Isabel West provides a snapshot of the expert witness landscape
What is your average hourly rate?
£0 - £24 1
£25 - £49 2
£50 - £74 3
£75 - £99 5
£100 - £124 19
£125 - £149 15
£150 - £174 11
£175 - £199 16
£200 - £224 13
£225 - £249 8
£250+ 7
How does this relate to your average hourly rate in 2009?
Higher 23
Lower 3
The same 73
Fee levels
With the RPI at between 4% and 5%, it is not surprising that only a minority of experts have been able to increase their fees. The majority of experts have clearly taken a pragmatic view, and have apparently chosen to freeze their fees in order to maintain or increase their volume of work.
Notably, almost half of the sample (57) reported an increase in instructions this year, suppoting the theory that litigation increases during recessionary periods.
Delegates were asked if they would continue to take on legally aided work if the fee rates were substantially reduced—34 said no, while 23 said they would continue. This should be a clear warning to the Legal Services Commission
