Connect with leading legal minds and elite medical experts at this year's Scottish Medicolegal Conference. Join us for an invaluable day of dedicated professional development, collaborative discussion, and peer-to-peer networking tailored specifically to the unique landscape of Scottish expert evidence.
This event is open to members and non-member, experts and legal professionals carrying out work in Scotland.
We are delighted to have
Lord Arthurson joining us to deliver the keynote address.
Programme:
Chair: Simon Berney-Edwards, CEO, EWI
09:00 – 09:30 | Registration & Networking
Coffee and tea
09:30 – 10:25 | Keynote: A View from The Bench
Speaker: Lord Arthurson
Join Lord Arthurson, as he pulls back the curtain on how expert evidence is genuinely evaluated from behind the Scottish bench. Discover the common missteps that destroy credibility, the nuances of medico-legal testimony, and how to ensure your evidence remains authoritative and bulletproof.
10:25 – 11:15 | Behind the Report: How Psychologists Assess, Diagnose and Form Opinions
While legal professionals frequently rely on psychological evidence, there is often less visibility of the assessment process itself, including diagnostic frameworks, psychometric testing, causation analysis, and the clinical reasoning that supports an expert's conclusions.
The aim of this session is to bridge that gap by giving delegates a practical insight into the psychologist's approach. We hope to enhance understanding between instructing parties and experts, while also highlighting the complexities, challenges, and professional judgment involved in the assessment of psychological injury.
11:10 – 11:30 | Morning Refreshment Break
11:30 – 12:20 | Acceleration vs. Exacerbation: Panel session
Panel Chair: Robert Carter (Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon)
Panel: Amit Putti (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon), Professor White (Consultant Clinical Psychologist), Jan McCall (Advocate, Robert Cranston (Solicitor)
This discussion will explore the clinical and legal considerations that underpin opinions on acceleration and exacerbation, including causation, pre-existing pathology, prognosis, and the evidential challenges that arise in practice.
The panel will provide an opportunity to share perspectives, experiences, and practical approaches, giving delegates valuable insight into how experts navigate these often-complex issues and support their opinions.
12:20 – 13:20 | Networking Lunch
13:20 – 14:15 | Thompsons Scotland session
Seonaid Brophy, Partner and Head of General Accident Team Session summary to follow
14:15 – 15:15 | AI and Expert Evidence
Speaker: Richard Marshall, Concept Gap
15:15 – 15:40 | Afternoon Tea
15:40 – 16:25 | Working Better Together: Solicitors & Expert Witnesses in Conversation
This interactive session brings solicitors and medical expert witnesses together for structured small-group discussion on what makes their working relationships succeed, and where they break down. Delegates will work in mixed tables to explore the real, practical issues around instructions, communication, and collaboration, with key themes feeding directly into EWI's future content and training. Come ready to talk, listen, and contribute.
16:25 – 16:40 | Chair’s Closing Summary, followed by Networking Drinks Reception
Whether you are an experienced expert witness, a clinical professional looking to step into court work, or a litigation solicitor instructing skilled persons, this event provides the practical tools, clinical updates, and regulatory insights you need to protect your practice and your clients.
Our thanks go to Thompsons Scotland for being our main event sponsor and to Resolve Medicolegal, our associate sponsor.
Prices:
Members: £175
Non-Members: £225
Solicitors: £225
Paralegals: £65