The days of the amateur expert witness are over, says Mark Solon
Over 450 experts attended the annual Bond Solon Expert Witness Conference in November 2007. There was a wide range of experts in the audience who came to hear the attorney general, Baroness Scotland.
A snapshot survey conducted on the day produced some interesting results. Income from expert witness work has increased significantly over the past three years. Averages were: 2004: £95,055; 2005: £103,030; and 2006: £120,538. These figures show many experts derive a substantial secondary source of income from expert work.
Forty-five per cent of experts said the number of instructions has gone up and 67% said they felt optimistic or very optimistic about their expert witness work in the future. Ninety-nine per cent said experts need training in expert witness skills, perhaps a reflection on the experience of Sir Roy Meadow and others. It seems the days of the amateur expert are over. Although
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