How-To Guide: How to Find an Expert Witness
Overview
Both civil and criminal litigation frequently involves subject matter not readily understood by the average juror or judge. It is the job of the expert witness to assist the trier of fact in cases where specialized knowledge is required. In addition to providing testimony at trial, experts may also be retained to provide written reports and consulting services throughout the proceedings. Identifying the type of expertise required and locating the right expert is an increasingly important task for counsel.
The following is intended as an introductory guide to sources and strategies for finding experts. Please note that additional steps should always be taken to thoroughly evaluate the qualifications and suitability of potential experts. Articles on how to check an expert's credentials can be found in the legal literature and on the Web. See for example, Ambrogi, Robert, "How to Vet an Expert" (Bullseye Newsletter (IMS Expertservices), June 2007)
1. Expert Witness Directories
Numerous online and print directories are available to help locate experts in a wide variety of specialties. Directories list individuals and companies offering their services as experts. Typically experts pay an annual fee to be listed. Most online directories are browsable by area of expertise, as well as searchable by name and keyword/subject.
Free Online Directories
- Canada
Expert Witness Directory - Ontario Civil Litigation Resource Centre - United Kingdom
The Expert Witness Directory (Sweet & Maxwell) - United States
ALMexperts.com (American Lawyer Media) - Expertlaw.com
- Expertpages.com
- FindLaw – Expert Witnesses
- HierosGamos – Directory of Expert Witnesses
- JurisPro Expert Witness Directory
- Martindale.com Experts & Services
- National Directory of Expert Witnesses
Member-Access Directories
Several
lawyers’ associations maintain databases of expert witnesses. Membership in the particular association is required to access the directory.
- Canada
Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association - Criminal Lawyers’ Association
- Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
- Saskatchewan Trial Lawyers Association
- Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia
- United States
American Association for Justice - National association supporting plaintiff trial lawyers
- DRI (Defense Research Institute)
- National organization of defence attorneys and corporate counsel
Non-Legal Directories
The following are expert directories intended for use by the media and academic/scientific communities. Those listed may not actively be seeking work as expert witnesses or legal consultants.
- Bluebook Online: An A–Z Guide of University of Toronto Experts
- Ryerson University Faculty Experts
- NRC Expertise (National Research Council of Canada)
- Print Directories
Canadian Medical Directory (Toronto: Business Information Group) - Published annually; includes Expert Medical Witness section; available at larger public and university libraries.
2. Referral Services
Commercial referral services find and refer users to a specified type of expert for a fee.
- IMS Expert Services
- U.S. service
- Medquest
- U.S. health care experts
- TASA (Technical Advisory Service for Attorneys)
- U.S. service with some Canadian listings
3. Subscription Online Sources
Westlaw and LexisNexis provide expert witness directories, as well as further tools to research expert testimony and credibility. Full-text case law databases can also be searched by name or subject to locate expert information.
Selected databases used to research expert witnesses:
- Westlaw Canada – Litigator
- Expert Witness Directory features profiles of Canadian expert witnesses and consultants
- Westlaw
- West Legal Directory provides contact information for U.S. experts
Profiler – Profiles of expert witnesses with links to court testimony - LexisNexis
- LexisNexis Expert Witness Summaries - reports relating to hundreds of thousands of experts - in all key practice areas and disciplines - who have testified/appeared in U.S. litigation.
- IDEX
- Custom expert witness search service (owned by LexisNexis) covers expert information including testimony, transcripts, reports, depositions, and challenges in U.S. legal proceedings.
4. Further strategies for finding experts
Finding Books on Your Topic
Search online catalogues of large libraries, such as
- Great Library
- University of Toronto
- York University
- Libraries and Archives Canada (Amicus)
- Canadian Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI)
- Library of Congress
You can also try searching for titles through online bookstore sites, such as Amazon and Chapters Indigo, or Google Books.
Finding Journal Articles on Your Topic
Search journal indexes, such as PubMed (free index of medical articles) or issues of specific professional publications.
- Word of mouth. Consult colleagues for the names of previously retained experts.
- Survey the literature in the area of expertise. Books or articles may mention, or be written by potential experts.
- Search case law for references to expert testimony.
- Check advertisements in legal publications, such as:
Ontario Reports - weekly issues (print or digital) contain an "Expert Witness Directory"
Law Times and Lawyers Weekly - special issues focusing on a particular area of law often include ads for subject experts.
- Contact an association or professional body for the area of expertise required. The following directory can help you identify relevant Canadian organizations:
Associations Canada (Toronto: Micromedia ProQuest) Annual directory available in print at large public and university libraries. Also online through the Toronto Public Library website (access requires a TPL library card).
Last reviewed: August 12, 2010
