Intended for practitioners interested in serving as an expert witness, this webcast will focus on key elements of expert reports, deposition and trial. Participants will learn about essential items of an expert report with a special focus on the Federal Rules of Evidence; the deposition phase of a litigation matter, including what is covered in a deposition, how attorneys approach the process and do’s and don’ts experts should be paying attention to; and about the trial process and courtroom protocols. Students will be able to:

Expert Reports:

• Examine key aspects of an expert report with a special focus on compliance with the Federal Rules of Evidence and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

• Analyze the admissibility of expert testimony

• Implement quality control measures and direct supervision of team when engaged for litigation services

Deposition:

• Examine the deposition phase of a litigation matter

• Summarize components of a deposition

• Analyze the attorney’s and client’s objectives during deposition

Trial Overview:

• Identify the phases of trial

• Summarize courtroom protocols

• Distinguish between a Bench trial and a Jury trial

• Compare the difference between Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and litigation

• Apply demonstratives concepts

For registered Expert Witness Skills Workshop attendees only, participants are expected to attend their respective “Case Study Workgroup and Meet & Greet” virtual session via Zoom. Students will be able to:

• Analyze key components of the case

• Examine major assumptions, strengths and weaknesses of the case

• Examine expert reports of the case that will be used to “testify” to during the mock trial

• Illustrate comprehension and application of case to support direct and cross-examination during mock trial

• Testify to sample reports during the mock trail onsite

For registered Expert Witness Skills Workshop attendees only, participants are expected to attend their respective “Case Study Workgroup and Meet & Greet” virtual session via Zoom. Students will be able to:

• Analyze key components of the case

• Examine major assumptions, strengths and weaknesses of the case

• Examine expert reports of the case that will be used to “testify” to during the mock trial

• Illustrate comprehension and application of case to support direct and cross-examination during mock trial

• Testify to sample reports during the mock trail onsite

Presented by a nationally known trial communications expert, students will obtain practice tips on how testifying experts can enhance their communications skills in litigation matters. Students will be able to:

• Apply communication techniques in litigation matters
• Analyze the importance of body language when giving testimony
•    Compare the difference between hard skills and soft skills; identify which skills need more practice
•    Analyze complex information and communicate into digestible and relatable details.

Learning Objectives:

• Apply communication techniques in litigation matters
• Analyze the importance of body language when giving testimony
• Compare the difference between hard skills and soft skills; identify which skills need more practice
• Analyze complex information and communicate into digestible and relatable details.

Students will learn about the course objectives and expected learning outcomes for this workshop. Special focus will be on understanding the litigation process and advancing skills beyond technical aspects of preparing a damages or valuation report. 

Learning Objectives:

• Apply key communication skills needed when serving as an expert witness
• Assess and refine communication skills
• Apply confidence-building skills through practice
• Apply communication techniques in order to credibly communicate a professional opinion to a trier of fact

Students will observe a demonstration of an attorney faculty member conducting a “deposition” of an expert witness (an accounting faculty member). During this session, attendees will learn the attorney’s goals for the deposition and how the accountant responds to questioning.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze a live demonstration of a deposition of an expert witness
• Compare attorney’s goals for the deposition to the expert’s response to questioning
• Evaluate observations and address questions

During this interactive session, students will be briefly “deposed” by an attorney on their actual resumes. Each student will be “deposed” twice, with one session video recorded. Following each deposition, a brief critique will be provided by faculty members. 

*The video recording will be a valuable tool for students to refer to and learn from when they return home.

Learning Objectives:

• Apply concepts during interactive attorney-student depositions
• Evaluate their own deposition, via video* replay
• Interpret real-time critiquing and feedback received from an attorney

Students and faculty will share learning experiences encountered throughout the workshop and provide feedback and recommendations for next steps.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the skills and attributes necessary to be an expert witness
• Apply lessons learned from the sessions of the day
• Formulate their own action steps toward developing those skills themselves

Students will learn about Day 2’s course objectives and expected learning outcomes. Students will be able to:

• Identify key communication skills needed when serving as an expert witness

• Evaluate and refine communication skills

• Apply confidence-building skills through practice

• Identify the litigation process

• Apply communication techniques in order to credibly communicate a professional opinion to a trier of fact

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key communication skills needed when serving as an expert witness
• Evaluate and refine communication skills
• Apply confidence-building skills through practice
• Identify the litigation process
• Apply communication techniques in order to credibly communicate a professional opinion to a trier of fact

During this interactive session, faculty members will review the fact patterns of the case and assist students in examining major assumptions, strengths and weaknesses of the case. In addition, students will begin to prepare to “testify” to the case during practice sessions and the mock trial.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and apply case-specific details to support direct and cross-examination during mock trial

During this interactive session, faculty members will review the fact patterns of the case and assist students in examining major assumptions, strengths and weaknesses of the case. In addition, students will begin to prepare to “testify” to the case during practice sessions and the mock trial.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and apply case-specific details to support direct and cross-examination during mock trial

"During this interactive session, faculty members will work with students on direct examination exercises. Each student will “testify” to a part of the case study, followed by critiques given by in-room faculty. The practice session will be video recorded so that the participant can replay their “testimony” in a one-on-one session with another faculty member for an additional critiquing. Students will also gain valuable insight by watching other students practice their role in the case. 

*Break as needed

Learning Objectives:

• Determine how the direct examination processes works
• Apply communication skills during real-time practice sessions
• Apply concepts during interactive attorney-student depositions
• Analyze their own practice session, via video* replay
• Interpret real-time critiquing and feedback received from a variety of faculty members

During this interactive session, faculty members will work with students on direct examination exercises. Each student will “testify” to a part of the case study, followed by critiques given by in-room faculty. The practice session will be video recorded so that the participant can replay their “testimony” in a one-on-one session with another faculty member for an additional critiquing. Students will also gain valuable insight by watching other students practice their role in the case. Students will be able to:

• Determine how the direct examination processes works
• Apply communication skills during real-time practice sessions
• Apply concepts during interactive attorney-student depositions
• Analyze their own practice session, via video* replay
• Interpret real-time critiquing and feedback received from a variety of faculty members

*Break as needed

Learning Objectives:

• Determine how the direct examination processes works
• Apply communication skills during real-time practice sessions
• Apply concepts during interactive attorney-student depositions
• Analyze their own practice session, via video* replay
• Interpret real-time critiquing and feedback received from a variety of faculty members

During this extended practice session, students will be “cross examined” on a part of the case study (which may not necessarily be the part they testified to on direct), followed by critiques given by in-room faculty. The practice session will be video recorded for playback purposes when meeting in a private one-on-one session with another faculty member. 

*Break as needed

Learning Objectives:

• Determine how the cross examination processes works
• Apply communication skills during real-time practice sessions
• Apply concepts during interactive attorney-student depositions
• Analyze their own practice session, via video* replay
• Interpret real-time critiquing and feedback received from a variety of faculty members

During this extended practice session, students will be “cross examined” on a part of the case study (which may not necessarily be the part they testified to on direct), followed by critiques given by in-room faculty. The practice session will be video recorded for playback purposes when meeting in a private one-on-one session with another faculty member. 

*Break as needed

Learning Objectives:

• Determine how the cross examination processes works
• Apply communication skills during real-time practice sessions
• Apply concepts during interactive attorney-student depositions
• Analyze their own practice session, via video* replay
• Interpret real-time critiquing and feedback received from a variety of faculty members

Students and faculty will share learning experiences encountered throughout the workshop and provide feedback and recommendations for next steps. 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the skills and attributes necessary to be an expert witness
• Apply lessons learned from the sessions of the day
• Formulate their own action steps toward developing those skills themselves

Student experts will meet with their assigned attorneys for pre-mock trial preparation.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze case material assignments
• Formulate their expert testimony
• Determine specific communication skills to apply during their testimony

Student experts will meet with their assigned attorneys for pre-mock trial preparation.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze case material assignments
• Formulate their expert testimony
• Determine specific communication skills to apply during their testimony

Additional time will be provided for student experts to have a final pre-trial meeting with their assigned attorneys to make final preparations for the mock trials.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze case material assignments
• Formulate their expert testimony
• Determine specific communication skills to apply during their testimony

Additional time will be provided for student experts to have a final pre-trial meeting with their assigned attorneys to make final preparations for the mock trials.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze case material assignments
• Formulate their expert testimony
• Determine specific communication skills to apply during their testimony

During the mock trials, student experts will testify before actual judges in a courtroom setting with all testimony video recorded and critiqued by faculty members. Students will be able to:
• Interpret courtroom proceedings
•    Apply testifying skills
•    Apply communication techniques
•    Evaluate testifying performance

Learning Objectives:

• Interpret courtroom proceedings
• Apply testifying skills
• Apply communication techniques
• Evaluate testifying performance

During the mock trials, student experts will testify before actual judges in a courtroom setting with all testimony video recorded and critiqued by faculty members. Students will be able to:
• Interpret courtroom proceedings
• Apply testifying skills
•    Apply communication techniques
•    Evaluate testifying performance

Learning Objectives:

• Interpret courtroom proceedings
• Apply testifying skills
• Apply communication techniques
• Evaluate testifying performance

This is a continuation of mock trials.

Learning Objectives:

• Interpret courtroom proceedings
• Apply testifying skills
• Apply communication techniques
• Evaluate testifying performance

This is a continuation of mock trials.

Learning Objectives:

• Interpret courtroom proceedings
• Apply testifying skills
• Apply communication techniques
• Evaluate testifying performance

Students and faculty will share learning experiences encountered throughout the workshop and provide feedback and recommendations for next steps.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the skills and attributes necessary to be an expert witness
• Apply lessons learned from the sessions of the day
• Formulate their own action steps toward developing those skills themselves