Why legal fluency elevates dental expert evidence
- Alexander Michael
- Aug 31
- 1 min read
When litigation turns on dental care, the right expert does more than describe clinical events. They frame the evidence the way the court needs to see it. Deep clinical practice anchors opinions in real-world standards of care, decision-making under pressure, and realistic prognoses. Legal fluency then maps that evidence to the questions the court must decide.
Some dental expert witnesses pursue postgraduate training in medical law, such as a Master of Laws degree (LLM). Where present, this training adds a deep, structured understanding of consent, material contribution, foreseeability, standards of proof and disclosure duties. This ensures the case is examined from both clinical and legal angles, giving instructing parties confidence that key details and nuances are not missed. As seasoned experts and instructing legal teams often note, legal insight built on a sound foundation of medical law helps ensure both the clinical and legal dimensions of a claim are properly understood. The result is expert opinions rigorously aligned with the legal tests for breach of duty, causation and prognosis.
This alignment is not cosmetic. It aligns with CPR 35, Practice Direction 35 and the Civil Justice Council’s guidance: independence, relevance, proportionality, transparent methods and reasoning, and opinions confined to the expert’s competence. Reports produced through this lens are proportionately scoped, explicit in methodology, and straightforward to test against the issues the court will decide, including Part 35 questions. For instructing solicitors and MLAS, the practical upside is earlier clarity on risk and evidence that integrates cleanly with pleadings and schedules.
In short, clinical depth plus legal fluency consistently supports robust, CPR-compliant expert reports.
Dr. Alexander Michael can be contacted at:
07713741104
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