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Josh Hyatt leads Expert Institute, a legal tech company that helps connect litigation attorneys with expert witnesses. After moving from private equity five years ago, he now has a broad view of the expert witness market, including how attorneys search for experts, make decisions, and use technology. In Episode 30 of the Expert Witness Playbook, Josh talks with host Dr. Brian Woodruff about how experts get noticed, what attorneys look for besides a CV, and the business habits that set a professional practice apart from a side project.
This episode covers:
- – The three main types of third-party firms in the market: directories and marketplaces, specialized placement firms, and expert-agnostic search firms
- – Why many experts still get hired through repeat relationships and referrals
- – What attorneys look for besides credentials, like responsiveness, clear communication, prior testimony history, and meeting deadlines
- – Why being highly qualified does not help if attorneys cannot find you
- – Josh’s advice on what experts should avoid putting on their personal websites, and why
- – How to write a bio that focuses on the types of cases you want to be called for, instead of just listing your credentials
- – Why trying to look qualified for every type of case can actually work against you
Connect with Josh Hyatt:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshshyatt/
Email: jhyatt@expertinstitute.com
Connect with Dr. Brian Woodruff:
John McMahan 4 days ago
The emphasis on clear communication and professionalism resonates with my experience as an otolaryngologist and medical expert. Credentials are essential, but attorneys also need an expert who can explain complex clinical issues clearly, recognize gaps in the records, and communicate the limits of the available evidence.
I would add that a productive relationship begins with agreement on scope, deadlines, and the records needed for a meaningful review. Sometimes the expert’s most valuable contribution is identifying a question that remains unanswered—and explaining what additional information or specialist evaluation would help resolve it. Establishing those expectations early serves both the attorney and the expert.