Trust and be Trusted
16 May 2008
Alexandra House, Wroughton, Nr Swindon
Session 1: As If By Magic
Speakers examine illusions that can threaten trust and a good working relationship:
Creating an impression - the need for a clear and accurate CV
Contaminating the evidence - safeguarding case material
Stills, lies and videotape - accuracy and impartiality in report writing
Session 2: Unwelcome Tricks of the Trade
Contributors focus on advanced ways in which the unwary expert witness, new or experienced, criminal or civil, can to caught out:
Confirmation bias - unreasonable reinforcement of expectations
The Prosecutor's Fallacy - inadvertently leading the court astray
False positives - lack of evidence doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Session 3: Crossing the Line
This session concentrates on maintaining trust and credibility by knowing where the boundary lies between lawyer and expert:
Experts win cases - the lawyer's perspective on selecting experts
Getting too involved - why reports need to reflect range of opinion
Balancing your ratios - being seen to be independent
Session 4: The Society Debate: Can experts be trusted?
Drawing together the themes of the day, a panel of leading speakers debate this key issue of practical expert impartiality in a Question Time format.
The Expert and Money: getting it right from the start
24 October 2008
Kenwood Hall, Sheffield
Session 1: There may be trouble ahead...
Tom Magner, SEW Press Officer, Journalist & Consulting Engineer
The expert, factoring and the bailiff
Session 2: Ways through the money maze
Julie Cooper, Deputy District Judge and Solicitor
The expert and the lawyer
Richard Cory-Pearce, SEW Secretary and Consultant Surgeon
The expert and the contract
Session 3: The finer points
Mark Barratt, SEW Member and accountant
The expert and the taxman
Tom Magner, SEW Press Officer, Journalist & Consulting Engineer
The expert and the banker
Session 4: The Society Debate
Return of the speakers to debate, in a Question Time format, the key issue: "Does payment by one side lead to one-sided experts?"