You may become a marketing expert witness if an attorney seeks you out and if you have the required professional background. To become an expert witness in anything, you must be recognized as an expert in your chosen industry. This may mean different things to different people, but it generally includes several years of education as well as many years working within your field. Occasionally, you may be able to become a marketing expert witness by offering your testimony to a specific case or attorney, assuming you have the right credentials.
To become a marketing expert witness, you will need to have at least a bachelor's degree in marketing. Some cases may require you to have additional education as well. You should also have several years experience working in the marketing field in areas related to the case with you will be working. For instance, if the lawsuit or trial requires a witness who knows a lot about Internet marketing, you would need to have direct experience with this area of marketing and advertising. If you work in other areas of the field, you may not be chosen to testify.
You may also need to meet additional criteria before you can become a marketing expert witness as well. For example, it may be required that you have experience working with a particular type of company. If the trial involves the marketing practices for a financial services company, for instance, it may be required that you have direct experience working with businesses in the financial division. These provisions will likely be explained in detail if you are interviewed as a potential witness.
Additional issues may also be taken into consideration before you are allowed to become a marketing expert witness. For instance, you will need to be able to answer questions related to your work in terms and phrases that are easily understand by most individuals. You will also be required to do well under pressure, since the opposing attorney will be cross-examining you during a trial. You may be asked to answer questions by both parties prior to your service, and you will be chosen or not chosen based on how well you handle these preliminary examinations.
Factors you should consider before agreeing to act as an expert witness include the amount of time you can invest and how much you would expect to be paid for your services. When including meetings and briefings prior to the actual trial, along with the trial itself, you may have to commit a large portion of time to the case. You should also make sure financial compensation, if applicable, is determined ahead of time.