Course Information
In conjunction with the University of Aberdeen, Bond Solon offers the first university-certificated expert witness training programme in Scotland.
Holding this unique certificate demonstrates to both instructing parties and the courts that you have been trained and assessed to have the core and requisite competencies to act as an expert witness.
UABS is a valuable marketing tool to promote one’s expert witness practice. Upon successful completion, certificate holders can join for free the National Register of University Certificated Expert Witnesses.
Key Learning Outcomes
- Gain an overview of how the court system works
- Understand your role as an independent educator of the court
- Identify key skills of presenting effective evidence in-person or remotely
- Determine the techniques lawyers use in cross-examination and how to handle them, include how these may differ with virtual hearings
- Express an opinion based on the foundation of fact
- Learn how to give confident, clear testimony under cross-examination in-person or remotely
Certificate details
- Training days: 4 days training
- Assessments: 3 assessments, 2 of which are completed on course
- Public certification format: Virtual
- In-house certification format: Virtual or face-to-face for a group of experts
- Suitable for: New and practising experts
- Cost: £2,017 + VAT if the days are booked separately | £1,815 + VAT if the days are booked together (fees includes the £470 + VAT marking and certification fee)
Please call 020 7549 2549 or email expertwitness@bondsolon.com to discuss or book an in-house course.
Training
Candidates are required to complete the following training courses to become eligible for the certificate:
- Excellence in Report Writing (1 day)
- Courtroom Skills (1 day)
- Cross Examination Day (1 day)
- Law and Procedure (1 day)
Assessment Process
UABS is assessed in three parts. Whilst all assessments must be completed within two-years, most candidates finish them in a much shorter period of time:
- Assessment of your expert witness report
The candidate’s expert witness report can be submitted to University of Aberdeen at any time during the two-year period. The report must be submitted in court-ready condition including any photographs, plans etc. - Review of your performance under cross-examination
An audio-visual recording of the candidate’s performance will be made during the Cross-Examination Day and submitted to Aberdeen for marking. - Multiple-choice examination on law and procedure
A multiple-choice examination is sat at the end of the Law and Procedure day and submitted to Aberdeen for marking.
Provided that a pass is reached in all three assessments, the candidate will be awarded the University of Aberdeen Bond Solon (UABS) Expert Witness Certificate. They will also be provided with the certificate logo and specific wording, which can be used to publicise their achievement.
Course Dates
Select one item from each of the 5 drop down lists below.
Please note: the Excellence in Report Writing, Courtroom Skills and Cross-Examination courses must be attended in this order, and it is recommended that you leave a gap of at least 3 months between the Excellence in Report Writing and Cross-Examination courses due to pre-course requirements for the latter. The Law & Procedure course can be undertaken at any stage.