ExpertsDirect: Providing pro bono expert witness services

Published on 14 December 2019 by Daniel Sosa This article describes ExpertsDirect, a service for pro bono and community lawyers, connecting them with professionals who are willing to provide expert witness services for free or at low cost in legal cases assisting those experiencing disadvantage or marginalisation.

The provision of an admissible and reliable expert witness report can often decide the success of a contested matter. In many cases, the credibility and accuracy of an argument depends on the strength of supporting expert opinions.

ExpertsDirect was established in 2013 with the purpose of connecting lawyers with top expert witnesses from around Australia and the globe. Our founder, Richard Skurnik, a former solicitor, set out to create a service which could remove the challenges faced by many legal professionals in hiring expert witnesses for litigation—a process often fraught with last-minute contracting and the placement of trust in potentially unreliable sources.

Daniel Sosa is a Senior Researcher and Pro Bono Coordinator at ExpertsDirect. He leads the team at ExpertsDirect who source experts for pro bono matters. Prior to joining ExpertsDirect, Daniel was a Junior Associate at Gramelis Attorneys where he worked on family, criminal, and commercial law matters. His experience with sourcing expert witnesses extends to the selection of very niche and industry-recognised experts for international arbitration and prominent class action matters. Daniel is appreciative of the opportunity to apply his skills to assist pro bono clients.