What happens after I sign up for Expert iQ?
Once you are registered in Expert iQ, you are discoverable in our internal database of experts. When we receive requests from our attorney clients that match your expertise, we will present you with an engagement overview and ask for some brief feedback about the engagement to see if you would be a good fit. The more complete your profile is, the more likely you are to be selected to review a matter. We keep your contact information private and only share it with attorneys who retain you.
Your profile is not publicly available unless you request otherwise.
Do I need insurance to serve as an expert witness?
You do not need special insurance to serve as an expert witness. Traditionally, courts have provided blanket immunity to expert witnesses, preventing them from being sued for their performance. Read more here.
Most expert witnesses offer their services without ever facing allegations of misconduct. Since liability can occur, however, expert witnesses benefit from an understanding of risk management. Good risk management can result in better work and better working relationships, while also protecting a professional reputation and career. Read more here.
How are my fees paid?
Once connected with an attorney, you will typically work directly with their firm and retain 100% of your fees. In some cases, clients may request billing through Expert Institute—learn more about that here. Additionally, you may set your own fees at your discretion. If you use Payments in Expert iQ, those payments incur Stripe’s standard small transaction fee of 3.3% + $0.30.
Note: We strongly recommend that you work on a replenishable retainer. When you begin work on a new matter, it is in your best interest to request a retainer to cover the time it will take you to do an initial review of the records. Typically, initial reviews take 2-5 hours depending on the subject matter and number of records. Once this is depleted, you should stop working and discuss your progress with the attorney.
What is a conference call?
Introductory conference calls are brief phone or video calls for experts and attorneys to discuss the specific engagement. These calls usually take between 10 and 20 minutes and will likely include additional information about the matter. The intention of this call is to provide both parties with the opportunity to ask questions about the matter and elaborate on any initial thoughts or feedback. If you mutually agree to work on the engagement together, the attorney will retain you for your review and you can begin working together directly.
What if I don’t want to take on the engagement after hearing more about it?
If you do not feel comfortable opining on the issues of a specific engagement, you may withdraw yourself from consideration. The engagement overview and conference call are both meant to provide you with enough information to choose whether or not you would be a good fit to review the matter. The attorney may also decide you are not the right fit and may move forward with another expert.
What happens after I’m retained?
Once you have been retained, the attorney will become your point of contact moving forward for all work rendered for the case and Expert Institute will take a step back so that you are able to work with the attorney and firm directly. They will be the best resource to assist you in developing your report or affidavit, preparing for deposition, arranging in-person meetings, and confirming court appearances.
If you have a question that you feel is better directed to Expert Institute, the research team member who originally contacted you with the opportunity will provide further assistance.
I was retained without an introductory conference call. Is that normal?
While we encourage our attorney clients to take the opportunity of a conference call to ensure it is a mutual fit to work together, some clients may elect to retain you without a call. In this case, we exchange contact information and you may begin working together directly. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to your case researcher for assistance.
How do I receive records to review?
Once retained, we’ll exchange contact information, and the firm will send you any records, relevant documents, and/or photos. You can use our secure, built-in Workspace to share files with the attorney directly in iQ, or let them know your preferred method (Dropbox, USB, paper records, etc.). They will also send you a retainer should you request one. Please do not put any opinions in writing before discussing them with the firm.
Can Expert Institute help me with my report or other related documents?
Once Expert Institute successfully pairs you with an attorney for an expert consulting opportunity, you will work with the attorney directly. If you have any questions about how to draft an expert report or the creation of any other documents you should ask the attorney you are working with – they will be happy to assist and can provide more detailed information on what they are looking for. As each attorney will have different preferences, we cannot offer specific guidance or suggestions. When working as an expert witness, communication with your attorney-client is key!
Why wasn’t I selected?
The hiring attorney on the engagement makes the decision of who to retain. There are many reasons why they might decide not to retain. Some examples are: they decide not to pursue the matter, they decide they need a different specialty, or they decide another expert is a better fit for the engagement. If you have additional questions, please contact your case researcher. In order to increase your chances of being retained on an engagement, ensure that your Expert iQ profile is up to date with the latest versions of the following materials: Resume/CV, Fee Schedule, and Expert Witness Experience.
Am I free to work with the retaining attorney on future engagements?
Per our Terms and Conditions, any future expert witness engagements that arise between yourself and the attorney must be processed through Expert Institute. In the event that you receive information on another matter from this attorney or law firm, please contact us prior to accepting the offer so that we can amend our records to reflect the engagement.