Legal consulting : providing expertise in written and oral testimony

The current chapter aims to provide an outline of some of the key principles relevant to the provision of both written and oral testimony, regardless of the legal setting in which this occurs, whether it is a formal court or a quasi-court (i.e. a tribunal, a hearing). The principles of good evidence are standard across all legal forums and disciplines. It is also standard across witnesses in many respects, and although the term 'expert' is reserved for those employed independently by the courts, the principles adhered to by 'expert' witnesses should readily apply to other classes of witness. There is also an increasing number of resources becoming available to psychologists to assist in apprising them of this area (e.g. Brodsky, 2003; British Psychological Society, 2007; Ireland, 2008). Thus the intention of the current chapter is not simply to represent content that can be located elsewhere. Instead, it will provide content aimed at supplementing these further resources. A good starting point is the provision of an outline as to the history of the 'expert' psychological witness, before moving on to outlining how expertise in both written and oral testimony can be achieved.