In cases involving firm retention and selection processes, as well as disagreements involving legal fees, attorneys typically hire an expert witness to support their arguments. As an attorney, it is important to work with counsel to ensure that the expert selected is the best fit for your case.

During your search for a legal expert witness, you should first conduct a careful evaluation of each expert’s professional qualifications and certifications. Skilled expert witnesses will be happy to provide a copy of their resume or curriculum vitae to you. Many expert witnesses even provide this information on their websites or LinkedIn profiles. Industry-specific qualifications, such as testifying in similar cases or direct experience in the legal field, are signs that your expert will offer testimony that will strengthen your position.

While it is not required, it is beneficial if the individual you are evaluating as a potential legal expert witness has testified in other cases like yours. When interviewing the expert, ask which types of cases he or she is most commonly hired to testify in. Make sure you have a clear understanding of their areas of expertise so that there is no confusion when they present testimony on your behalf.

An expert witness should demonstrate both industry qualifications and a history of court appearances in similar cases. Once you and your attorney have analyzed the background of the expert witness, you may move forward with preparing for a trial or hearing. An expert witness can be a crucial part of your case—in some instances, the testimony of the expert convinces a judge or jury that you should prevail. The careful selection of an expert witness, when paired with detailed preparation prior to court, will strengthen your position significantly.