With these extremely difficult, unprecedented times which are set to be with us for some time, we at Psychology Direct have ways to use safe and secure platforms to enable assessments of all types to take place remotely. If you would like to talk to any of our team about how we can support, please call us on 01306 879975. From all at Psychology Direct please stay safe and well.

What can Expert Witnesses charge for attending Court?

According to Regulation 20 of Part V of the Costs in Criminal Cases (General) regulations 1986, an expert witness is ‘a person of any calling, profession or trade who gives evidence because of his expertise.’ The guidance for attending a hearing for a criminal matter is as follows:

4.2 – Where the attendance of an expert involves only normal preparatory work (up to one hour) it is usual to agree and pay an attendance fee only, which is inclusive of this. Where preparation is more extensive (exceeding one hour) payment may be split between the two elements of preparation and attendance, and a fee may be paid for preparatory work in addition to the attendance fee

4.3 – In determining the attendance fee for an expert witness who has earlier prepared a written report for which a separate fee is payable it will be necessary to take account of the fact that the amount of preparatory work needed for the attendance is likely to be less than that required of an expert newly introduced to the case.

4.5 – An expert warned to attend court may sometimes be cancelled at relatively short notice, for example, because of a change of plea. The expert should not as of right be paid a fee for the cancelled attendance, but if work in preparation for the attendance has been reasonably carried out, an appropriate fee may be paid. Each case should be considered on its merits where preparatory work has been undertaken.

4.6 – Short notice of a change of date, or a late cancellation (see paragraph 4.5 above), may also involve an expert in expenses, either in the loss of alternative work that day or in the engagement of a locum. Whilst the expert should try to mitigate the consequences of a late change of date, it may not always be possible to re-arrange other work or to cancel a locum appointment. It is not practicable to give firm guidance on all the situations which might arise, and where a claim is made it should be considered on its merits. Care should obviously be taken to avoid late cancellations and changes.

It is worth noting that there are currently no scales of guidance set under the Regulations in relation to court attendance for expert witnesses. Paragraph 4.8 underlines this but refers to Appendix 2 of the Regulations where a scale has been designed in order ‘to assist officers determining the fees payable by providing a point of reference on quantum for use when exercising their discretion in determining claims.’

The scale is as follows:

Preparation (examination/report) £70 – £100 per hour
Attendance at court (full day) £346 – 500

The figures shown are based upon allowances made throughout England and Wales and it is to be reviewed annually. Furthermore, it makes it clear that each case needs to be considered individually and that the guidance provides ‘neither a minimum nor a maximum limit, merely a guide to the levels of allowances in normal circumstances’. However, they expect that exemption from the guidance will only ‘arise exceptionally’.

Court appearances funded by Legal Aid in civil cases will be subject to the hourly rates as set out in the new Civil Funding Order. Again, Schedule 6, Section 2, ‘General Provisions relating to experts’ sets out that the LAA will not pay any cancellation fee charged by an expert, where the notice of cancellation was given to the expert more than 72 hours before the relevant hearing or appointment.

Allowances for travelling to court are payable in addition to other expenses and is subject to the same guidance as detailed above. Should the need arise, paragraph 8.3 addresses travel by air, stating that travel by air may be allowed only if the court is of the opinion that:

a) There was no reasonable alternative to travel by air and the class of fare paid was reasonable in all the circumstances; or,
b) Travel by air was more economical in the circumstances taking into account any savings of time resulting from the adoption of such mode of transport and its consequent effect in reducing the amount of allowances payable under these regulations.

The intention of the MOJ and LSC is to review each policy between 3-5 years after it has been implemented. In this case, the review of expert fees will form part of a wider review of all new Legal Aid Reform policies implemented following the November 2011 Consultation.

When it comes to providing expert witnesses to the legal profession, we’re the experts

If you need an expert witness now, contact us now.

Contact us

Fast and Responsive

  • Response to email within one hour
  • Three Expert Witness CVs and fees within 24 hours
  • Psychology Medico Legal reports within four to six weeks
  • Fast track service available
  • Dedicated client manager on hand for enquiries
  • Able to meet even the most challenging deadlines

Outstanding Quality

  • Over 1000 qualified, pre-vetted psychologists available for expert witness work within Clinical, Educational, Neuro and Forensic
  • All experts registered with the Health & Care Professions Council and/or The British Psychological Society
  • High quality reports, provided by the Expert Witness and 100% proof-read by our teams
  • All experts adhere to latest MoJ Practice Directions and are up to date with relevant CPD

Personal Service

  • One call, and you’ll be allocated your personal, dedicated client manager for the duration of your case
  • Professional, flexible and friendly service
  • Proactive and efficient case management
  • Wide range of cultures, languages and geographical regions represented within our network

Competitive Costs

  • Full fee estimate provided upfront, tailored to your specific case
  • All Experts work at Legal Aid rates
  • Our comprehensive service at no additional costs
  • Fees normally the same or lower than approaching an Expert Witness directly
  • Comprehensive and flexible range of assessments available comprising clinical interviews and evidence based psychometric tests as required
  • Response to email within one hour
  • Three Expert Witness CVs and fees within 24 hours
  • Psychology Medico Legal reports within four to six weeks
  • Fast track service available
  • Dedicated client manager on hand for enquiries
  • Able to meet even the most challenging deadlines
  • Over 1000 qualified, pre-vetted psychologists available for expert witness work within Clinical, Educational, Neuro and Forensic
  • All experts registered with the Health & Care Professions Council and/or The British Psychological Society
  • High quality reports, provided by the Expert Witness and 100% proof-read by our teams
  • All experts adhere to latest MoJ Practice Directions and are up to date with relevant CPD
  • One call, and you’ll be allocated your personal, dedicated client manager for the duration of your case
  • Professional, flexible and friendly service
  • Proactive and efficient case management
  • Wide range of cultures, languages and geographical regions represented within our network
  • Full fee estimate provided upfront, tailored to your specific case
  • All Experts work at Legal Aid rates
  • Our comprehensive service at no additional costs
  • Fees normally the same or lower than approaching an Expert Witness directly
  • Comprehensive and flexible range of assessments available comprising clinical interviews and evidence based psychometric tests as required

Our dedicated team really are the experts behind the Experts

Get in touch

Contact us using one of the tabs on the form below, or call us on 01306 879 975 to find out how we can help. Alternatively, click here to request a call back.

Our process

It's simple, we understand your need and...

We match associates to your needs

You instruct & we manage the Admin

Report QC checked & submitted on time

Why Psychology Direct?

  • Experienced
    We have a long and excellent track record in delivering an outstanding service to our clients
  • Well networked
    An impressive register of over 1000 qualified Psychologists available for work at short notice anywhere around the country
  • Knowledgeable
    We know our professionals and we understand what clients need
  • Personable
    You’ll have a dedicated, accessible Client Manager allocated for the duration of your case
  • Efficient
    Accurate reports supplied on time, efficient administration and fast response times
  • Proactive
    We’ll provide all the support you need to make your job easier
  • Cost effective
    Fees normally the same or lower than approaching a Psychologist directly
  • Ethical
    Respect and understanding in our dealings with clients and Associates

FAQs

Unfortunately not, we only work business to business, through solicitors, local authorities, CPS, case management companies and schools. If you are a private individual looking for a psychologist please speak with your solicitor, school, GP or insurer.

If you wish to locate a Psychologist yourself then visit the British Psychological Society’s website at https://www.bps.org.uk/

Absolutely not! Our service is based on providing excellent value – and added value.

Not only will we secure you an appropriately qualified and experienced Psychologist for your case without all the time and hassle of searching for one yourself, but we’ll handle all administration, bookings and ensure you get the report on time plus you’ll have a dedicated client manager at your beck and call too.

So you get competitive prices and all our extra support at no extra cost, meaning you save yourself time and money.

This is often an area of confusion. Understanding the difference between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist can be crucial to securing the right professional for your case.

Psychologists are trained in human and emotional development. They use their extensive knowledge of human emotions, behaviour and mental health to assess the problems being experienced by their clients. Based on their expert assessment; conclusions, recommendations and treatment plans will be presented in a report as required. Psychologists use a range of assessment techniques including psychometric testing as well as varied therapeutic models in order to understand and improve the mental health and psychological well-being of clients.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors and as such are qualified to prescribe medication (such as anti-depressants) or in more extreme cases recommend hospitalisation, to help assess and manage the symptoms being experienced by the person concerned.

In some cases, it may not be immediately clear whether a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist is required. A complex case may even require both. Our extensive register of professionals includes both Psychologists and Psychiatrists, and our knowledgeable client team are on hand to give you the advice you need and supply the right type of professional. If you have any questions at all, just give us a call.

Yes. We are fully aware and understanding of our clients’ budgets, so all our Psychologists work to Legal Aid rates.

We can also supply CVs and quotes for 3 Experts with the full breakdown of hours, as required by the Legal Aid Agency.

First of all, contact us! You can call us on 01306 879 975. You can request a call back. You can email us or use our contact form. Once we have your initial contact request, we’ll respond within an hour. One of our Client Managers will take a brief of your requirements, and get to work straight away, using their knowledge of our network of Psychologists and Psychiatrists to get you 3 CVs and quotes within 24 hours. Once an Expert Witness is instructed, bookings for assessments and all other administration required for the case will be managed by us and we will ensure that the report is delivered within your required timescales.