Angus Stewart

I am a legal translator offering professional translation, proof reading and editing services from French and Italian into English. 

I specialize in legal translation working with academic legal texts, court judgements, legislation and private legal documents, including contractual, commercial and corporate documentation as well as texts related to conveyancing/real estate transactions. My expertise is also relevant to the related field of business and commercial, for instance in relation to the translation of terms and conditions.

Being a qualified Scottish Solicitor and Notary Public with a First Class Honours Degree in Law, a Diploma in Legal Practice and in excess of three years post qualifying experience, my knowledge of the complexities of legal drafting and terminology means that I am ideally qualified to work in the field of legal translation. As a solicitor, I worked mainly in the field of Private Client and Commercial and Residential Conveyancing/Real Estate, including Commercial Leasing. I also have experience of Corporate, Licensing and Civil and Criminal Court work. 

I am also qualified as a translator having gained my MA in Translation Studies from the University of Hull with Distinction and being an Associate of the Institute of Translation & Interpreting.

I currently use SDL Trados Studio 2011 Translation Software. I am currently certified by SDL in respect of SDL MultiTerm 2011 and SDL Trados Studio for Translators 2011 to an advanced level. 

Capacity of 2,000 words per day.

Further details regarding my background and credentials are detailed in my CV below:

ANGUS STEWART CV

NATIONALITY:                         British

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

2011  to date                         University of Strathclyde, Centre for Lifelong Learning  

• Beginners German 1A – PASS (10 SCOTCAT Credit Points)
• Psychology for Beginners – PASS (10 SCOTCAT Credit Points)
• Beginners Spanish 1A - PASS (10 SCOTCAT Credit Points)
• Beginners Spanish 1B - (currently studying)
• Beginners Polish 1 - (award pending)
• How to Look at Modern Art - (award pending)

2009 – 2010                         University of Hull

                                                Postgraduate MA in Translation Studies (distinction)

• An Introduction to Linguistics for Translators
• Professional Translation Skills (distinction)
• Italian Language I for Graduate Linguists (distinction)
• Italian Language II for Graduate Linguists (distinction)
• Advanced Practical Translation Skills
• Issues in Translation Studies (distinction)
• Dissertation (distinction)

2009                                     Trinity College London at the Language Institute, Edinburgh

                                              CertTESOL

2002 – 2003                        Glasgow Graduate School of Law

                                               Diploma in Legal Practice

1997 – 2001                        University of Glasgow

                                               LLB (Hons) Scots Law - 1^st Class

Honours Subjects: Dissertation in Law (1^st ++); International Private Law (1^st +); Criminal Law: History & Theory (1^st); Computers & the Law (2:1); Obligations (2:1); Property Law (2:1); & Honours Skills Development (Pass)

Advanced Subjects: Conveyancing (A) & International Private Law (A)

Ordinary Subjects: Civil Law (A); Company Law (A); Criminal Law (B); European Law (B);  Evidence (B); Family Law (B); Jurisprudence (B); Legal Systems (Pass); Obligations (A); Property Trusts and Succession (A); Public Law 1 (B); Tax Law (B)

Prizes: Bates Essay Prize for the Top Honours Dissertation; the Guthrie Prize in International Private Law; the Shaw Stewart Jubilee Memorial Prize in Scots Law; the Douglas Prize in Civil Law; & the Robert MacFarlane Bursary in Civil Law.

Certificates of Merit: Civil Law (1^st); Company Law (1^st); Legal Systems (1^st); Property, Trust and Succession (1^st); Conveyancing; International Private Law; & Obligations.

1991 – 1997                  Park Mains High School, Erskine

Certificate of Six Year Studies: English (B); History (A); & Mathematics (A)

Highers: English (B); French (A); History (A); Latin (A); Mathematics (A); & Physics(A)

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:                            

• Qualified as a Solicitor in 2005
• Notary Public

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES:              

• Non-Practising Member of the Law Society of Scotland
• Associate of the Institute of Translation & Interpreting

LANGUAGES:

Second Languages

• French                – Higher French Grade A and MA in Translation Studies undertaken in French

• Italian                  -  Italian Language I & II for Graduate Linguists (distinction)

Other Languages

• Basic Dutch         -  Certificate in Distance Learning Beginners Dutch Course from the Dutch Language School, Oxford

• Basic German     -   Beginners German 1A course at University of Strathclyde 

• Basic Spanish     - Beginners Spanish 1A course at University of Strathclyde (currently studying Spanish 1B)

• Basic Polish        - Beginners Polish 1A at University of Strathclyde

CAREER SUMMARY:

Dates                                        June 2011 - to date

Position                                    Freelance Legal Translator

Dates                                        August 2007 – March 2009

Position                                    Assistant Solicitor

Firm                                          Kingsley Wood, Solicitors, Kilmacolm

• This role was focused upon Commercial Conveyancing work, with an emphasis upon Commercial Leasing acting on behalf of both Landlord and Tenant.

• In addition, to examining title, drafting and revising Leases and preparing lease management documentation, this function also entailed preparing detailed Client Reports, which required to be clear and concise.

• The role also entailed undertaking some Corporate and Commercial work, as well a Private Client and Residential Conveyancing, particularly in relation to complex transactions or where advice was required in connection with property related disputes.

• Experience of Trusts, including advising in relation to a charitable trust, where all existing trustees had died without appointing successors and where it was proposed to alter the trust’s purposes.

• Provision of support to an in-house residential leasing department, to include ensuring their documentation and procedures were kept up to date.

Dates                                        March 2007 – August 2007

Position                                   Assistant Solicitor

Firm                                          Holmes MacKillop, Solicitors, Johnstone

• This role comprised undertaking Private Client work, as well as Residential and Commercial Conveyancing. 

Dates                                        June 2003 – March 2007 

Position                                   Assistant/Associate Solicitor 

                                                Trainee Solicitor (June 2003 – June 2005)

Firm                                         Lyons Laing, Solicitors, Greenock/Glasgow
 

• As a trainee, I initially undertook a broad range of private practice work comprising Conveyancing, Private Client, Licensing, Criminal and Civil Court work.

• Extensive experience of a variety of different types Residential and Commercial Conveyancing transactions, including leasing and advising in relation to property related disputes.

• Post qualification, I was responsible for managing a small, but busy Conveyancing and Private Client department.

• This role included responsibility for supervising a Conveyancing paralegal and a team of administrative staff; identifying training requirements; and ensuring that documentation and procedures were updated as appropriate.   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:

• SDL MultiTerm for Translators (2009 & 2011); SDL Trados Studio for Translators (2009 & 2011)  – Getting Started, Intermediate and Advanced (this certification can be viewed online at http://www.sdl.com/certified/111212)

• Certificate of Basic IT Competence

• Experience of using LawPro, email, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.

INTERESTS:

• Active Member and former National Treasurer of the Franco Scottish Society (2008 – 2009). This voluntary role entailed applying knowledge of Trusts and Charity Law. I also drafted and oversaw the implementation of the society’s Health and Safety Policy.

• Life member of the Association for Roman Archaeology, Historic Scotland and National Trust for Scotland.

• Cinema, including a particular interest in foreign films.

• Travel, particularly to France and Belgium.

• TRADOS