Why DIY Expert Witness Searches Aren’t Adequate

As an attorney, you understand your case and strategy better than anyone else. Does this make you the best person to lead the search for an expert witness? Perhaps, but consider how your time would be better spent evaluating a short list of strong and well researched expert candidates provided directly to you.

Even if you do delegate the search to your staff, will the time billed actually be paid for by the clients? During these highly stressful and uncertain times, clients are disappointed if they see billable time for expert witness research that could be more thoroughly outsourced free of charge.

Despite your team’s comprehensive understanding of the case, the expert witness search process can be time-consuming, laborious, and resource-heavy. These challenges become even more apparent when a case requires expertise that is highly specific and focuses on information that is extremely technical.

Many attorneys working on a specialized case requiring a highly technical expert understand that a DIY expert witness search is simply too overwhelming, which frequently leads them to seek assistance elsewhere. Others understand that while they may find some good experts, a thorough search will require the use of a specialized service. Our service, Round Table Group, is the perfect companion in these situations.

The Error in Focusing on Experts You Know

Often, law firms are under pressure to quickly retain specialized experts. Many cases focus on sophisticated and nuanced disciplines such as pharmaceutical, engineering, technology, and economics. To research, locate, contact, negotiate, and retain an expert is no simple task, even without tight deadlines.

Some litigators that find themselves in this situation flip through their existing rolodex or attempt to conduct their own search. However, complex disciplines are advancing rapidly and not every expert is focused on the cutting-edge advancements made within their respective industry. Nor is every expert knowledgeable about the portion of their field that applies to the disputed details in a particular matter. A DIY search might seem like a quick and easy approach; however, time adds up as you exhaust your limited network and the temptation to settle for “good enough” grows.

This is where an expert witness search firm thrives. These firms, and Round Table Group especially, have deep experience recruiting world-class and niche experts that match an attorney’s criteria like a puzzle piece. Over time, this experience leads to the development of a substantial network of skilled experts across a wide array of focus areas as well as the cultivation of close-knit relationships with individuals, organizations, academic institutions, research facilities, and associations that can be leveraged in order to uncover the perfect expert for a case.

Working with a Team That Has Honed the Expert Search Process

Round Table Group locates, assesses, and presents experts to litigators exclusively, resulting in an unparalleled understanding of what works and what doesn’t. Over the last 25 years, we have developed and honed internal processes that are proven to locate the proverbial needle in a haystack.

When an individual or organization is looking to retain an attorney to represent them in a legal matter, they turn to a professional that specializes in the practice area that matches their specific legal needs. There is an understanding that time spent working in a particular practice area comes with a profound understanding of the ins and outs of that work. Conducting an expert witness search is no different. Outsourcing to Round Table Group will ensure that no stone is left unturned and the processes used have been optimized through decades of experience.

Freedom to Concentrate on Your Winning Strategy

At the end of the day, all attorneys need to ensure that deadlines are met, clients are satisfied, and cases are won. Conducting a DIY expert witness search often results in lost (often unbillable) time, as an attorney is pulled towards hours and days spent researching, contacting, and negotiating with experts, rather than focusing on honing the strategy.

This resource-intensive work can be handed off to a trusted and experienced organization that is comprised of industry professionals who are dedicated to each part of the process. Once the search summary and necessary case details are discussed with a firm like Round Table Group, attorneys are free to focus on their strategy while we handle all aspects of the search process.

For more than 25 years, Round Table Group has helped litigators locate, evaluate, and employ the best and most qualified expert witnesses. Round Table Group is a great complement to any litigator’s quest for an expert witness and our search is always free of charge. Contact us at 202-908-4500 for more information or start your expert search now.