Mandate

[Allen165]

A client asks a lawyer or a law firm to perform a certain legal service for him. Could one say that the lawyer or the law firm received a mandate?

According to dictionary.com, a mandate is, among other things, any contract by which a person undertakes to perform services for another (see no. 8 at Mandate | Define Mandate at Dictionary.com). In German, one would use the term "Mandat" to describe the request made by the client, and I'm wondering if I can translate "Mandat" as "mandate."

Here's a more specific example:

XXX & Partners is the biggest law firm in Bern. We handle mandates from all over Switzerland.

I suppose one could use the term "assignment" or even "case" instead of "mandate."

What do you think?

Thanks.

 

[bhaisahab]

A client asks a lawyer or a law firm to perform a certain legal service for him. Could one say that the lawyer or the law firm received a mandate?

According to dictionary.com, a mandate is, among other things, any contract by which a person undertakes to perform services for another (see no. 8 at Mandate | Define Mandate at Dictionary.com). In German, one would use the term "Mandat" to describe the request made by the client, and I'm wondering if I can translate "Mandat" as "mandate."

Here's a more specific example:

XXX & Partners is the biggest law firm in Bern. We handle mandates from all over Switzerland.

I suppose one could use the term "assignment" or even "case" instead of "mandate."

What do you think?

Thanks.

I think the usual term is "instruction", "We handle instructions from all over Switzerland".

 

[Allen165]

I think the usual term is "instruction", "We handle instructions from all over Switzerland".

Thank you for your reply.

I've done some googling and it appears "instruction" is indeed used in England; unfortunately, I have to translate into American English (of which you are a huge fan, or so I've heard), and I doubt "instruction" is used in America.

Thank you nonetheless.

 

[Barb_D]

Instructions.

 

[Allen165]

Could you use "instruction" in a sentence like this?

Our lawyers pursue a common strategy on each instruction (i.e., on each assignment).

Thanks.

 

[Barb_D]

Why would you need to?

If the client says "Please create an escrow account" how much of a common strategy is needed?

It sound inflated and odd.

 

[Allen165]

Why would you need to?

If the client says "Please create an escrow account" how much of a common strategy is needed?

It sound inflated and odd.

I am translating something and the translation is supposed to reflect the original text.

But you could say, our lawyers pursue a common strategy on each assignment/case, right?

Thanks.

 

[Allen165]

Perhaps it would be better to use "for."

Our lawyers pursue a common strategy for each instruction/assignment.

 

[bhaisahab]

Perhaps it would be better to use "for."

Our lawyers pursue a common strategy for each instruction/assignment.

Who are you translating this for, do you really need to translate it that way? What do you mean by "common strategy"?

 

[Allen165]

Who are you translating this for, do you really need to translate it that way? What do you mean by "common strategy"?

For a company.

"Our lawyers pursue a common strategy on each assignment/case/instruction" is what it says in the original. I don't think it's hard to understand; I'm just not sure if "on each assignment/case/instruction" is correct.

Come to think of it, "with" works best.

Our lawyers pursue a common strategy with each assignment.

 

[Barb_D]

Your translation is grammatical.

If I read it in on a law firm's Web site, I would still say "What an odd and inflated thing to say. I don't want a common strategy. I want individual attention to my specific need and a customized strategy tailored to me." But you're not responsible for that part.

 

[Allen165]

Your translation is grammatical.

If I read it in on a law firm's Web site, I would still say "What an odd and inflated thing to say. I don't want a common strategy. I want individual attention to my specific need and a customized strategy tailored to me." But you're not responsible for that part.

Do you prefer "on each assignment" or "with each assignment"?

 

[Barb_D]

I think I like your idea of "with" better, but I have no problem with "on" or even "for" either. If it were "each client" then I would choose "for."