Excellence in Report Writing (Online) – delivered by Bond Solon on behalf of RCSEd

An expert’s report is a vital element in litigation. It must be clear, succinct, independent, and well presented. An excellent report is also one of the most effective marketing tools that an expert will have in their career. Reports are seen by many professionals during litigation and often new instructions are received from opposition lawyers.

Many experts create their own report writing style or adopt other people’s generalised formats, having rarely received constructive feedback from lawyers on what is required from their written evidence.

This course explores what lawyers and the courts expect and require from an expert’s report. You will be taught how to assess your own and other experts’ reports. Working with our model format and techniques received during the training you will be able to produce, quickly and consistently, reports that are court compliant and can withstand cross-examination. As with all our courses, you will receive a comprehensive workbook to be used as an aide-memoire.

Learning Format

Plenary sessions, case studies and group exercises.

Course Objectives

Identifying the issues to be addressed in your report
Using a structured approach to preparation and writing
Using appropriate language and considering the clarity of expression
Expressing an independent view and arguing your conclusion
Handling supporting information
Developing an objective and critical eye in relation to your report
Insulating your report against cross-examination
Dealing with procedural requirements and the correct declarations to include

Learning Outcomes

After attending this one-day course you will be able to:

Apply the knowledge and skills learned to produce a court-compliant report that will withstand cross-examination.

Costs

Fees: £225.00

Course Fee RCSEd Member: £200.00

Convener Details

Nick Deal: Nick was called to the bar in 1989 and had a common law practice, that included dealing with personal injury, family and commercial disputes. Nick has represented clients before all levels of courts in the UK. He joined Bond Solon’s training team in 2004 and is now the lead expert witness trainer for the business. For Bond Solon Nick delivers a number of expert witness courses: Excellence in Report Writing; Courtroom Skills; Cross-Examination; Law & Procedure; Experts’ Discussions. He is also heavily involved in the Annual Bond Solon Expert Witness Conference, the largest gathering of expert witnesses in the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RCSEd’s course cancellation policy?

Q. What happens if RCSEd cancels a course I am booked on?

A. On the odd occasion, RCSEd may need to cancel a course, for example if we are affected by an event out with our control or if it is not financially viable for us to deliver the course. If we do need to cancel, we will let you know as soon as possible and provide you with a full refund of course fees paid.

RCSEd shall incur no further liability (e.g. travel or accommodation costs). You may wish to consider taking out appropriate travel insurance for any non-refundable costs you may incur when arranging to attend the course

Q. What happens if I need to cancel my place on a course I am booked?

A. If you cancel your place more than four weeks before the event date, you will incur an administration fee of 10% (or £50, whichever is greater) of the total course fee.
If you cancel your place less than four weeks before the start of a course, once the course has started, or you do not notify us, the total course fee will be charged and no refund will be given. (Now that there is no requirement to isolate when test positive for COVID, our standard cancellation policy applies).

Q. Can I cancel a course booking online?

A. NO, cancellations must be made directly with the education team via phone or email (Email: education@rcsed.ac.uk or phone 0131 527 1600).

Q. Can I transfer to another date for the same course?

A. YES, you can transfer to another date by contacting the Education section directly (education@rcsed.ac.uk). Please note that you can transfer only once and transfers can only be made if more than 4 weeks prior to the start of the course, without incurring additional costs.

How do I book a place on an RCSEd course?

You can book a place for all our courses by visiting the RCSEd website, and selecting the course you wish to book. Please note that you will need to register with the website in order to book.

For some regional and international courses you will need to book directly with the centre. Please check individual courses for details.

You can also contact the Education Section by phone to book (0131 527 1600).

What payment methods do RCSEd accept?

Visa and MasterCard are accepted on the RCSEd website and over the phone to the education team.

All course bookings will receive a booking confirmation email: this email acts as your receipt.

Request an Invoice: If your course fees will be paid by a third party (eg trust, hospital, charitable fund) and they wish to be invoiced then they must provide us with an official purchase order. We are unable to process applications without this.

The purchase order should be submitted with the application form and can be emailed to education@rcsed.ac.uk. Please note that we can only invoice organisations and not individuals. Please check with your hospital or trust, as some may require you to pay yourself and then claim the money back.

Excellence in Report Writing (Online) delivered by Bond Solon on behalf of RCSEd

Key Facts