Single joint experts (SJEs) are in decline, according to a survey by the UK Register of Expert Witnesses. Only 55% of experts have been instructed as SJEs in the past two years, compared to 73% in 2011. They received, on average, five SJE instructions in each year, compared to about 15 in 2009.
Medical experts charge, on average, £226 per hour for writing reports, and £1,680 for a day in court.
The 201 experts who responded say they are reluctant to accept instructions from litigants in person—66% never take such instructions; of those who do, the vast majority take just a handful each year. Payment appears to be one of the difficulties associated with litigants in person, since the percentage of experts requiring payment on account in such cases has risen to 51% from 38% four years ago.
