Witness Familiarisation Programme
course overview

What?

Persuasive oral evidence in court is often central to successful litigation. The College offers a unique one-day face-to-face programme that covers all aspects of witness and courtroom familiarisation training for lay and expert witnesses, and the solicitors representing them. This course is available on an in-house basis for organisations with a number of delegates.

Who?

The Witness Familiarisation Programme is aimed at potential lay and expert witnesses, and the solicitors who will represent them.

Why?

Provides an understanding of the trial process, the nature of examination and a range of answering techniques
All participants have an opportunity to practise giving evidence on examination-in-chief and cross-examination
Designed and delivered by experienced practitioners with substantial professional experience of conducting courtroom advocacy as barristers or solicitor-advocates
Highly interactive and practical small group training, with a choice of realistic case studies

How?

Our one-day Witness Familiarisation Programme is delivered face-to-face by our highly experienced trainers at a time and location to suit you.

Your organisation can choose from a range of case studies specially selected to ensure that court protocols on witness familiarisation are observed. Participants will receive the case study materials and detailed instructions in advance of the course. The course is structured around a combination of short trainer presentations, participant exercises and trainer feedback on each participant's performance. Trainers will give feedback on overall performance in the witness box (third party perception and credibility) and skill of answering questions on examination and cross-examination.

The objectives of the programme are as follows:

Familiarise participants with courtroom procedure and layout
Allow participants to practise the skills of giving evidence effectively
Give participants an opportunity to consider effective courtroom techniques
Familiarise participants with these skills through ‘learning by doing’
Emphasise the role and purpose of examination-in-chief
Introduce effective strategies for being a witness during examination-in-chief
Emphasise the role and purpose of cross-examination
Introduce effective strategies for being a witness during cross-examination
Introduce participants to various defence questioning techniques and tactics

When?

Our witness familiarisation programme can be delivered throughout the year to meet your requirements.

Where?

Training can be delivered either at one of our centres, your premises or an appropriate third party venue nationwide.

How much?

Course fees vary according to requirements. Please contact us directly for a personalised quotation to meet your needs (see contact details below).

CPD?

The Witness Familiarisation Programme is accredited for six CPD hours.

Book

To discuss how we can meet your organisation's requirements and for more information, please call our Client Contact Centre on 0800 289997 or e-mail inhousetraining@lawcol.co.uk

Find out more

E-mail inhousetraining@lawcol.co.uk
Call 0800 289997