Expert Witness Training Course
Provided by Inspire MediLaw
About the course
Programme - CPD 18 hours
Day One – Prepare
Dr Jonathan Moore, GP Partner and Expert Witness
• Practicalities of setting up a medico-legal practice
• CPR 35 and PD 35 - Understanding your duties as an expert witness, standards and protocols
• The law relating to clinical negligence
• Recent case law and the practicalities for you as an expert witness
• The roles of various players – client, claims management company, claimant solicitor, barrister, judge and other witnesses
• What to expect from instructing parties
• Identifying the issues that need to be addressed in your report
• Examination and discussion of sample reports – good and bad
• Preparing, structuring and writing your medical report to successfully argue your conclusion
• The use of research and supporting information to explain your conclusion
• Terms of engagement and how to get paid
• Developing your practice and winning instructions
• Q & A
Day Two – Practice
Ian Cohen, Clinical Negligence Lawyer
• Understand what lawyers are looking for and the language they use
• Understanding the issues of proportionality
• The cost process and how it impacts on your fees
• Outline of Fixed Costs and how this may impact on medico-legal work
• Use of medical records
• NICE Guidelines and the legal affect
• Part 35 – Questions and joint statements
• Joint statements – agreeing an agenda and preparing for the meeting with your opposing expert
• Areas of agreement and disagreement
• Minutes of joint meeting
• Attending Expert’s meetings
• Concurrent evidence – hot tubbing
• Q&A
Day Three – Perform
Lauren Sutherland QC, Clinical Negligence Advocate
• Courtroom skills & cross examination
• Understanding court room procedure
• How to prepare for a court room appearance
• How to spot and cope with common cross-examination pitfalls
• Learn to give clear testimony that get your message across effectively
• Master your language and demeanor to maximize your persuasiveness
• Respond to challenges with confidence and poise
• How to stand up to cross-examination without undermining your position
• Q&A