DOAR Blog 5 Ways Attorneys Can Help Expert Witnesses Thrive During Trial

Expert testimony at trial presents unique challenges to both the expert and the examining attorney. The expert is tasked with teaching complex material to a group of “students” with widely varying levels of education, comprehension, pertinent experience and yes, interest. The students give no feedback, the consequences of a teaching mistake can be significant, and there are people waiting for the opportunity to attack at the first sign of weakness. The attorney’s job is to help the expert overcome and thrive in these challenges. It is no small task and the key is in proper preparation. Several strategies will help. 1. Be sure your expert understands the broad themes of the case and her/his role in it. Even if an expert is teaching or opining on a narrow area, it helps for them to see the broader context. The more they know about the issues and vulnerabilities, the better they can avoid accidentally wandering into those vulnerabilities. Also, experts sometimes feel frustrated that their testimony is constrained and they cannot tell what they see as the whole story. Offering a broader context during preparation can reassure the expert that (s)he is part of a larger team of witnesses who together... The post 5 Ways Attorneys Can Help Expert Witnesses Thrive During Trial appeared first on DOAR.