Expert evidence and advocacy rules and skills

When giving evidence in court, at a tribunal hearing or before an arbitrator, adjudicator or independent expert, a surveyor may be acting in one or more roles:

  • witness of fact
  • expert witness or
  • advocate.

The first role does not call for any expertise. This section examines the rules applicable to, and skills necessary for, the roles of expert witness and advocate, and outlines the basic requirements for surveyors practising in either role. The two roles are distinct and strict rules apply to ensure that surveyors abide by the differing requirements.

This section is split into three parts and considers the role of the surveyor as expert witness, surveyor as advocate and also where a surveyor acts in the dual role as both expert witness and as advocate in the same case.

This section is maintained by Guy Fetherstonhaugh QC of Falcon Chambers.

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