Description
Job Title: Psychiatrist (Child and Adolescent or General Adult) with Special Interest in Neuropsychiatry – Medico-Legal Expert Witness
Location: 10 Harley Street, London or Remote (Hybrid)
Reports To: CEO and COO
Contract Type: Freelance Part-Time (Flexible Hours)
Job Summary:
We are seeking a highly qualified Child and Adolescent or General Adult Psychiatrist with a special interest in Neuropsychiatry to join our team as a Medico-Legal Expert Witness. The role involves providing expert psychiatric opinions in cases where neuropsychiatric conditions are relevant to legal proceedings, such as personal injury, medical negligence, criminal cases, or family law matters. The successful candidate will be responsible for preparing medico-legal reports, providing testimony in court, and advising legal professionals on complex neuropsychiatric matters. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to justice through expert knowledge while collaborating with legal teams.
Key Responsibilities:
Medico-Legal Assessments and Reports:
- Conduct thorough psychiatric evaluations of individuals involved in legal cases, with a particular focus on those with neuropsychiatric conditions (e.g., traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, dementia, neurodevelopmental disorders, and functional neurological disorders).
- Prepare clear, comprehensive, and well-structured medico-legal reports that provide expert opinions on the psychiatric aspects of cases, including diagnoses, prognosis, and the impact of neuropsychiatric conditions on the individual's behaviour, cognition, and functioning.
- Ensure that reports are compliant with Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) or other relevant legal standards.
Court Appearances and Testimony:
- Act as an expert witness in court, giving oral testimony when required. This includes providing clear and authoritative explanations of complex neuropsychiatric concepts and their relevance to the case in question.
- Respond to cross-examination by legal representatives, presenting balanced, objective, and impartial expert opinions.
Liaison with Legal Teams:
- Work closely with solicitors, barristers, and other legal professionals to provide guidance and expertise on psychiatric issues related to the case.
- Attend case conferences and pre-trial meetings with legal teams to clarify psychiatric findings, explore case nuances, and prepare for testimony.
- Review medical records, witness statements, and other relevant documents to inform medico-legal opinions.
Clinical Expertise in Neuropsychiatry:
- Apply specialised knowledge in neuropsychiatry to evaluate conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, and neurodevelopmental disorders, and their legal implications.
- Offer expert opinions on the cognitive, behavioural, and emotional impact of neuropsychiatric conditions, particularly in relation to mental capacity, criminal responsibility, fitness to plead, and ability to consent.
Case Types:
- Provide expert witness services in various legal contexts, including:
- Personal injury and medical negligence: Assessing the psychiatric and neuropsychiatric impact of traumatic brain injuries, post-concussion syndromes, and other neurological conditions.
- Criminal cases: Evaluating mental capacity, fitness to plead, and the potential influence of neuropsychiatric disorders on behaviour or decision-making.
- Family law cases: Assessing the mental health and neuropsychiatric conditions of parents or children in custody disputes or care proceedings.
- Employment and insurance claims: Offering psychiatric opinions on mental health and neurocognitive conditions relevant to workplace injury, capacity, or disability claims.
Professional Development and Compliance:
- Stay up-to-date with legal regulations, medico-legal practices, and clinical advancements in neuropsychiatry to ensure best practice in medico-legal reporting and testimony.
- Participate in regular professional development, including training in report writing and expert witness testimony.
- Maintain up-to-date CPD and medical registration with relevant professional bodies (e.g., GMC and RCPsych) to practice as a medico-legal expert.
Benefits:
- Competitive remuneration based on medico-legal expertise and casework.
- Flexible working hours, including the option to work remotely.
- Support for training in medico-legal skills, if required.
Requirements
Essential Criteria:
- Medical degree and full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC).
- CCT in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry or General Adult Psychiatry.
- MRCPsych or equivalent qualification.
- Experience and special interest in neuropsychiatry, with demonstrable expertise in managing neuropsychiatric conditions (e.g., traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders).
Desirable Criteria:
- Additional certification or training in medico-legal report writing or expert witness work (e.g., Bond Solon Expert Witness certification or similar).
- Formal postgraduate training in neuropsychiatry (e.g., diploma or fellowship).
- Prior experience in court testimony and cross-examination in medico-legal cases.
Key Skills and Attributes:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex psychiatric and neuropsychiatric concepts into clear, concise language for legal professionals and the court.
- Expertise in conducting thorough psychiatric evaluations and generating detailed, well-supported medico-legal reports.
- Confidence and professionalism in giving oral testimony in legal settings, withstanding cross-examination.
- Strong understanding of the legal process, including rules of evidence, civil procedure, and standards for expert witnesses.
- A commitment to providing objective, impartial expert opinions that adhere to ethical and legal standards.
- Excellent time management skills to meet deadlines for report submissions and court appearances.
- High attention to detail and analytical skills in reviewing complex medical and legal documentation.
