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Are you articulate, with excellent verbal and written communication skills, reliable and able to use your own initiative, as well as working as part of a team?
Do you have excellent attention to detail, an excellent telephone manner and proficiency with all Microsoft Office applications - Word, Excel, Outlook etc?
Can you manage your own workload and work to demanding deadlines effectively?
Do you enjoy reading and improving written material?
About us
Somek & Associates is part of the Frenkel Topping Group.
Located outside London in Chesham, beside the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with easy access by road and public transport. We’re a well-established small-to-medium sized company with a family feel. If you work with us, you’ll be joining a warm and welcoming team.
Somek & Associates is a brand leader in providing expert witness services for clinical negligence and personal injury litigation, as well as other areas of dispute involving health or disability issues including family matters, criminal cases, tribunal, coroner’s court and professional regulation issues.
We take the business of being an expert witness seriously, aiming to provide first class expert witnesses, in addition to a quality service for our clients. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer with a diverse workforce.
Our vision
To be the organisation of choice for expert witness services in the UK.
Our mission
- To ensure courts have the best expert evidence with which to deal with cases justly.
- To ensure lawyers litigating cases (and other case workers instructing us) have supreme confidence in their decisions based on our quality expert input.
- To ensure our expert input is seen as value for money.
Position
The key task of this role is to process medico-legal reports and related documents that have been written by Expert Witnesses. This involves in-depth proofreading, correction of grammar/spelling, checking for report consistency, formatting, and the creation of costing tables using an Excel spreadsheet.
The role is not a pathway to a role in the legal sector, more a proofreading and editing role within a very specialised area. Hours are Full-time/Permanent (Monday to Friday) 9am to 5.30pm (including 1 hour break). Our work is predominantly office based in our offices in Chesham Buckinghamshire. We offer Hybrid working after one year’s service.
Please do not apply if you are not within a reasonable commutable distance nor planning to relocate.
The Proofreader will need to be articulate, have excellent communication skills at a senior level, be reliable, and able to use own initiative whilst also working as part of a small team. This role will also require the ability to work under pressure as well as being able to deliver and complete tasks to strict deadlines.
At times, the Proofreader may be required to assist in other S&A functions such as the training department e.g., with preparation of training materials for courses.
About you
Essential skills
- Excellent proofreading skills (fast but thorough, accurate, with good concentration) with a keen eye for details
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent grasp of spelling, grammar, and punctuation
- Conscientious and well organised with good presentation skills (i.e. written)
- Good telephone manner
- Good level of numeracy (incl. numerical reasoning skills)
- Able to interpret written information and translate it into figures/costs using Excel
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Windows, Word, Outlook & Excel) as well as good keyboard skills
- Ability to (learn to) use a database
- General administrative skills
- Able to use own initiative and display a courteous and professional manner at all times
- Able to work under pressure
- Able to work well as part of small team
Desirable skills
- Previous experience proofreading or within the medico-legal or healthcare professions would be advantageous.
- Experience with data entry / using a database.
Qualifications
- Applicants should be Graduates (English language or literature preferred) or have significant relevant experience.
- English and Maths must have been attained to GCSE Grade 9-5 minimum, or equivalent.
References are required and any offer of employment will be subject to a 6-month probationary period.
Confidentiality
The nature of the work of Somek & Associates is highly confidential and the post holder will be expected to maintain full confidence.
All staff are part of the “Somek team” and may be required to assist any other team members when required and agreed with team leaders or their managers.
What we offer
We offer a great range of employee benefits which includes:
- Individualised training opportunities to support career development.
- Promotion prospects
- Free and confidential WeCare Employee Assistance support. This includes 24/7 access to a GP appointment and counselling sessions for all members of the household.
- Hybrid working scheme after qualifying period.
- Private Healthcare after qualifying period.
- Increased pension contributions dependent on length of service.
- Free fruit and snacks. End of month lunches.
- Free parking.
- Business casual dress.
- Work events
We value
- Respect - Creating a supportive, kind and inclusive environment
- Quality - Delivering constantly high standards
- Reputation - Cultivating lasting relationships with clients and Associates
- Teamwork and communication - Recognising unique contribution and rewarding success
- Growth- Developing the mindset to maximise the potential of our individuals and organisation.
