EXPERT TESTIMONY
Expert Testimony & Court Appearances
STARTING AT: $240.00 per hour + GST / Incidental Expenses
INITIAL DEPOSIT REQUIRED: FORMAL ESTIMATE TO BE PROVIDED
With years of experience in providing court testimony, Leanne provides services such as preparing expert evidence for oral testimony, providing expert evidence by way of formal reporting, and providing expert evidence by way of affidavit evidence, and can provide an expert opinion on a wide range of topics concerning children and families. Please note that Leanne may be retained by one party, or both parties jointly, however it is her professional duty to provide impartial advice and her honestly held opinions supported by experience, research, and any other literature or resources available to her.
Occasionally, the need arises for a report or assessment provided to the parties to a family law dispute to be further examined and cross-examined during a trial. The process to retain Leanne for a court appearance/testimony to speak to a report or assessment she has prepared is outlined in the Rules of the applicable court in which the matter is being heard, and is also outlined in the Professional Services Agreement between the parties. Please note that Leanne does not critique, analyze, or further assess other report writers’ work.
Please refer to Schedule C of the Fee Schedule available on the Resources page of this site for further information on rates and payments for these services. The initial day rate for Expert Testimony & Court Appearances includes one (1) day of preparation and one (1) day for appearance/testimony. The regular administration rate includes e-mails, phone calls, letters, and file/document review. Please note that additional preparation time forExpert Testimony & Court Appearances is typically required, and is billed at the Regular Administration Rate outlined in Schedule C.
Prior to commencing the process to retain Leanne for Expert Testimony & Court Appearances, the party or parties must complete an intake session, approve a formal estimate, and sign a Professional Services Agreement and Non-Disclosure Agreement. Sample agreements the parties would be expected to sign are available on the Resources page of this site. Please note that payment of a retainer in-full is required at the time of service, and any balances owing upon completion are due and payable immediately.
If you have any further questions about Expert Testimony and Court Appearances, please do not hesitate to contact Leanne using the contact form on this site. If this type of service would benefit your client’s case, or if you feel it would benefit your own case, please request an intake session. Please note that prior to proceeding, an intake session must take place.
Leanne Toews acknowledges that her work is primarily carried out on the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) Peoples, including the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. She further acknowledges that her work across British Columbia takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of many Indigenous Nations, holding respect for the enduring relationships Indigenous Peoples have with their lands and the responsibilities that accompany carrying out professional work on these territories.
General counselling services that Leanne Toews provides as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) is done so as a member in good standing of the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). The BCACC is a voluntary professional association that establishes standards of practice and a Code of Ethical Conduct for its members. The BCACC does not function as a dispute-resolution or review body, and does not adjudicate matters relating to fees, contracts, scope of services, scheduling, or dissatisfaction with professional opinions, reports, or outcomes rendered within an agreed upon scope of services. The BCACC does not make awards for compensation, nor does it require refunds, compel apologies, or provide civil remedies. Please visit their website by clicking on their name above to learn more about what they do and what services and options may be available to you.
Leanne Toews additionally holds professional designations and memberships with the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) and the ADR Institute of British Columbia (ADRBC), which are credentialing and professional standards organizations for alternative dispute resolution practitioners. ADRIC and ADRBC similarly to the BCACC do not adjudicate client complaints, resolve contractual or fee disputes, or provide remedies such as compensation, apologies, or reversal of professional opinions or outcomes, except as may be expressly provided within a separately agreed dispute-resolution process.