Expert witnesses

Experts in Court

What is an expert?

An expert is a person who has been instructed to give or prepare expert evidence for the purpose of court proceedings. An expert has a duty to help the court on matters within their area of expertise. Experts exist in diverse fields so there is no single professional or regulatory body for those who act as experts or expert witnesses.

What do experts do?

Experts can be asked by the court to produce an expert report or to give oral evidence in court as an expert witness.

Here you will find information for experts and links to the procedures and documents which an expert should consult before giving evidence or preparing a report for court.

An expert will need to follow the relevant court rules and read the practice directions, which supplement the rules. In civil cases an expert should also consult the protocol, which offers guidance to experts and those instructing them in the interpretation of and compliance with the rules and practice directions.

Additional information on training, guidance, funding and payment of public experts is available on the Legal Services Commission website at www.legalservices.gov.uk