Whether you are instructing an Expert Witness in a Civil, Criminal or Family Law matter, their duty is to the Court and overrides any obligation to the person from whom the expert receives instructions or by whom the expert is paid.
Beyond this fundamental point, experts will need to be familiar with the instruction specific Court Rules and Practice Directions relevant to the type of case in which they are instructed.
Civil
In a Civil matter the expert needs to be aware of the contents of Civil Procedure Rules Part 35 and CPR PD 35.
Template Letter of Instruction (Civil)
Crime
In a Criminal matter the expert needs to be aware of the contents of Criminal Procedure Rules Part 19 and Criminal Procedure PD 7.
Template Letter of Instruction (Criminal)
Family
In a Family matter the expert needs to be aware of the contents of Family Procedure Rules Part 25 and FPR PD 25 A – G including at PD 25B Annex 1 the Standards for Expert Witnesses in Children Proceedings in the Family courts.
The Law Society have developed a set of sample/template letters of instruction.
Law Society Templates