How to Get Expert Witness & Legal Advice
Expert witnesses are professionals at the top their field who provide their informed opinions to trial participants. Expert witnesses may provide medical opinions, attest to a defendant's mental state or help calculate damages in civil lawsuits. Testimony and opinions from expert witnesses may be entered into evidence or kept confidential as attorney work product (documents attorneys use when working on a case; they are not discoverable, i.e., the other side cannot ask to see them).
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Instructions
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Get referrals from experienced lawyers. Attorneys frequently use the same expert witnesses in for all of their trials pertaining to a specific subject matter. Expert witnesses who have worked on previous trials will already know what to expect in terms of depositions, testimony and sworn affidavits and will, thus, need to spend less time on your case than someone who has never worked on legal matters before. This will save you money and keep litigation running smoothly.
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Turn to nonprofit organizations. Many nonprofit groups have experienced advocates on staff who will be willing to give you advice or to serve as expert witnesses at little or no cost in order to advance their cause.
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Look at colleges and teaching hospitals. When you are looking for an expert witness, colleges are an excellent place to find professionals with the highest degrees in their field. Professors are also intimately familiar with the most recent developments and technologies, making them excellent expert witnesses.
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Talk to local law schools. If you live near a law school, you may be able to enlist the services of law students and professors who will assist you on a pro bono basis. Even if you don't choose to have the law school clinic represent you, they can give you information on the rules governing expert witnesses and help you find pertinent case law.
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