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The same challenge applies in the Criminal Courts where I've now given up serving as an Expert Witness.
The LAA/LSC pay rates were 'codified' about 15 years ago. Then they were 'reviewed' annually - but never increased. Then they were reduced by 10%. Then they were reduced by 20%.
Net result is that if I was paid £100/hr 15 years ago, I should now be paid £150, but I'd actually be paid £75 if I agreed to take the work on.
But there is a much bigger issue. Nobody 'values' experts.
What I mean is that nobody is looking at the financial value that good experts bring to court proceedings.
Let's say that I was paid £2,000 to write a report and this directly resulted in the Police dropping the prosecution. Nobody records the saving of what would have been a 5-day criminal trial.
Or the Defendant pleads guilty before trial - more savings.
Or the judge recognises that the expert evidence has reduce the length of the trial.
The courts NEED high quality Experts but those of us who are giving up won't be replaced by a new generation unless they are paid a fair rate for the job.