2 answers
Yang
Student
Fuzhou, Fujian, China
1
Question
Asked
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What are the similarities and differences between forensic experts and lawyers?
#college student of law and want to know basic difference
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2 answers
Matthew L. Tuck, J.D., M.B.A.
CEO/Managing Attorney, Greater Detroit Area
64
Answers
Lansing, Michigan
Updated
Matthew L.’s Answer
Hi Yang.
Great question!
I would agree with everything Ramzi said and expand on it a little bit.
The big difference between the to fields is that lawyers are like the directors in a play or movie--they have to tell a story to the court or jury about what happened in the case. The forensic experts are like the actors who all play different specialized roles to help present the case and explain very complicated concepts in an understandable way. Attorneys have the legal expertise but not the specialized knowledge, usually. And what lawyers say in court is not evidence. Evidence comes from witnesses, documents and other things. That's the big difference.
I've been a lawyer for almost 30 years and I've hired lots of forensic experts (hundreds) in many fields and also cross-examined lots of experts used by the other side. I also have lots of friends who are forensic experts.
Ramzi is correct in saying that one branch of forensic expert is very scientific. But there are many other types of forensic experts, too. There are a lot of American and UK television shows and movies about forensic experts who work in the criminal area (CSI, NCIS, and Silent Witness are just a few). Most people are familiar with these.
The forensic experts in those shows and movies (and in those types of jobs in real life) work primarily for the government investigating crimes from a scientific point of view. These forensic experts
work in labs, conduct autopsies on deceased people to determine how they died, test DNA and blood, run chemical tests, and collect evidence out in the field for use later to prove points in the case. Most of these folks have specialized training in the particular area of science they specialize in.
Evidence techs must also know the legal requirements that control how to properly collect and test physical evidence, because there are many legal rules that govern what evidence can and cannot come into court. If the evidence is improperly collected, stored or tested, it won't be admissible and this is really bad because the lawyer who needs it may not be able to prove his case without it. They have to be very careful and know what they are doing.
However, besides the criminal forensic science people, there are many other types of forensic experts (forensic really just means "legal"). For example, I've worked with a number of forensic accountants. These are trained accountants and CPAs who specialize in financial analysis of company records and financial crime. We call on them when an employee steals money from a business or maybe the owner launders illegal money through the business.
In my practice I also used to hire lots of accident reconstructionists. These are highly trained individuals (usually former police officers, but not always) who come to the scene of an accident (could be a car accident, boating accident or even plane crash) and analyze the evidence to determine what happened to cause the accident. The question they are asked to answer is usually, was it a mechanical problem or human error that caused the accident? A lot of times it may come down to figuring out who crossed the center line or which car ran the red light to cause the accident.
I've also hired computer experts to recover deleted information from hard drives, and to explain complicated computer hardware and software issues to the jury. I've also worked on cases that required real estate experts to explain the value of a piece of property that was at issue. I've also worked with expert psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, plumbers, mechanics, food preparation people, veterinarians, sewer guys and experts on highway construction. It all depends on the case and what area needs expert explaining.
Most forensic experts outside of the criminal lab context have studied what they do for a long time. Many have advanced degrees like masters, MDs or even PhD degrees, depending on how complex their field is. Many of these experts spend part of their time teaching and part of their time working as forensic experts when they are hired by attorneys, courts or others for their knowledge. These types of experts are generally paid very well for their knowledge. Frequently both sides in a litigation hire experts because the facts are subject to interpretation. Many of the people hired have written books and articles on the their subject matter or taught at the university level. That's how I used to find them.
All types of forensic experts, whatever their specialty, help attorneys, courts and juries understand complicated concepts. Usually the forensic expert prepares some type of written report for the attorney(s) or the court (depending who has asked for their opinions). They may also have to testify in court to explain their report and findings.
If you have an interest in being a forensic expert, there are many ways to become one. I suggest you pick an area of study you like, pick a good school, get good grades and work hard in your field. Write about your subject, give lectures on it at conferences and teach if possible. If you want to work in a government criminal lab, you can generally get hired right out of school if you have good grades and the right course of study. Be sure to get internships with agencies or companies with people in your specialty. This will show you if you will like the work after you graduate and will give you important connections in your chosen field. Connections and networking are very important.
If you want to become a lawyer, I have pretty much the same advice. Study hard, get good grades, get into the best college you can, get good grades, get into the best law school you can and get good grades there. And network like crazy. If you get great grades from a good law school and network, you have your pick of jobs. If you don't get good grades or go to a less good law school, your options are more limited if you want to work for a big firm (but that may not be what you want).
Good luck!
Figure out what area of study interests you (sciences, law, computers, accounting, engineering, etc.).
Get into a great school and get really good grades.
Get one or more internships while you're still in school at companies that need people with your specialty. You can also find professors at your college who act as experts and work with them.
After college get a job in your field and get very good at it, or (if you like the criminology side), get a job as a technician in a state or private lab.
Write on your topic, give speeches (especially to lawyer and court groups), teach and network like crazy. Become the best in your field. Courts and attorneys will come looking for you.
Great question!
I would agree with everything Ramzi said and expand on it a little bit.
The big difference between the to fields is that lawyers are like the directors in a play or movie--they have to tell a story to the court or jury about what happened in the case. The forensic experts are like the actors who all play different specialized roles to help present the case and explain very complicated concepts in an understandable way. Attorneys have the legal expertise but not the specialized knowledge, usually. And what lawyers say in court is not evidence. Evidence comes from witnesses, documents and other things. That's the big difference.
I've been a lawyer for almost 30 years and I've hired lots of forensic experts (hundreds) in many fields and also cross-examined lots of experts used by the other side. I also have lots of friends who are forensic experts.
Ramzi is correct in saying that one branch of forensic expert is very scientific. But there are many other types of forensic experts, too. There are a lot of American and UK television shows and movies about forensic experts who work in the criminal area (CSI, NCIS, and Silent Witness are just a few). Most people are familiar with these.
The forensic experts in those shows and movies (and in those types of jobs in real life) work primarily for the government investigating crimes from a scientific point of view. These forensic experts
work in labs, conduct autopsies on deceased people to determine how they died, test DNA and blood, run chemical tests, and collect evidence out in the field for use later to prove points in the case. Most of these folks have specialized training in the particular area of science they specialize in.
Evidence techs must also know the legal requirements that control how to properly collect and test physical evidence, because there are many legal rules that govern what evidence can and cannot come into court. If the evidence is improperly collected, stored or tested, it won't be admissible and this is really bad because the lawyer who needs it may not be able to prove his case without it. They have to be very careful and know what they are doing.
However, besides the criminal forensic science people, there are many other types of forensic experts (forensic really just means "legal"). For example, I've worked with a number of forensic accountants. These are trained accountants and CPAs who specialize in financial analysis of company records and financial crime. We call on them when an employee steals money from a business or maybe the owner launders illegal money through the business.
In my practice I also used to hire lots of accident reconstructionists. These are highly trained individuals (usually former police officers, but not always) who come to the scene of an accident (could be a car accident, boating accident or even plane crash) and analyze the evidence to determine what happened to cause the accident. The question they are asked to answer is usually, was it a mechanical problem or human error that caused the accident? A lot of times it may come down to figuring out who crossed the center line or which car ran the red light to cause the accident.
I've also hired computer experts to recover deleted information from hard drives, and to explain complicated computer hardware and software issues to the jury. I've also worked on cases that required real estate experts to explain the value of a piece of property that was at issue. I've also worked with expert psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, plumbers, mechanics, food preparation people, veterinarians, sewer guys and experts on highway construction. It all depends on the case and what area needs expert explaining.
Most forensic experts outside of the criminal lab context have studied what they do for a long time. Many have advanced degrees like masters, MDs or even PhD degrees, depending on how complex their field is. Many of these experts spend part of their time teaching and part of their time working as forensic experts when they are hired by attorneys, courts or others for their knowledge. These types of experts are generally paid very well for their knowledge. Frequently both sides in a litigation hire experts because the facts are subject to interpretation. Many of the people hired have written books and articles on the their subject matter or taught at the university level. That's how I used to find them.
All types of forensic experts, whatever their specialty, help attorneys, courts and juries understand complicated concepts. Usually the forensic expert prepares some type of written report for the attorney(s) or the court (depending who has asked for their opinions). They may also have to testify in court to explain their report and findings.
If you have an interest in being a forensic expert, there are many ways to become one. I suggest you pick an area of study you like, pick a good school, get good grades and work hard in your field. Write about your subject, give lectures on it at conferences and teach if possible. If you want to work in a government criminal lab, you can generally get hired right out of school if you have good grades and the right course of study. Be sure to get internships with agencies or companies with people in your specialty. This will show you if you will like the work after you graduate and will give you important connections in your chosen field. Connections and networking are very important.
If you want to become a lawyer, I have pretty much the same advice. Study hard, get good grades, get into the best college you can, get good grades, get into the best law school you can and get good grades there. And network like crazy. If you get great grades from a good law school and network, you have your pick of jobs. If you don't get good grades or go to a less good law school, your options are more limited if you want to work for a big firm (but that may not be what you want).
Good luck!
Matthew L. recommends the following next steps:
Ramzi Aloui
Director
11
Answers
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Updated
Ramzi’s Answer
Forensic experts and lawyers are both experts but there are differences between a forensic expert and a lawyer. Whilst a lawyer is a person licensed and admitted to practice law (especially (in the UK) a solicitor or a barrister or (in the US) an attorney), a forensic expert is a person who can act as expert witness in courts or perform an expert determination in relation to a subject matter of a dispute. This requires a specific expertise in the matter subject to the claim, dispute.
Forensic experts apply scientific principles and methods to the analysis, identification, and classification of physical evidence relating to criminal (or suspected criminal) cases. They do much of their work in laboratories, where they test and analyze evidence and then record the results.
Forensic experts apply scientific principles and methods to the analysis, identification, and classification of physical evidence relating to criminal (or suspected criminal) cases. They do much of their work in laboratories, where they test and analyze evidence and then record the results.