Typically, to become a neurology expert witness, you need specialized knowledge, education, or experience in the field of neurology. Not all expert witnesses are doctors, and many expert witness of neurology are nurses, administrators, or other people who qualify. Each country, region, or local jurisdiction has laws regulating the expert witness system, and you may need to become licensed to be an expert witness in your jurisdiction.
Neurology expert witnesses do not always appear in court. Often experts consult lawyers about their cases. This is one of the ways to become a neurology expert witness. Another way is to join a company that hires out experts to lawyers. Most people who are expert witnesses have many years of experience in the field of their expertise because usually this impresses juries. If you do not have years of experience, one way to work as an expert is to do consulting.
It is helpful to understand that the law in most regions distinguishes between expert witnesses and consultants. Witnesses testify and may be cross-examined by opposing lawyers. Consultants do not testify, and their information is not admissible in court. The lawyers use the advice of consultants to build their case and ask probing questions of the opposition's expert witnesses. Consulting is a way to build relationships with law firms to help you become a neurology expert witness.
Neurologists, typically, treat diseases and injuries of the nerves, brain, and spinal cord. Some of the occupations that qualify a person to become a neurology expert witness are nursing, technical support, and administration. To determine if your position qualifies you as a professional witness, you can check with companies that hire qualified people to consult or testify for law firms. For example, one company may be seeking a health insurance expert, while another firm is seeking a neuropsychiatrist with experience in testifying in criminal cases.
Most professional witnesses have extensive college degrees, such as a master's degree or a doctorate. Generally, each country has its own system of academics, and neurology expert witnesses usually hold the higher degrees. Another important factor is work experience. Jurors and other court personnel may be more impressed with a witness who has 20 years of experience than one who has five years of experience.
To become a neurology expert witness, you should consider more than your professional career. A good witness can explain the medical terms and situation in easy-to-understand terms. For example, most laypeople cannot comprehend what reflex sympathetic dystrophy means, but neurologists and their staff members can. To be a good neurology expert witness, you must help the people in the court understand the type of neurological state and the treatment at hand.