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Expert witnesses in court
Over recent years there has been some concern about expert witness evidence in court.
It is fair to say that the greatest concern has not attached to accountant expert witnesses, but steps are being proposed with a view to ensuring that experts of all types have an adequate level of expertise in their subject and a suitable knowledge of relevant court proceedings and requirements and their legal obligations and role.
For example, an expert witness needs to understand that his role is to be objective and unbiased - not to seek only to advance the cause of 'his side'. An expert also is only permitted to comment on those areas in which his expertise is relevant. So an accountant expert, for example, should not comment on anything in the case to which accountancy is not relevant.
The government is also attempting to reduce the amount spent from the Legal Aid budget on experts by 20% across the board.
So the ICAEW initiative has to be seen in the context of the steps being taken with regard to expert witnesses generally and, of course, it applies to criminal cases (from which I earn my crust) as well as civil disputes.
David