Job descriptionContract
Verdacert is a US-based certified translation service specializing in MENA-region civil and legal documents for USCIS filings, US courts, universities, and medical providers. We are hiring a Legal Somali Translator to join our reviewer network, translating and certifying Somali-language documents for immigration and legal use cases. Every translation is reviewed by a native speaker before release, and this role is central to that quality bar for Somali-language filings.
What you'll do
- Translate legal and civil documents (birth certificates, marriage records, court documents, police clearances, academic transcripts, and similar) between Somali and English
- Review and edit AI-generated first-draft translations for accuracy, completeness, and faithfulness to the source document
- Apply correct transliteration of names and proper nouns consistent with filing requirements (e.g., matching spellings used in immigration petitions)
- Sign certification statements attesting to translation accuracy in accordance with 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3)
- Preserve original document layout and formatting in the certified translation
- Flag documents with ambiguous content, regional dialect variation, or unclear source text for additional review
What we're looking for
- Native or near-native fluency in Somali and English
- Demonstrated experience translating legal, civil, or government documents
- Strong attention to detail with names, dates, numbers, and official terminology
- Familiarity with Somali civil registry conventions and document types
- Ability to work within defined turnaround windows (documents are typically delivered in 14-48 hours)
- Comfort working independently in a remote, deadline-driven review queue
Nice to have
- Prior experience as a certified or court-approved translator
- Familiarity with USCIS translation certification requirements
- Experience with regional Somali dialect variation across Somalia, Somaliland, and the diaspora
- Background in legal, immigration, or paralegal work