Machine translation tools are gradually making their way into the legal profession. One of its most promising uses is the automation of legal translation, particularly for contracts.
Is it really possible to delegate the translation of a document as crucial and binding as a contract to an AI? What are the dangers, the safeguards... and the best methods?
This article discusses the constraints of consumer tools, the importance of reliable legal translation and how Lexa, an expert AI, addresses the legitimate concerns of legal professionals.
The challenges of contract translation
A contract is not a simple document: it is legally binding. A translation error can have far-reaching consequences.
Very specific expectations
- Exact terminology: every word has a legal meaning. For example, "agreement" does not always translate as "accord", depending on the context.
- Compliance with applicable law: certain clauses must be adapted to local legislation.
- Clear, unambiguous wording: to avoid any contentious interpretation.
One mistake can jeopardize everything
Misinterpretation between the parties, cross-border conflicts and non-conformities... an inadequate translation compromises the validity of the contract. That's why lawyers are rightly demanding.
Why generalist RNs are not enough
Mainstream machine translation tools such as Google Translate, DeepL or ChatGPT are not designed to meet legal requirements.
Tools designed for the general public
These tools are based on general linguistic foundations. They work well on simple texts, but do not capture the nuances of legal terminology or the particularities of different legal systems.
Examples of concrete risks
- Legal mistakes: confusing "consideration" (in Anglo-Saxon contract law) with "considération" (in the everyday sense).
- Word-for-word translations: resulting in inconsistent or even erroneous formulations.
- False friends: "liability" doesn't mean "responsibility" in every context.
- Lack of contractual logic: no verification of consistency between clauses or of the document's legal structure.
What a difference a specialized AI like Lexa makes
Lexa is a machine translation tool dedicated exclusively to legal translation. It has been developed to meet the requirements of legal professionals.
A unique specialization
- Training on legal texts (contracts, laws, directives, case law),
- Integration of lexicons by area of law (labor law, commercial law, tax law, etc.),
- Multilingual operation, with coverage of over 30 languages.
Taking the context into account
Lexa identifies the type of document and adjusts its translation accordingly. The translation of an employment contract does not follow the same principles as that of general terms and conditions or a shareholders' agreement. It organizes the text according to the legal standards specific to each language.
Integrated consistency checks
Lexa identifies :
- Inconsistencies in terminology and timing,
- Cross-referencing errors in clauses,
- Poorly formulated repetitions,
- Syntactical clumsiness that can be detrimental to legal clarity.
Real-life comparison: DeepL vs Lexa on a sensitive clause
Original clause
"The Employee agrees not to engage in any competing activity within 12 months following the termination of the contract."
- DeepL suggests:
"The employee agrees not to engage in any competing business within 12 months of the termination of the contract." - Lexa suggests:
"The employee undertakes not to engage in any competing activity for a period of 12 months following the termination of this contract."
Analysis:
Lexa uses terminology in line with French employment law, with precise legal terms ("salarié", "rupture du présent contrat"). The sentence structure complies with the standards for non-competition clauses in legal French.
A reliable legal translation tool... but never alone
The human element remains in the loop
Lexa can operate in 100% automated mode, or in hybrid mode with human proofreading. Translations can be post-edited by professional legal translators, guaranteeing a level of quality in line with industry expectations.
Security, confidentiality, compliance
Lexa has been designed to comply with the strictest legal data processing requirements:
- Hosted in Europe in secure environments,
- RGPD compliance,
- Automatic deletion of documents after processing,
- No use of data for training purposes.
Why not try out Lexa for yourself?
The best way to evaluate a tool is to try it out on a real case.
Lexa offers a free test based on your own contractual documents. In just a few seconds, you can :
- Compare the generated translation with your current tools,
- Evaluate the terminology used,
- Check compliance with the expected structure and legal style.
In a nutshell
| Criteria | Generalist AI | Lexa |
| Legal specialization | No | Yes |
| Contract contextualization | Low | High |
| Consistency check | No | Integrated |
| Security & RGPD | Uncertain | Compliant |
| Human proofreading | No | Optional |
Test Lexa with a contract extract and see the difference for yourself.
Lexa is not a gadget, it's a tool designed to save you time, without compromising legal precision.
