Expert Witness Journal Issue 68 August 2026 - Flipbook - Page 9
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Relevant decisions (if assessing capacity).
Relevant decisions to be assessed, with the
relevant information for each decision as agreed
between the parties.
to the neutrality of instructions and the sensible
use of documents are also useful to experts giving
evidence in other courts and tribunals.
Bond Solon provides training covering all the core
skills and knowledge expert witnesses require to
ful昀椀l their role compliantly and e昀昀ectively. We also
o昀昀er university certi昀椀ed training programmes that
are widely regarded as the industry gold standard by
instructing parties.
The judge said: “If required there can be a brief
explanation as to where the information derives,
providing con昀椀rmation that what the relevant
information consists of should ultimately be a
matter for the relevant expert to determine when
undertaking the assessment and a reminder of the
importance that the expert is not an arbiter of fact.”
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Details of person(s) the parties consider the
expert should or may meet with.
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Con昀椀rmation as to whether proceedings are
public or private and details of any transparency
orders.
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Crucial information. Timescales for the report,
the expert’s fees, dates of hearings/oral
evidence, and con昀椀rmation of who the report
will be disclosed to, with a reminder that parties
have the right to pose questions of clari昀椀cation.
What other documents should experts
expect in the run up to a hearing?
The judge emphasised that questions to the expert
after the 昀椀ling of their report should only be done
in accordance with COPR 2017 rules and must be
for the purposes of clari昀椀cation only. Similar rules
would apply to other courts and tribunals, and the
instructing parties would be well advised to include
the corresponding information for their speci昀椀c
hearings.
Parties should then keep any further relevant
evidence under review and make sure it is sent to the
expert with a suitable covering message identifying
the relevant documents.
Psychiatric and Psychology Expertise
Specialists In Forensic, Clinical, Older Age, Neuropsychiatry and
Child Psychiatry and Psychology reports.
Led by Clinicians. Trusted by Courts
At MLUK we don’t just recruit the experts, we are them. Our expert witness services
deliver high-quality psychiatry and psychology reports across criminal, family, personal
injury, medical negligence and civil law cases. Our team combines clinical expertise with
a deep understanding of the legal process to provide impartial and reliable assessments
for medico-legal cases.
Finally, if an expert is expected to give oral evidence
at a hearing, they should be provided with:
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An updated court bundle at the same time as
the bundle is lodged with the court.
Unlike many expert witness agencies, MLUK is founded and led by practicing consultant
forensic psychiatrists, and the work of our expert team is rooted in first-hand clinical
experience. Reports are quality-assured by these clinicians, who understand the
demands of the courtroom and the complexities of mental health.
A list of documents that have been 昀椀led since
their instruction, speci昀椀cally highlighting
which documents the parties want them to
review in advance of giving oral evidence.
MLUK operates as a nationwide clinical network, with psychiatrists (all section 12
approved) and psychologists based throughout the UK. We accept instructions from all
parties across the full range of legal practice. We have experts who deal with clients of
all ages, including children and older adults. We’re contacted when cases are complex,
timeframes are tight, and the stakes are high. It’s not just our name on the report, it’s our
reputation on the line.
Any further documents 昀椀led immediately prior
to the hearing that the parties will likely refer to
in questioning.
As practising clinicians who serve as expert witnesses, we provide psychiatric and
psychological assessments that courts rely on to answer key questions. By combining
clinical expertise with legal insight, MLUK delivers evaluations with compassion,
precision and an unwavering commitment to fairness.
How can we help
MLUK works across numerous areas of law including:
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This case provides invaluable guidance for experts
who regularly give evidence on Court of Protection
matters on what they should expect from a courtcompliant letter of instruction. However, some of
the general principles, in particular those relating
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
Criminal Law
Family Proceedings
First-Tier Tribunals
Capacity Issues
Housing
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Immigration & Asylum
Parole Board Hearings
Personal Injury
Employment and disability discrimination
Contact: Medico Legal UK Chambers Ltd
Telephone: 0800 689 0846
Email: info@ml-uk.co.uk
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Alternate Email: info@mluk.cjsm.net
Website: www.ml-uk.co.uk
AUGUST 2026
