This innovative course will develop the necessary skills and confidence to work with a wide range of experts including forensic scientists, psychiatrists, paediatricians, gynaecologists, drug experts, pathologists and more.
Tips and techniques are given on what to look for in an expert, how to present evidence in court, how to challenge opposition expert evidence, investigate their findings and Cross-Examine experts.
Audience
This course is suitable for trainee, newly qualified and qualified solicitors.
- Those who conduct or prepare trials involving experts to develop confidence to make the best use of their experts and to successfully investigate expert evidence of their opponents; and
- More experienced advocates who want to fine tune their methods of challenging expert evidence both before and during trial with some innovative thinking. This also builds on the introduction to experts given in our Higher Rights of Audience course.
Key Benefits
- Confidently select and work with experts;
- Present evidence in court;
- Expertly investigate the findings of opposition experts;
- Handle pre-trial preliminaries;
- Understand how and when to challenge the admissibility of expert evidence;
- Cross-Examine effectively; and
- Use expert evidence to even avoid trial – to win your case without going into court!.
TBC: Please contact us for future course dates
- Legal Knowledge/Skills
The training will be in the form of trainer presentations, full group discussions and case study examples.
Delegates will create a framework for working with and challenging experts.
Innovative ideas and tactical approaches will also be discussed.
- What to Look for in an Expert;
- What should be in an Expert’s Report?;
- Investigation Techniques;
- Disclosure Issues;
- Admissibility Challenges;
- Evidential Issues – Use of the Criminal Procedure Rules (CPR);
- Cross-Examination Tips; and
- “How to Win Your Case without Going into Court!”.
Some experience in the field of Criminal Law is required.
No pre-course work is required for this course.
- Review your firm’s approved list of experts;
- Create a pro-forma checklist to improve selection of experts;
- Develop a ready-made structure for challenging opponent’s experts; and
- Reflect upon personal performance.
| A3 | Work within the limits of their competence and the supervision which they need; |
| A4 | Draw on a sufficient detailed knowledge and understanding of their field(s) of work and role in order to practise effectively; |
| A5 | Apply understanding, critical thinking and analysis to solve problems; |
| B1 | Obtain relevant facts; |
| B2 | Undertake legal research; |
| B5 | Undertake effective spoken and written advocacy; |
| B7 | Plan, manage and progress legal cases and transactions; |
| C3 | Establish and maintain effective and professional relations with other people. |