Costs

The cost of retaining social workers can vary considerably. They are usually paid by the hour. The hourly fee typically covers reviewing documents, interviewing key people in the case, travel expenses, and any other time spent working on the case. Rates for being deposed or testifying in court are usually higher than for other kinds of preparatory work. Conclusion

The growing use of social workers as expert witness will likely continue. Social workers who serve in this role will play an important part in litigation and dispute resolution. Retaining a social work expert witness will not necessarily result in a victory in the courtroom. A credible expert witness, however, can offer invaluable information that can be used to present a more comprehensive case. This commentary originally appeared in Childrens Rights Litigation Committee Report (2005), 7(2), 8-9.