Before and during the trial the roles of the forensic psychiatrist include educator, investigator, clinical evaluator, interpreter, advisor on trial strategy, advisor on venue and jury selection, drama coach, drama critic, rewrite editor for questions, and personal emotional supporter or therapist for attorneys, parties, or witnesses. Among legal attitudes and procedures that pose difficulties for expert psychiatric evidence are judicial rulings that many issues are understandable by common knowledge and are not subject to expert evaluation and the attitude that psychiatry and psychology lack objective standards. Expert psychiatric witnesses should aim both to produce a high level authority for opinions expressed and to convince the fact-finder of the correctness of the opinion. Conducting a forensic examination and presenting courtroom testimony both require careful preparation. 89 references and discussions of recommended techniques, limitations on psychiatric testimony, and the burden of proof.