Verdicts of Expertise: Psychologists’ Perspectives on the Challenges Encountered During Legal Proceedings

This study examined the psychologists’ perspectives on the challenges encountered during legal proceedings using two (2) theories, the dual process theory and the ecological systems theory. Through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), five registered psychologists aged 30–60 from NCR and Region IV-A were interviewed using a validated semi-structured guide (CVI = 1.00). Ethical clearance, expert validation, triangulation, member checking, and systematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke’s framework were employed to ensure the study’s quality and trustworthiness. Credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability measures were observed throughout the research process. This study generated ten (10) superordinate themes which were: Reliance on Analytical Judgment with Cautious Acknowledgment of Intuitive Insights; Primacy of Analytical Reasoning in High-Stakes Legal Evaluations; Grounding Initial Intuition Through Structured Analytical Validation; Deliberate Validation Driven by Bias, New Information, and Accountability; Clarifying Legal Matters, Supporting Clients, and Ensuring Ethical Standards; Maintaining Integrity through Communication, Ethical Boundaries, and Emotional Management; Experience Gaps, Scheduling Conflicts, and Professional and Emotional Assistance; Translation Difficulties, Ethical Dilemmas, Specialization Gaps, and Clashes in Definitions; Maintaining Cultural Awareness and Professional Ethics; Growth of Profession from Evidence-Based Practices to Expanding Specializations. This research contributes to the understanding of psychology by offering practical insights into improving competency evaluation procedures, enhancing training for psychologists, and ensuring the fairness and accuracy of legal decisions. By addressing these areas, the study offers actionable recommendations to enhance culturally sensitive assessment practices, improve professional training, and inform policy recommendations to support psychologists' effective and ethical participation in the Philippine justice system.