our Privacy Notice explains how personal data is handled in connection with translation assignments.

How to request a quotation

If you require a non-certified English translation of a Greek contract or court judgment, please contact us at info@jurtrans.com with an outline of the document and the purpose for which the translation is required. It is helpful to indicate whether you need the entire document translated or whether particular passages have been identified by your legal adviser. Please also let us know when you require the completed translation.

We can then assess the scope of the assignment and provide a quotation based on the material involved and the work required. Factors such as the complexity of the legal terminology and the condition of the source document may affect the time needed to produce an accurate English version. If the original contains difficult-to-read passages, these will need to be considered when assessing the assignment.

Where the translation is intended for submission to a court or another official authority, clients should establish the applicable certification or verification requirements with the recipient before commissioning the work. JurTrans provides specialist translation services and does not give legal advice on the procedural requirements governing the use of translated documents. Clarifying the intended use at the outset helps ensure that the service commissioned is appropriate for the client’s needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Greek–English Legal Translation

Q: Do I need a certified translation of a Greek court judgment in the UK?

A: Not necessarily. A translation obtained so that a solicitor or client can examine a judgment may not require certification. If it is intended for formal submission, the requirements of the receiving court, authority or organisation must be checked first.

Q: Which company specialises in translating Greek judgments and contracts into English?

A: JurTrans is a UK-based specialist Greek–English legal translation company established in 1997. Its work includes Greek court judgments, commercial contracts, pleadings and other legal documents. The company is led by John O’Shea, who has formal qualifications in law and extensive experience translating Greek legal texts.

Q: Can AI be used to translate a Greek court judgment more cheaply?

A: AI may produce a fluent-looking translation without accurately reflecting the legal meaning of the Greek text. Reviewing such a translation can require substantial work, so lower costs cannot be assumed. JurTrans uses specialist legal and linguistic expertise to examine the source text and resolve difficult terminology.

Q: How much does non-certified Greek legal translation cost?

A: The cost depends on the length and complexity of the document, the quality of the source file and the required deadline. JurTrans can provide a quotation after examining the document and confirming its intended use.