The average expert in the study was a 45-year-old man who had earned a doctorate and taught in a university setting. He had prior line experience, probably in local or state law enforcement. Over two-thirds described their expert witness work as private consultation. Experience as an expert witness varied widely, with approximately half the respondents reporting involvement in one to five cases. The personal-biographical characteristics of the experts had little effect on how they saw their work, how much experience they had, how much they were paid, or the direction of their orientation towards expert witnessing. Prior time on the witness stand, during which one is qualified as an expert by a judge and counsel, yielded more insights into the expert witness experience than any other single factor. Tables and 3 footnotes.