Lawyer Monthly Magazine August 2020 Edition

EXPERT WITNESS Finding the Right Dental Expert: What Should Lawyers Look For? Agoodexpertwitnesscombines training, skill andexperience. Academic and clinical expertise in a specific field with critical appraisal and analytic skills are essential qualities when selecting the right expert. They should have effective communication skills including effective questioning and explaining ability and they should deal with evidence based facts, rather than subjective opinion. They should have full understanding of the role of an expert witness in legal proceedings including their duty to the court and provide honest, ethical and factual information. An expert witness, explains Professor Cemal Ucer, should be experienced in preparing different types of reports Breach of Duty and Causation, Condition and Prognosis, and Full Negligence. Often the most important expert work is providing a screening report which advises the solicitor and their client if they have a reasonable case and how strong the current evidence-base is in supporting their case before they decide to proceed. Below, he expands on what lawyers should look for when searching for a dental expert witness. WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM | AUG 2020 64