Our key findings

• It is estimated that there are approximately 31,000 people in the UK undertaking expert witness work. This consists of 7,500 people in the UK undertaking expert witness work regularly and a further 23,500 who undertake cases infrequently.
• Specialist Medical Practitioners form the largest group with 40% of respondents. Construction and Building and Therapy professionals (including Occupational Therapy and Psychologists) are the next-largest groups.
• Over 50% have worked as an Expert Witness for over 15 years.
• 12% consists of "Professional Expert Witnesses" (those that only do Expert Witness work).
• 30% of Experts complete 100 or more cases on average per year.
• The average Expert Witness undertakes 60 cases per year.
• The majority of Expert Witnesses (77%) charge between £100 and £400 per hour.
• 41% do not hold any formal Expert Witness qualifications.
• Only 49% have completed core training in Law for Experts, Report Writing, and Expert Discussions/Joint Statements
• 11% have not undertaken any Expert Witness training in the key competencies required of an Expert Witness.
• 62% undertake work as a Single Joint expert but only half of those have completed training in being a Single Joint expert.
• 33% of the workforce are over 65 and have been working as an Expert Witness for 10 years or more.
• Only 24% of the entire workforce is female, but there are signs that over time there will be greater representation with a far more balanced gender split in the 35-44 age group.
• 86% of the workforce is from a White background
• More work is required in the next survey to understand the needs of the 6% who identify as having a disability.
• More work is needed to define and refine 'regular' and 'infrequent' Expert Witnesses in future surveys.