Areas of law

Before and after you instruct.

You get each expert’s CV, fee and availability, and we find experts for claimants and defendants.

Once you instruct, a named case manager arranges the appointment and manages the instruction through to delivery of the report. Reports usually take 1 to 2 weeks, or 2 to 3 days when urgent. Timescales are estimates and depend on expert availability, the appointment and receipt of the relevant records. Tell us the date the report must be served by.

Legally aided: the quotes come within the legal aid rates (medico-legal report fees).

What a medico-legal report contains.

A medico-legal report identifies the expert, sets out the material relied on, addresses the range of opinion and records the expert’s duty to the court. The remaining requirements depend on the forum.

The report is written to the rules of the forum: CPR 35.10 and PD 35 in civil claims, FPR 25.14 and PD 25B in family proceedings, CrimPR 19.4 in criminal cases, and in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber the Practice Direction of 1 November 2024, with its 20-page limit. In Scotland the expert reports as a skilled witness; Northern Ireland has its own rules. Tell us the court or tribunal in the enquiry, and the expert writes to its rules.

When a GP’s or consultant’s letter is not enough.

A routine letter from a treating doctor records clinical findings and treatment, but it is not the same as an independent medico-legal expert report. Send the questions in dispute with the records, and the expert answers them one by one.

Questions about medico-legal reports.

For anything else about your case, call us.

Call 0121 752 6061
How much does a medico-legal report cost?

It depends on the expert, the questions and the volume of records. You see each expert’s fee with their CV before you instruct, and legally aided quotes come within the legal aid rates (expert witness fees).

What is a medico-legal report?

An independent expert’s written opinion on the medical issues in a case, for a court or tribunal. The expert’s duty is to the court, and it overrides any obligation to whoever instructs or pays them (CPR 35.3; FPR 25.3; CrimPR 19.2).

What happens at a medico-legal assessment?

The expert takes your client’s history and, where the question needs it, examines them. They also read the records you send. A case manager arranges the appointment.

My case covers more than one area. Which page do I use?

Any of them. Describe the whole case in the enquiry and we will look at all the medical issues together.

Send the case. We find the experts.

  • The type of caseFamily, personal injury, criminal, immigration, employment…
  • The specialty, or the issuesIf you are not sure who you need, describe the medical questions
  • The court or tribunalAnd any directions already made about expert evidence
  • Your deadlineHearing, filing or limitation date
  • How the case is fundedLegal aid, private, CFA or insurer
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We send you the CVs, fees and availability of experts who can meet it.