SEAK Expert Witness Class at ISA Conference

Registration for the ISA annual conference in Chicago is strong, and so is the registration for the pre conference SEAK Expert Witness class taught by attorney James J. Mangraviti, Jr. According to ISA, appraisers will "learn expert witnessing from A-Z. This is a customized training program specially designed for appraisers and presented for ISA by SEAK, Inc.The Expert Witness Training Company.

The course will feature numerous video examples of experts testifying in real cases. Also featured will be mock trial and deposition demonstrations utilizing volunteer attendees. The mock trial demonstrations will be based upon pre-submitted CVs and reports. This highly interactive program is appropriate for both novice and experienced expert witnesses".

The class typically costs $1,300. ISA has arranged a discounted rate due to strong interest from members and the appraisal community in the program. Registration is only $795 for ISA members or $895 for non-members.

The SEAK program is scheduled for Thursday March 30th and Friday March 31, 2017, at the ISA conference hotel, the Palmer House Hilton.

I have been posting about the importance of expanding appraisal practices on the AW Blog, and expert witness testimony is certainly one area where appraisers can offer additional services, consultations and expertise.

SEAK has completed a survey of fees charged for expert witness testimony, case preparation/review and depositions.

There were nearly 2,000 survey responses, and the results for average and range of fees included:

Number of Experts Responding In Survey 1931
Hourly Fee for Testifying in Court AVERAGE $ 451
Hourly Fee for Testifying in Court HIGH $ 5000
Hourly Fee for Testifying in Court LOW $ 125
Hourly Fee for Case Review/Preparation AVERAGE $ 333
Hourly Fee for Case Review/Preparation HIGH $ 1000
Hourly Fee for Case Review/Preparation LOW $ 80
Hourly Fee for Deposition AVERAGE $ 427
Hourly Fee for Deposition HIGH $ 4800
Hourly Fee for Deposition LOW $ 125

As you can see from the average fees charged and the range of fees, this is the type of work and fees professional appraisers should be seeking. There are many offerings and programs available which compete for your educational budgets, both specific and general for appraisers to expand and grow their practices. Some are worthwhile, many are not worth the investment, so select carefully where you spend your educational dollars. The SEAK program has an excellent reputation among not only appraisers but the legal and medical community as well.  Additionally, SEAK also offers additional and advanced programs, including How to Make More Money as an Expert Witness, How to Write a Bulletproof Expert Witness Report, and How to Start, Build and Run a Successful Expert Witness Practice to name just a few. The point being, if expert witness and more attorney driven work is coming through your practice, some of the advanced programs may also be beneficial.

Working with the legal community can certainly be challenging and at times stressful, but if trained properly, it can also be very rewarding and very lucrative.

The SEAK class program at ISA Conference is as follows, (for more information and to register follow the source link below). Keep in mind this is not a general expert witness program, but one developed and geared specifically to the appraisal profession. I understand registration has been strong, but there are still seats available.

Program
Day One – Thursday, March 30, 2017

8:00-9:00am                The Role of the Expert Witness in Civil Litigation

9:00-10:00am              What Successful Expert Witnesses Have in Common

10:15 – 11:15am         Mastering the Engagement Process and Drafting an Effective Retention Agreement

11:15am – 12:00pm    Setting and Collecting Your Fee

12:00-1:00pm              Lunch

1:00 – 2:00pm             Bulletproofing Yourself

2:00 – 3:00pm             Bulletproofing Your Opinions

3:15 – 4:30pm             How to Write a Persuasive and Defensible Report

 Day Two – Friday, March 31, 2017

8:00 – 10:00am           How to Excel During Deposition

10:00- 10:15am           Break

10:15 – 12:00pm         How to Excel During Direct Examination

12:00-1:00pm              Lunch

1:00-3:00pm                How to Excel During Cross Examination

3:00 – 3:15pm             Break

3:15 – 4:00pm             How to Market and Grow Your Expert Witness Practice

4:00 – 4:30pm             Ethics and Risk Management

Fees
Members
$795.00 between October 31, 2016 and March 03, 2017
Non-members
$895.00 between October 31, 2016 and March 03, 2017

Source: International Society of Appraisers