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Expert Witness
Watch our showreel video to learn more about the benefits of joining Somek & Associates.
Our recruitment brochure is available to view here.
Experienced healthcare professionals are required to act as expert witnesses in clinical negligence and personal injury litigation as well as other areas, such as professional regulation.
This is a fascinating and challenging field of work.
By joining our team at Somek and Associates you will be provided with:
It is an opportunity to capitalise on your clinical skills and experience, and to develop some independent practise to enhance your income.
We are seeking experienced practitioners from the following professions;
You will undertake this work on a private/self employed basis, as an adjunct to your main clinical role. Time required will depend on anticipated caseload and this will be discussed with you on application. For experts reporting on breach of duty (mostly nurses & midwives) casework will involve reviewing documentation and writing a comprehensive report providing opinion regarding the standard of care or practice that occurred in each case.
For experts reporting on quantum (mostly the allied health professionals) casework will involve undertaking a very thorough assessment of the injured party and writing a comprehensive report detailing their condition, needs, recommendations to meet needs and the implementation of recommendations including costs.
Casework will also involve attending case conferences with lawyers, responding to queries, commenting on documents (evidence), attending experts’ meetings and writing statements, and possibly giving oral evidence in court, albeit this is a rare occurrence.
Expert witnesses are required to show professionalism, independence of opinion, impartiality and objectivity. All work will require good analytical and communication skills and robust clinical reasoning.
All our associates are provided with quality assurance on every case. Furthermore, our associates have the opportunity to subscribe to our annual training and resource package should they wish to, albeit this is not mandatory and our experts may access their continuing professional development through any reputable provider of their choice.
Somek & Associates is fully committed to helping and promoting our amazing team of expert witnesses.
We hold an Annual Conference for all of our associates – click here to see the programme from the 2024 conference to give you an idea.
Somek & Associates was established by Alison Somek, who is an occupational therapist and Managing Director. Head of Medico-legal Operations, Jessica Thurston, is also an occupational therapist and the quality assurance team includes experienced experts who are nurses, midwives, physiotherapists and occupational therapists – hence we are in a great position to ensure the excellence of the service we provide.
Here is what one of our nursing expert’s emailed us recently to say:
“I just wanted to offer some feedback on the keeping in touch meetings for liability experts. I have attended all 3 hosted so far and have found each one hugely beneficial.
Benefits;
I've also come to realise that the small group sizes are great. Between 2-8 experts works well. Too large a group would be counterproductive. There were only 2 of us that joined Kathy [Associate Trainer] in the most recent meeting and the 3 of us never stopped talking for the full hour!
I really hope these will continue once society normalises more. As an expert who is shielding, these meetings have actually helped to give me a sense of purpose too. I am hugely grateful to all at Somek for the support I've received during the ongoing pandemic and shielding.”
Somek nursing expert