Tuesday, January 13, 2009

How A Trial Attorney And An Expert Witness Work In A Case

Winning a lawsuit in Los Angeles involves careful planning and accurate presentation of facts. A lawsuit has many elements that should work together to bring the issues to successful resolution.

One element often overlooked in lawsuit is the role a good trial attorney/consultant team plays. In most cases, a good working relation between a lawyer and an expert witness can be beneficial to a case.

An expert witness or consultant is someone who is conversant and knowledgeable about technical areas such as engineering, construction, and medical practice or special education programs.

A lawyer knows and recognizes a consultant who can help him with the case. Once identified, the lawyer should develop a close partnership and affiliation with the consultant. To further enhance the role of expert witness or consultant in a case, a lawyer should observe the following:

• Recognize the need

A trial lawyer must recognize the need for a qualified consultant at the start. Qualified consultants are those who have current professional certification, experience, training, and membership in an appropriate professional organization. The addition of a consultant in the team will add more credibility and strength to the case. As a result, the lawyer and his client will feel more confident about the case.

• Choose the right expert

The lawyer should look for a consulting expert with abroad track record. Actual work experience and wide background in different areas of his expertise are more impressive than brief experience in the academy. The court is more likely to listen to opinions based on real-world experience than opinions based on theory.

• Develop a partnership

The consultant should review the case together with the lawyer, share insights, pore over documents, and give his initial reaction. The consultant should ask the lawyer regarding errors or omissions. He should also ask the trial attorney on which points he can help. The lawyer must ensure that they have sufficient time to do a professional job so as not to make last-minute modifications.

Why Hire a Professional Consultant

Aside from giving the case a boost, hiring a consulting expert Los Angeles trial attorney may actually help bring more credibility to the case. The most valuable and important asset a professional consultant has is his reputation. Here are some of the benefits one can get from hiring a consulting expert.

• Accountability for results, schedule, and costs

• Proven and effective methodology

• No cost of training or experimenting

• Objectivity

• Anonymity

• Experience in interpreting data

• Creativity drawn from experience

How to Select a Consulting Expert

Selecting a Los Angeles legal consultant does not need a specific requirement. It depends on the type of case and the subject involved. Lawyers look for certain criteria before choosing a consultant:

• Compatibility

• Presentation skills

• Education, degree and training

• Specific knowledge

• Practical experience

• Publications and teaching

• Licensing and certification

• Honors and balance

At the most, a good working relationship between a lawyer and an expert witness will bring a remarkable effect on the outcome of a case. The combination of legal knowledge and technical expertise are truly necessary elements of a successful litigation and trial.

About the Author

Our trial attorneys in Los Angeles expertly handle cases involving various legal fields such as Personal Injury, Employment Law, Social Security Disability and Business Law. Just visit our website at http://www.mesrianilaw.com and have a chance to work with our lawyers in resolving your case.

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Posted by prolink at 7:00 AM

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