THE ACADEMY OF EXPERTS

The Organisation

In 1987 The British Academy of Experts was founded with the objective of providing, for the first time, a professional body for experts to establish and promote high objective standards.

The 'British' was subsequently dropped as The Academy of Experts became an International Centre of Excellence for Experts with a substantial multi- disciplinary membership, acting as both an Accrediting and Professional Body.

Since 1997 the Academy has been actively involved in the development of agreed standards for experts across the European Union. This started with the signing of Joint Declaration of Intent with the FNCEJ, the body representing French Experts and has led to the creation of EuroExpert (the Organisation for European Expert Associations) which has members throughout the European Union.

The promotion of Cost Efficient Dispute Resolution became increasingly important and this caused The Academy to become a major force in the introduction and development of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

The Judicial Committee

The Academy's Judicial Committee is chaired by a Law Lord, and consists of 3 Lords Justice of Appeal and other Senior Judges from Scotland and the United Kingdom. They have been responsible for:

• The Model Form of Expert's Report
• Guidance Notes on The Meetings of Experts
• Guidance Notes on Contingency Fees for Experts.

The Academy is fortunate that our President, Lord Howe, and his distinguished predecessors, have all taken an active role in promoting The Academy both in this country and around the world.

Accreditation of Members

All applicants to The Academy who wish to become Accredited Practising Expert Witnesses undergo a rigorous Vetting Procedure to ensure standards of excellence are maintained. The Academy has introduced examinations as an additional safeguard. This is the process which gives the officially recognised full accreditation as a Practising Expert. Those achieving it are awarded the designatory letters MAE. Ethical and professional standards are underlined by Codes of Practice and enforced by a disciplinary committee.

Training and Development

The Academy offers a comprehensive range of training programmes to enable members to develop their expert skills, and undertake Continuous Professional Development activity. The Academy is also a training and accreditation body for Mediators and Conciliators. It publishes The Register of Qualified Dispute Resolvers and awards the designatory letters QDR to those achieving the approved standard. Standards are enforced in exactly the same way as for Experts.

Range of Services

The Academy provides a full range of services to its members including:

• Helpline
• Technical Meetings
• Quarterly magazine and regular newsletters
• A detailed Expert's Handbook for Practical Guidance
• An annual survey of expert's fees
• Regular meetings on matters of expert interest
• Social functions

In addition it provides a number of services which assist both members and the legal profession including:

• ExpertSearch Finding and matching the right accredited Expert to the case.
• Mediator Appointment Service Finding the right accredited Mediator.
• A special class of membership open to the legal profession to enable input and involvement to the work and development of The Academy.

Further information about The Academy and its services can be obtained from:

3 Gray's Inn Square, London, WC1R 5AH
Tel: 020 7430 0333 Fax 020 7430 0666
http://www.academy-experts.org/
e-mail admin@academy-experts.org