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Expert Witness

Become an expert witness with Somek and Associates

Watch our showreel video to learn more about the benefits of joining Somek & Associates.

Expert Witness Enquiry

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:

  • Opportunity to subscribe to the Somek and Associates Annual Training and Resource Package (which includes our prestigious Annual Conference)
  • Full administrative and technological support
  • Our Quality Assurance Team will ensure your reports are consistent with legal protocol and are of the highest quality.
  • Excellent rates of pay
  • A flow of work to suit your availability and other clinical / case management commitments outside of Somek & Associates
  • Flexibility of working pattern – you can choose the volume of cases you would like to be instructed on and can undertake all written work at a time entirely of your choosing
  • Guidance on governance – we will assist you in ensuring you remain compliant as a self-employed expert witness
  • Marketing – we will promote you via our website and social media platforms

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;

Our recruitment brochure is available to view here.

What is involved?

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 2023 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;

  • Share experiences.
  • Discover some top tips for all aspects of liability cases.
  • Networking.
  • Improves communication.
  • Opportunity to get to know all the trainers.
  • Offered at different times.
  • Appropriate frequency.
  • A great learning tool for junior experts.
  • No agenda and informal approach creates a relaxed forum, which facilitates conversation and encourages participation.

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