Can I Be an Expert Witness?

Yes, if you are already a specialist … in something. Litigation in the United States is widespread, and crimes themselves span a host of disciplines. Expert witnesses and consultants, and especially those with experience in the legal arena, are always in demand. A fee of $300 to $400 an hour is commonplace; this can range up to $1000 an hour if you are a medical expert.
That being said, don’t give up your day job. That 'day job' is where you gained the expertise that may qualify you to be a specialist witness. The attorneys and the courts expect that you will remain current in your profession, that you practice what you preach, and that your time as an expert witness is a sideline and not your only professional activity. Experts frequently view their witness background as simply a well-paying moonlighting job. Continuing to work in your specialty lends credibility and substance to your occasional engagements as an expert consultant or witness.
For me, witness work contains the novel element of performance art. As you might suspect, it requires speaking experience, teaching experience, and self-confidence. If you already have those skills plus expertise in your specialty, you're only one step away from being an expert witness. If you have only one or two of those capabilities, you're still well ahead of the game. And even if you have none of those experience yet, you can still parlay your experience in your specialty into this rewarding new arena.
Seminars and workshops exist to teach professionals how to speak in public. Schools exist that specialize in training teachers. You can always study and improve, and then apply those skills in your expert witness life. Should you become a specialist witness in your specialty? Can you? Come to my website and get a free look at my complete training book. This course will help you come to the best decision. If you've already made the decision to become an expert witness but have not yet been successful at attracting lawyers to retain you, I can share my experience about ways to connect with hiring attorneys. Maybe you are a productive expert witness already, and you'd like to learn how to improve on that achievement. Perhaps you’d like to be called as a specialist more frequently, and to reap the rewards for your improved experience.
The lessons taught in this book have been learned and applied by me over decades. In hours, you can learn how to avoid mistakes that took me months or years to discover. You might still make errors, but you will improve with each case and attorneys will engage you again and pass your name around to other attorneys who need experts. Expert witnessing is an energizing arena and if you have the attitude, aptitude, and fortitude, you will receive respect, personal satisfaction, and increased pay.