Comparing Criteria of Plaintiff and Defense Lawyers When Selecting Vocational Rehabilitation Experts in Civil Litigation

Examining the literature over thirty plus years reveals very limited information about lawyers’ perceptions in selection criteria when retaining vocational rehabilitation counselors to serve as expert consultants. Furthermore, the literature is silent on the subject between the differences of plaintiff and defense lawyers’ preferences when selecting vocational rehabilitation counselors. The present study surveyed and interviewed thirty-one legal professionals from three plaintiffs and two defense firms to determine their selection criteria and any potential differences between these two groups when vocational rehabilitation professionals are chosen in civil litigation matters. The researchers determined minimal differences in preferences between plaintiff and defense attorneys wben choosing vocational 1·ehabilitation counselors. General themes of education, credentials, work experience, courtroom experience, demeanor/personality, appearance, presentation and communication skills were consistently favored by attorneys when they are tasked with the responsibility of retaining experts in civil litigation. The authors also discovered through qualitative lawyer interviews valuable information “between the survey lines” that expanded and uncov:ered new criteria that mattered most to the plaintiff and defense attorneys when selecting vocational counselors for consultation services in the courtroom