to the experienced forensic expert. Perhaps one of the best means of remaining current is for the expert to teach the seminar and webinar subjects to others. In my experience teaching as an adjunct at universities or teaching public and private seminars and webinars, the preparation for such events causes the presenter to coalesce information from various sources, challenge ideas that might otherwise be taken for granted and develop the means to explain complex theories and processes to others. Live seminars and webinars hone the expert’s skill at responding to impromptu questions – thinking on one’s feet is a necessary skill that will serve the expert well during depositions, and cross-examination at trial. Publishing, whether in books, chapters in books, or scholarly or industry journals, provides the expert with similar skill development as teaching, although the process is generally more protracted and less interactive. What advice would you give to prospective litigation consultants? Strive to be the go-to person in your field by providing thoughtful, well-grounded advice to the clients in your chosen field outside of the litigation arena. Be the engineer, architect, contractor, or similar professional that is known to be at the top of their game. Teach. Speak to a variety of audiences about subjects that you are passionate about. Even if not technical, that kind of experience will prepare you for the crucible that is sometimes the reality of the forensic expert. Learn to write such that your lay audience can follow your thought process from basic principles to final conclusions and opinions. Back up your conclusions and opinions with citations from authoritative writings and texts and your own independent analysis. Participate in your industry organisations that promote education and the advancement of your industry. Be part of their process, not just a passive bystander. Beyond technical expertise, learn the nuances of the litigation field – join organisations such as FEWA, NAFE, or others in your field that teach technicians the requirements and gateway credentials that are crucial to a testifying expert. Participate in seminars presented by organisations that focus on the litigation field and read books published by organisations such as SEAK. Never stop challenging yourself, and never stop learning. Knowledge and experience are key to confidence as an expert. Yet remain humble – there will likely always be someone with greater experience and knowledge whom you can learn from. EXPERTWITNESS 81 About Bill Acorn Bill Acorn is an internationally recognised authority on assessing, evaluating, conceptualising and remediating complex project design, construction, and operational issues related to the built environment, with 45 years of experience as a professional engineer. As a forensic engineer, litigation consultant and expert witness, Bill has represented plaintiffs, defendants and their insurers in a variety of domestic and international venues with litigation values to greater than $250 million. Acorn Consulting Services, LLC Acorn Consulting Services, LLC (ACS) was founded by Bill Acorn in 1999. ACS serves the design and construction industry and the litigation community that serves those clients. AC as led by Bill has significant experience providing expert analysis of building system design and construction, environmental system control failures, piping system failures, code compliance issues and the cause/effect relationships of performance issues related to the built environment. Contact William R. Acorn, P.E., DFE, FASHRAE, CFLC Founder, Acorn Consulting Services, LLC 16420 N 92nd St, Suite 200B, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, USA Tel: +1 602-888-7250 Fax: +1 520-577-0851 E: bill@acs-eng.com www.acornconsultingengineer.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk3Mzkz