Transcribers for Legal and Property Inventory Work

Right the section below is a lot of information which might take you a while to digest but easier to set out in full now:

I ask that an agreement and application form which is signed and returned to me by all new potential typists. I can accept scanned emailed versions but still require the originals for my records.

1. My Business
My business provides transcription for a number of people the majority being inventory clerks but also to a firm of solicitors based in London. I hope to continue to expand my clientele and therefore require more assistants as it increases.

Ideally I need people who can not only transcribe my inventory work but as I have a young family I really could do with some extra help between 1-5pm on occasions when the solicitors require some urgent letters/documents typing. These will be sent through the email system and are usually not very large. As I say they don’t normally send something every day if you are interested and have training in this area it would be most helpful. I am in the process of renegotiating a better deal with this client who has joined a much larger London lawn firm and therefore will keep you posted if you are interested. This will be paid at a slightly higher rate than the inventory transcription mentioned below.

2. The work – how it comes in and what it consists of:-

The work comes in in digital audio format and you need to have transcription software to be able to type this up. If you don’t currently have any software you can download a free version from http://www.nch.com.au/scribe/. You will also need a set of headphones. I don’t ask you purchase a foot pedal until you are sure this is the sort of work you want to be doing but would highly recommend one as using keyboard commands takes that little bit extra and what I want to ensure is that you can make as much money as you can working for me using as little of your time as possible. Please trial using keys not having to spend any money with knowledge that will be far quicker with a foot pedal.

I have set up an online server as quite a few free email addresses do not accept large emails – some of the work can be as large as 10MB of data. When I receive the application and agreement from you I will send you your login details where you can access the testers.

When you have completed the testers any work I will send will come in via email/sever advising you that work is there to be transcribed. The audio files will be contained in the typing folder. With some clients there will also be a word document template you will need to transcribe the dictation into. When there is no word document you will need to go into the shared TEMPLATES folder to access the appropriate clients template to use. I will tell you which client it is and if they have more than one template which one you need to use.

Also in the templates folder are instructions on how client inventories are completed and any useful tips on speeding things up and previously completed guides so that you can see what it is supposed to look like.

3. Testers

I ask all potential assistants to complete a number of tester files. I normally try to start you off on 3 clients templates and go on from there. Obviously the more you are trained on the more work I could send you. Again as stated in the application form this is a freelance position and I cannot guarantee work. At present I have 5 assistants who work a lot of hours. However I want to become more of a manager as my business is expanding at an alarming rate and therefore all the work I normally do will have to be sent out. My busy period is March until October where it goes ballistic and the business is continuing to grow which will enable me to send you steady work. Most typists earn between £300-£1,200 per month dependant on their hours and what work they are trained on. Tester files are completed on each client which are unpaid and only 15 minutes dictation is required to be typed to give you an idea of the clients terminology, layout etc and me a chance to see where you might need particular assistance.

A training period then follows at 30p per audio minute for paid work on those clients – this is due to my having to re-listen to the entire dictation and check layout etc making any amendments. I then send you tracked changes so that you learn as you earn until it gets to a point where I am not making any changes – some typists can take a couple of weeks with this some a couple of months – all dependant on how quick you are to grasp each clients whims and quirks. This will continue for at least a 3 month period or will end much sooner if you can grasp what is required for each clients templates. Once I can let you loose on a client’s work it will increase to 35p per audio minute as standard and 45p for urgent same night work as I won’t need to spend any time checking the audio and transcription. (This equates to between £6-£10 per hour dependant on how quick you type (urgent stuff nearer £12-15 when fully trained).

I am not taking on any new clients at the current rates I am charging and only accepting higher paid work so the idea next year is that if this continues and I have the staff to do the typing all typist fees will go up.

4. Payment

As this is a freelance position you are responsible for all tax and national insurance contributions direct, I have nothing to do with this basically you invoice me for each job on a monthly basis 26th-28th of each month.

I hope you can digest the above information it is quite a lot to take in and if you like the sound of it or want to ask any further questions please do respond.