Expert witness
Published:
7 December 2011
Edited:
25 August 2021
Read time: 5 minutes
An expert witness is a witness with expertise in a particular field of study. The role of lay evidence in legal proceedings is to prove a fact (for example, what someone saw or heard), whereas expert evidence typically gives an opinion based upon facts in order to assist the court to analyse the facts and reach conclusions. For example, an architect may prepare an expert report for legal proceedings to express an opinion on whether the drawings for a building were fit for purpose or compliant with relevant standards based on their industry expertise.
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