Expert Witness Journal Issue 68 August 2026 - Flipbook - Page 14
many other technical disciplines, enabling us to
support criminal cases involving a wide variety
of evidential matters. From DNA evidence and
toxicology to 昀椀rearms, digital forensics, collision
investigation, pathology, psychology and psychiatry,
we work closely with solicitors to understand
the questions that need to be addressed before
recommending specialist input that re昀氀ects the
speci昀椀c circumstances of the case.
Experience Beyond Technical Knowledge
Technical expertise is only one aspect of being an
e昀昀ective expert witness.
Experts instructed in criminal proceedings must be
able to analyse complex evidence, prepare balanced
and well-reasoned reports, explain technical
昀椀ndings clearly and understand their duties to the
court. Where required, they must also be capable of
presenting evidence con昀椀dently during conferences,
joint discussions and court proceedings.
Every instruction is considered on its own merits.
Rather than simply identifying an expert within a
particular discipline, we consider the complexity of
the evidence, the questions that require independent
opinion and the practical experience needed to
address those matters e昀昀ectively.
Many of the experts within our network have
extensive experience providing independent
expert evidence in criminal cases. They understand
the importance of impartiality and the need to
communicate scienti昀椀c 昀椀ndings in a clear, objective
and accessible way, ensuring that complex technical
evidence can be understood by solicitors, counsel
and the court.
Finding Experts in Emerging or
Unusual Disciplines
Some cases involve evidence that does not sit neatly
within a single forensic discipline. They may require
expertise in an emerging, highly specialised or
unusual 昀椀eld where the number of suitable experts
is limited.
Quality and Independence
Every expert instructed through Forensic Access is
independent. Their duty is to the court, providing
objective opinion based on their professional
expertise and the available evidence.
In these circumstances, identifying appropriate
expertise
requires
experience,
established
professional networks and an understanding of
both the scienti昀椀c questions and the requirements
of criminal proceedings.
Before joining our network, experts are carefully
assessed for their quali昀椀cations, professional
standing, relevant experience and ability to produce
reports that meet the standards expected within
criminal proceedings. Many continue to practise
actively within their specialist disciplines, ensuring
their knowledge re昀氀ects current developments,
methodologies and best practice.
Where a case requires knowledge beyond our
core expert witness panel, we draw on our wider
professional network to identify suitably quali昀椀ed
specialists. Our longstanding relationships across
the forensic, scienti昀椀c and medical communities
enable us to source expertise in niche or emerging
disciplines where suitable experts may not be
readily available. This is particularly valuable where
evidence spans multiple disciplines, involves new
technologies or raises questions that fall outside
traditional forensic 昀椀elds.
Alongside recruiting experienced experts, we also
support the development of future expert witnesses.
By helping emerging specialists gain experience
under appropriate guidance, we contribute to
maintaining the availability of high-quality expert
evidence across a wide range of disciplines for the
future.
Matching Expertise to the Case
Selecting an expert witness is about more than
identifying someone with the right quali昀椀cations.
The most e昀昀ective expert is one whose knowledge,
experience and practical background are directly
relevant to the questions that need to be addressed.
Our Casework Team takes time to understand the
circumstances of each instruction, the available
evidence and the matters requiring expert opinion.
By considering these alongside the timescales of the
case, we can identify the specialist whose experience
and professional background are best suited to the
instruction.
Dedicated Casework Support
Our support extends well beyond introducing an
expert.
From the initial enquiry through to report delivery,
our Casework Team works closely with instructing
solicitors to manage each instruction e昀케ciently.
This includes discussing the circumstances of the
case, identifying appropriate expertise, obtaining
quotations, coordinating documentation, arranging
examinations where required and maintaining
clear communication throughout the instruction.
Where circumstances change, we continue to work
closely with instructing solicitors to help ensure the
instruction progresses smoothly.
This helps ensure that the expert instructed has
the relevant experience to provide clear, objective
opinion on the matters that are genuinely in dispute.
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
12
AUGUST 2026
