Choose the Best Expert

You need an expert who can work with you as a collaborator to ensure the best results for you and your clients. Here are some tips from Superior Forensic Consulting to guide you in the expert selection process.

1. No Dr. Nice Guy!

Upon meeting an expert, you can usually tell if you are dealing with a “hang ‘em high” or a “nice guy.” Our best advice: Just Say NO! While Dr. Nice Guy may seem advantageous, particularly for defense and plaintiff attorneys, you need credibility, objectivity, and balance in a forensically-focused evaluation. A noncredible expert with a favorable opinion is a not-so-nice guy after all.

2. Test Their Knowledge

This is expected. We want the job, just as much as you want the service. Requesting a curriculum vitae and asking a few brief questions can save you trouble later. Not all experts are created equal. There is a big difference between a history of doing the work versus classroom instruction. Asking knowledge questions is a great way to ensure their credibility and how they may be perceived upon testifying.

3. Know What Question You Are Asking!

The shotgun approach to forensic psychology evaluation is never the right approach. It’s never wise to call an expert and say, “Evaluate him and see what you think,” and any expert who agrees to this approach is probably not well-versed in forensic psychology. Instead you might ask, “What is the defendant’s risk to reoffend?” “What damages did the plaintiff incur as part of the accident and how much time and money will it cost to be made whole again?” “Is the defendant competent to proceed to trial?” Focused questions lead to the best results.