All courses (except where specified) are one day long, commencing at 9.30am sharp and finishing by 5pm. Please be at the venue by 9.15am at the latest.
Day 1: Excellence in Report Writing max 14 places
The expert’s report is a vital element of much civil litigation, as the vast majority of actions are settled on the report alone. It must be clear, succinct, independent and well presented. However, many experts make up their own report writing style. They rarely receive constructive feedback from lawyers or know precisely what the courts want. Often they adopt other people's generalised formats that are ill suited to their needs.
An excellent report can be the most powerful sales tool you will have in your career as an expert witness. Reports are seen by many professionals during litigation and often new instructions are received from opposition lawyers for future cases.
Excellence in Report Writing allows both new and experienced experts to look at what lawyers and the courts want from experts’ reports. You bring a copy of a report from a completed case in court ready condition and receive feedback from our experienced lawyer trainer and from the other delegates. You are taught how to assess others’ reports and then how to assess your own. Working with our sample format, you create your own personalised format suited to your profession using techniques received during the training.
Key Learning Points
• Identifying issues
• Expressing an opinion on the issues
• Pitching the language at the right level
• Expressing an independent view and arguing your conclusion
• Using appendices n Setting out your qualifications and experience
• Including research references
• Exhibits, photographs, diagrams and plans
• Developing your own report format
• The contractual position between expert, solicitor, client and the Legal Services Commission
• Terms and conditions and experts’ fees
• Implications of Part 35
• The Expert’s Declaration
• Dealing with experts’ meetings.
Day 2: Courtroom Skills Training max 16 places
The witness box is a lonely place. Many experts feel they are on trial, standing in the dock rather than giving independent testimony to assist the court. Often, experts are unfamiliar with this environment, as few cases go to a full trial. But a poor performance can undermine confidence and credibility.
The Courtroom Skills Training is an intensive one day, highly practical and experiential training. This is no mere lecture with hints and tips. First we examine the theory, practice and procedure of giving evidence, demystifying the process. Then you are cross-examined on a case study you prepare on your field of expertise. An experienced lawyer, who is a trained trainer, gives constructive feedback on your witness box presentation. Delegates receive a comprehensive workbook and aide memoire.
Key Learning Points
• Key skills of presenting effective evidence
• Your role as an independent educator of the court
• How the adversarial system works
• Roles of the various people in court
• Preparing for court and personal presentation
• Taking the oath or affirmation with confidence
• Techniques lawyers use in cross-examination and how to handle them
• Who to speak to and what to call them
• Expressing an opinion based on the foundation of fact
• Preparing an opposing brief
• Giving confident, clear testimony under difficult cross-examination
Day 3: The Cross Examination day max 8 places
The Cross-Examination Day is a follow-on course to The Courtroom Skills Training. Experts seeking intensive training in cross-examination skills use this course to refine and enhance their performance and gain mastery of their presentation. Each delegate is cross-examined on a completed report, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Your performance is recorded on video. You are shown how to analyse your video performance and then to make the improvements you identify from the feedback that will lead to mastery in the witness box. A challenging, valuable, advanced course that gives extra confidence to those facing a court appearance.
Key Learning Points
• Dealing with in depth cross-examination on a full report
• Gaining mastery of your delivery
• Assessing your performance and using the video to enhance your skills
• Making full use of supporting documents, plans, photographs, etc.
• Getting to the essence of a complex case and communicating clearly with the judge
• Handling difficult cross-examination techniques confidently.
Days 4 & 5: Family Law & Procedure (Two days) max 40 places
During this two day course, you will examine the relevant law, evidence and procedures that are essential for any expert acting in Family court proceedings. Delegates will consider their duties and responsibilities to the court in relation to The Family Proceedings Rules 1991. You will also learn about essential law and procedure in children’s cases, different types of evidence and admissibility and the Human Rights Act 1998.
Key Learning Points
• The role of the expert witness and their duties to the court
• Essential law and procedure in children’s cases
• Stages in public/private law children’s disputes
• Different types of evidence, including oral, documentary and real evidence
• Admissibility of evidence
• Facts, assumption, inferences and opinion
• The Family Proceedings Rules 1991
• Key legislation, codes of practice and case law
• Human Rights Act 1998 |
