Expert Timing: When to Retain Your Expert

When do you need to start thinking about finding and retaining your expert witnesses as cases progress through the litigation process? Timing is a critical part of your strategy. Often, it’s “the earlier, the better.” Guest Monica Poole is the director of expert witness services at Round Table Group, a national firm that helps litigators connect with trusted and vetted expert witnesses. Poole explains how the best experts can be hard to find, have busy schedules, and can help plot strategies from the beginning so you avoid dead ends and focus your energy. From the plaintiff’s side, the more complex the case the more important it is to start early. Do you truly have a case? An expert can help decide if a case is worth litigating. From the defense side, an early start can be valuable when a case demands an expert in narrow, niche fields. In many cases, attorneys are racing the clock with looming court deadlines. Not all experts are equal. The best not only provide technical input but also help craft discovery demands, decipher provided materials, and skillfully explain complex topics in layman’s terms to a judge and jury. Knowing when, and how, to engage the right expert is a critical part of every case. Hear how working with a service such as Round Table Group can help build and present a case and drive it to a successful conclusion. Resources: Round Table Group American Bar Association American Bar Association Litigation Section