Course description
Courtroom Skills - Witness Familiarisation
If you are called as an expert or professional witness, a courtroom can be an intimidating environment, for both lay and experienced witnesses. You may not have given evidence in court before as an expert or professional witness. Even if you have, your courtroom experience may have left you uncomfortable at the prospect of doing it again.
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Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
The training will meet the needs of professional and expert witnesses who are to appear in courtrooms, tribunals or misconduct hearings. You’ll also benefit from the course if you are one of the following:
- Police, military or public sector investigator
- Police analyst
- Crime scene investigator
- Investigator
- Social worker
- Child care practitioner
- Human resources professionals
Training Course Content
The day starts with removing the mystique which can surround courtroom processes. You’ll learn about the various roles of everyone involved as well as how to take the oath and deal with cross-examinations. Other areas covered include:
- Understanding the adversarial process
- The practice and procedure of giving evidence
- Preparing to give evidence
- ‘Hot-tubbing’ of expert and professional evidence
- The role and purpose of evidence-in-chief, cross-examination and re-examination
- Coping strategies
- The ‘Ten Golden Rules’
As defence lawyers often focus on decisions made by investigators and managers, the course also includes guidance on making decisions and recording the thinking behind them. You’ll end the course by undergoing or observing a simulated cross-examination exercise so you’ll know what to expect in the courtroom.