[Hugh R]

I don't know your context for the question. But I've been an expert witness a couple of times on court cases, when I was a consultant. I've been deposed on about six cases, but never given testimony in front of a jury. In my business an expert witness is very hard to find, because most people with the qualifications to render an opinion are working in the same industry for a competing company.

An expert basically means you can convince someone to hire you because you know more about the subject than they do. Practical hands-on experience is also a plus.

My first expert witness case the lawyer asked me my hourly rate I told him $95/hour. He said I wouldn't be taken seriously at that rate and told me to bill $350/hour. The other side has to pay you your hourly rate in a deposition so that they know what you are going to say in court. One month, I billed almost $60,000.