Editor – Court Reporter

Editor, Court Reporter

Canary Wharf, London

Purpose of Job

Reporting to an Editorial Team Manager, the role primarily involves selecting key cases according to defined criteria and writing digests of those judgments, ensuring the ratio and obiter are concise and clear. Checking and proofing digests written by others is also a key component of the role. The work is subject to tight deadlines (including same day reporting) for loading digests and full text to Thomson Reuters online services.

Key Responsibilities

 Any or all of the following duties, based on qualification and needs of the cases team:

• Attend court hearings, write contemporaneous notes of judgments and write a report of the judgment in agreed house style for loading on the same day to online services.
• Write digests of transcripts of cases either handed down in court or received from other sources in agreed house style to specified deadlines, with correct legal analysis and clear writing style, applying SMG Taxonomy
• Proof digests written by colleagues or freelancers in agreed house style
• Select cases for reporting and prioritisation according to defined reporting criteria
• Provide feedback and training for other members of the team as required
• Provide cover for other members of the team as required
• Provide editorial support for the publication of case products as required
• Achieve the required level of self-management of priorities and workload

Other Significant Role Requirements

• Attendance at court will be required for extempore judgments
• Early morning or late evening working as necessary to meet publication deadlines

Academic Attainment and Relevant Experience

• Law degree or CPE essential
• BPTC/LPC preferred
• Practice experience desirable

Skills Required  

• Keep abreast of legal developments
• Broad based legal skills and knowledge
• Ability to clearly and concisely analyse and interpret key issues and legal concepts and present them in a logical fashion
• Good analytical writing style, excellent grammar, spelling and general editorial skills
• Structured reporting skills
• Strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
• Understanding of customer requirements and ability to balance those requirements with the needs of the business
• Able to demonstrate meticulous attention to detail
• Able to work under pressure of tight deadlines
• Able to work on own initiative in a team environment
• IT literate

Evidence of the Following

• Understanding of relationship dynamic between quality and what the market is willing to pay for
• Organisational ability
• Time management

Personal Characteristics

• Customer oriented
• Strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
• Analytical, logical and questioning style
• Understands the importance of accuracy and attention to detail
• Results oriented with commitment to quality