Jurisdiction Matching
The most critical factor is genuine expertise in the relevant country. An expert with broad 'Africa' or 'South Asia' experience but no deep knowledge of the specific jurisdiction will produce reports that tribunals give reduced weight. Match the expert to the country, not the region.
Independent Country Expert routes instructions to jurisdiction-specific specialists across the network, ensuring solicitors instruct experts with demonstrated field expertise.
Profile Expertise
Beyond country knowledge, assess whether the expert has experience with the appellant's specific profile — LGBTQ+ persecution, clan analysis, political opposition, FGM, trafficking, or linguistic identity. Profile expertise affects report quality and tribunal acceptance.
Independence Indicators
Review previous reports for advocacy language, assess whether the expert has been instructed by both claimant and respondent firms, check tribunal acceptance records, and evaluate methodology transparency. Experts who have only ever supported one side raise independence concerns.
Qualifications Checklist
Assess: deep country-specific field expertise; relevant language capability; academic and professional background; prior tribunal acceptance record; demonstrable independence; UNHCR, NGO, or government advisory experience where relevant; and compliance with CPR Part 35 and Practice Direction 2024.