French-English translation
I have professional experience in literary, business, and legal translation (the last being a particular specialty, for which I have developed my own glossary databases). For samples, quotations (“job quotes”), or more information, please use the Contact page. My per-word rate reduces with the size of the job or where I receive regular work from the same client.
Please note: I translate, and have a special interest in, law French, but I do not translate material from the earlier, “purer” Norman French. Working with that dialect requires the skills of a Medievalist.
For use in my law and literature courses, I have translated stories and poems by Marcel Aymé, Victor Hugo, Anatole France, and others. Here, for example, is my translation of Aymé’s “Dermuche,” and here are my translations of Hugo’s Jeanne était au pain sec… (Jeanne Was on Bread and Water…) and À qui la faute? (Whose Fault Is It?).
Consulting to publishers and writers
- Reader’s reports to publishers for published books and unpublished manuscripts in both English and French
- General information on libel law and other legal topics (publication bans, copyright, etc.)
- Advice to writers on publishing and agency contracts.
Please note: Although I am a barrister and solicitor, I don’t practise law these days. I provide advice in a general way on the matters detailed above (not a line by line analysis on any specific agreement or issue), but from long experience as both a writer and a media/arts lawyer. I frequently give talks and workshops on writing and publishing topics, from both the author and legal perspectives.
The Humour Mill
There are two components to this aspect of my freelance work:
- Speaking at conferences, dinners, workshops, etc. Past work includes talks on law and society; legal history and curiosities/humour; sundry literary topics including law and literature and comic writing; the writing life, law for writers and journalists, language and translation, media and arts law…
- Communications. I started my working life as a copywriter in major ad agencies, and have thereafter freelanced as a writer of speeches, advertising, and other communications. Usually there is some humour involved, but not necessarily. I also review and punch up existing material. I keep a humour database, which provides me ready access to humour that relates to specific occupations and topics. I am fairly active as a public speaker and instructor, which keeps me fresh – I hope – on what works and what falls flat.
All of the above services are provided through my company, Burden of Proof Research Inc./The Law & Justice Research Centre