- Communications Skills
- Personality
- What Do Expert Witnesses Charge?
- Finding or Becoming an Expert Witness
- Summary
Finding or Becoming an Expert Witness
Experts can be found in virtually any field. Some advertise in trade journals or legal publications. Others gain their reputation by word of mouth. Websites exist that are devoted to expert witnesses as well as witness bureauswhich operate much like a speakers' bureau, offering up experts for virtually any type of case. (TC International Consulting is one good example.)
A word of caution: There are no systems in place to assure that expert witnesses are competent. No registration or regulation governs expert witnesses, although some professional organizations offer education, training, and ethical guidelines. It's the responsibility of the hiring party to make sure that the witness is competent as an expert. Unlike the situation with lawyers, if your expert witness turns out to be incompetent, nothing comparable to a Bar Association exists to which you can report the person.