Preparing and Delivering Expert Testimony - Managing Stress & Demonstrating Your Competence

Goals: To explain what Experts can expect when called to deliver testimony, tips for managing stress, and how to demonstrate your competence as an Expert.

Who Should Attend: Appraisers who are new to giving Expert Testimony and those with experience who would like to learn some new tips or share their experiences and advice when giving testimony.

Almost every appraisal professional will be called to give expert testimony at some point in their career, perhaps frequently. This can be intimidating and stressful - in part because we are not sure what to expect. When you are called to give testimony, you are not automatically considered an Expert until the court confirms that you are an Expert. Your demeanour on the stand, how you answer questions, and the content of your Expert Report will help the Court confirm whether or not you are an expert - meaning someone the Court can rely on to deliver unbiased opinions on a defined field of expertise.

In this session, we look at the steps to prepare for giving Expert Testimony, rules for Experts, differences between Admin Tribunals and Court, expectations of the Court and how lawyers may prepare their Experts. We then shift to the courtroom and describe what to expect when you appear. I share some tips on how to prepare your Expert Report to address Court requirements and strengthen your testimony, and how to respond to Cross Examination- perhaps the most stressful part of giving Expert Testimony.

However, keep in mind that there is no substitute for experience. Each time you appear at Provincial or Federal Court or an Administrative Tribunal, the more experience you will gain, the more confident lawyers and others will have in your ability to give Expert Testimony.

Speaker:

John Peebles, P.App., AACI

Real Estate Consultant | Land Ethic Consulting Ltd.