Expert Witness Training
This one-day training, run by the Refugee Law Initiative (RLI), covers all aspects of writing expert witness country reports in relation to asylum claims. It is a practical course that will be of great value to those who wish to use their research expertise to help inform these important decisions, while being remunerated for this work. It is suitable for those who are new to this as well as those who have some experience, being designed to guide people who have relevant expertise to write reports in a manner that is accepted by and useful to tribunals.
The intensive course provides high-quality training in how to prepare expert witness reports for Immigration and Asylum Tribunals (specifically in the United Kingdom), by drawing on the extensive experience of the course lead – Dr Victorie Knox, who has acted as an expert witness in dozens of successful asylum cases in the last decade – and colleagues at the RLI and its Law Clinic. This short course offers exceptional training at reasonable rates with a high return of investment – in the UK experts can charge up to £120 per hour for up to 12 hours per report – and the knowledge that this work can contribute to better informed asylum decisions.
The training is available only to people who have the requisite expertise to act as an expert witness in such cases – namely expertise on the displacement dynamics and human rights and/or conflict situation in a specific country that cause people to flee. We will vet all applications and require applicants to demonstrate their expertise by submitting their CV and a minimum of two publications per country, which can be from academia, NGOs or international organisations.
The course will cover:
- The role of the expert witness report in asylum cases and the responsibility and legal obligations (UK) of the expert witness in this jurisdiction
- How to compile, structure and substantiate expert witness reports on countries that you have research expertise on
- Practicalities such as advertising, securing work, setting fees and taking instructions from legal representatives
- Guidance on working ethically, protecting one’s wellbeing and attending tribunals
To register, click on your preferred session below. Please also review the key information about the training located at the bottom of this page.
Key Information
Course programme
The following areas will be covered during the training:
- The asylum process in the UK and the role of the country report
- Responsibilities and obligations of expert witnesses (in the UK context)
- The practicalities of working in this jurisdiction
- Compiling the report: structure, content and format of the report, substantiating your claims and proving your professional opinion
- Other matters, including: document verification, attending tribunals, confidentiality and your well-being
How you study
This on-campus taught course will be run by RLI staff and other leading experts in the refugee and forced migration field.
Time commitment
The course involves 5 hours of teaching and classroom time on one-day.
Location
The training will take place in Senate House, Malet Street London WC1E 7HU. Room details will be sent to all students before training commences.
Assessment
There will be no formal assessment.
Learning outcomes
In the session, you will receive:
- training on how to compile, structure and substantiate expert witness country reports
- understanding about the role of the expert witness report in asylum cases and the responsibility and legal obligations (UK) of the expert witness
- practical advice on how to advertise, set your fees and take instructions from lawyers
- guidance on working ethically, protecting one’s wellbeing, and attending tribunals
Course dates and how to apply
Our one-day training will take place at Senate House, University of London on the
following dates:
Fees
Early bird booking*
Standard | £399
SAS staff/UoL PhD Students/RLI Affiliates/RLI conference attendees/EIN directory listed/those with a displacement background/WIASN/SLAS member | £299
*September 2025 early bird deadline is 25 July 2025; December 2025 and January 2026 early bird deadline is 25 August 2025
Regular booking
Standard | £475
SAS staff/UoL PhD Students/RLI Affiliates/RLI conference attendees/EIN directory listed/those with a displacement background/WIASN/SLAS member | £375
If successful, we will then send you a payment link.
The University accepts Visa/Mastercard/Maestro/Solo (UK only)/Visa Debit. No other credit cards (e.g. American Express) can be accepted.
Please note:
- The fee is for one-day only
- Bookings are non-refundable once course materials have been shared
- The fee includes lunch, but does not include accommodation
- You will need to bring a laptop/tablet with you to London
Entry requirements
Expertise
Applicants must have proven credentials and expertise in a specific country and/or region in order to apply for this short course. As part of the application, you must indicate at least one country that you have expertise on and provide two publications for each that you have researched and written (from academia, NGOs or international organisations), demonstrating your expertise and knowledge of the displacement dynamics and human rights and/or conflict situation that cause people to flee.
Language
You will need a good standard of English to complete the course. Suggested level:
- (IELTS) International English Language Testing System - overall score of 7.0 with at least 6 in reading.
- (TOEFL) iBT Test of English as a Foreign Language with an overall score of 95 or above, including 24 attained on the reading skills sub-tests and 25 attained on the speaking sub-test and 22 attained on the listening sub-test.
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English.
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (at grade C or above).
Computer
You will need to bring a laptop/tablet with you to the course.
Why study with us
The RLI is a unique academic centre promoting interdisciplinary research, teaching and exchange on law, policy and practice in refugee and displacement contexts.
Established in 2010 at the School of Advanced Study of the University of London, the RLI works in the UK and internationally to promote research and facilitate practical impact in this field. The RLI also facilitates research through our extensive senior associate and research affiliate networks that facilitate interaction and opportunities for over 300 experts across the globe. Do please speak to us about joining the Research Affiliate network during your week in London. Innovative research projects by RLI academic staff shape national and international research agendas on refugee law, policy and practice. The RLI is also the only academic institution in the world currently hosting a dedicated research programme on internal displacement. In addition, the Refugee Law Clinic provides practical clinical legal education through pro bono representation of marginalised appeals rights-exhausted asylum seekers in London.
The RLI works with PhD students, early career and senior academics, practitioners, and civil society across the globe to develop and promote research and outputs through:
- The RLI blog
- The editorship of the Refugee Survey Quarterly peer-reviewed journal
- A book series editorship
- The RLI working Paper Series
- The Internal Displacement Research Programme and research mentoring fellowships in countries affected by internal displacement.
Teaching
The RLI’s MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies is the longest-running postgraduate programme on refugee protection and forced migration delivered by distance and online learning. This award-winning programme currently has over 240 students studying in over 60 countries all over the world including sub-Saharan and North Africa, North America, Europe, South and East Asia and Australasia.
Refugee Law Clinic
Established in 2020, the University of London’s Refugee Law Clinic is an innovative project providing pro bono legal advice for refugee clients. Our work provides some of
the most disadvantaged communities in London with access to fair and equal legal representation, a basic human right which many asylum seekers in the UK struggle to find.
The clinic is supported by the Central University and by 10 of the University’s Member Institutions. It is based on a model of Clinical Legal Education for the University’s diverse student body and facilitates practical experience for students working on real cases under the supervision of a qualified expert lawyer. Delivered in partnership with two law firms, the Refugee Law Clinic also provides the opportunity for lawyers to undertake pro bono work within the clinic.
The clinic's main legal focus is on advising and preparing fresh claims for asylum, an area identified as underserviced in the current legal landscape, and it aims to complement the work of law firms and other service providers in London.
The Refugee Law Clinic was awarded the 'Best contribution by a law school' at the 2023 Law Works Student Pro Bono Awards.
Academic leaders
Dr Victorie Knox is the course director for the Expert Witness Training Programme and will lead your training session. She is a Lecturer in Refugee Studies at the RLI and has conducted research on displacement caused by crime and corruption and other human rights issues in Central America and Mexico since 2011. She has written dozens of expert witness reports over the last decade, based on her expertise on El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico. Judges’ comments on the usefulness and quality of her reports in their determinations include: “[Dr Knox’s] report is one of the best written, sourced, and relevant reports I can recall reading in some 22 years sitting in this jurisdiction. Her opinions are not decisive, but she has helped enormously in contextualising the case before me.”
A lawyer from the Refugee Law Clinic will teach a component of your training.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the training, please email us on [email protected].