When highly qualified experts can sometimes get things very wrong you might be forgiven for thinking that the answer is yet more study and training. An in the well known case of  a carbon trading expert in 2019 who “couldn’t remember” if he had passed any A-levels and hadn’t read any books on the subject you would probably be right.

But academic qualifications by themselves are not everything, the important issue is whether an expert has relevant qualification and experience. In Malhotra Leisure Ltd v Aviva Insurance Ltd [2025] EWHC, a case about extensive water damage caused to a hotel, the judge was presented with evidence from two experts with widely differing expertise essentially a plumber and an engineer.

While the plumber had extensive practical experience he did not have much in the way of academic qualifications and in contrast the engineer was qualified in mechanical engineering and fluid dynamics but had a career in investigations rather than building installations.

Unsurprisingly both parties argued that the other’s expert was not suitably qualified or experienced. However as the judge commented he was not persuaded that he “should treat either expert as not being qualified to provide expert opinion to this court on the issues, which they were asked to address. As is often the case, both experts were doing their best to assist the court and doing so with a background of considerable experience, albeit from different perspectives. “  Quite the reverse, he found that helpful and objective evidence from two experts with different backgrounds was actively useful in understanding the issues in the case from different perspectives.

That’s why the Academy’s accreditation process validates members academic qualifications but also asks them to explain their professional experience and provide references an evidence to support it. Our assessors then check that both qualifications and experience are relevant and appropriate for the expert work they intend to do.

If you’re a lawyer looking for an expert you can search the Academy’s register for an accredited expert or contact us directly for assistance.

If you would like to join the Academy but are unsure if you have the appropriate skills please complete our Pre-Application Questionnaire and we will help you identify the appropriate membership level for you.