UTBMS Code E111 — Translations
Charges for document translation, interpreter services, and language services required in connection with the matter, including certified translations for court filings and interpreter fees for depositions.
schedule When This Code Is Used
When the matter involves documents in foreign languages requiring translation, witnesses who need interpreter services, or foreign court filings requiring certified translations.
warning Common Billing Violations
Using premium translation services when standard certified translation would suffice
Billing for rush translations that could have been avoided with better planning
Not obtaining competitive bids for large translation projects as required by outside counsel guidelines
Charging attorney time for translation review when the attorney does not read the source language
timer Typical Hours
N/A (expense item). Range: $0.10-$0.30/word for document translation, $50-$150/hour for interpreters, $500-$5,000+ for large translation projects.
flag Red Flags to Watch For
Translation charges without specification of the source language, document type, and word count
Rush translation charges that were avoidable with better planning
Premium translation vendor rates without competitive bidding on large projects
Attorney time billed for 'reviewing' translations in a language the attorney does not speak
check_circle Best Practices for Review
Require competitive bids for translation projects exceeding a threshold amount (e.g., $2,000)
Establish per-word rate caps based on language pair and document complexity
Require that rush translation charges be pre-approved with justification for urgency
Mandate certified translation only when required by court rules or regulations
link Related Codes
analytics Key Statistics
Legal translation costs range from $0.15-$0.40 per word depending on language pair and certification requirements
Source: American Translators Association, 2024
Translation costs in cross-border litigation can represent 3-8% of total matter cost, with Asian and Middle Eastern languages at the higher end
Source: ACC Global Legal Department Benchmarking Report, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
What does UTBMS expense code E111 cover? expand_more
UTBMS expense code E111 covers Translation charges for translating documents, depositions, court filings, and other materials between languages. Translation costs are particularly significant in international litigation, cross-border transactions, and immigration matters.
How do you manage translation costs under E111? expand_more
Require competitive bids for translation services exceeding $2,000. Verify that only relevant documents are translated rather than entire document sets. Distinguish between certified translations required for court filings and informal translations for internal review at lower cost.
What billing issues arise with translation charges under E111? expand_more
Issues include translating unnecessary documents, using expensive certified translation for internal review purposes, firms marking up translation vendor charges, and failing to leverage translation memory tools that reduce costs for repetitive content across document sets.