Overview
Central to many disputes is the strength of expert evidence both through the writing of reports and the giving of oral evidence. This course provides learners with the skills to present evidence in a professional, robust, and clear manner – critical in influencing decisions of a court or tribunal.
RSL deliver bespoke expert witness skills training as a stand-alone course or as part of a broader development programme for the use in the following courts:
- Civil
- Criminal
- Family
Courses are delivered by experienced trainers who are either solicitors, barristers, or police officers.
Learning Objectives
Learners will leave this course able to understand:
- Court structures / Judicial frameworks
- The role of participants
- Types of evidence
- The role of a witness / Expert
- Credibility
- Cross examination
- Oral evidence
- Legislation
- Report writing
Course Length
- 1 to 3 days
Featured Modules
- Meetings – case conferences
- Report writing
- Law and procedure
- The court structure / The judicial framework
- Civil and family court
- Civil procedure rules
- The course of a trial in the magistrates Court / Crown Court
- The layout of the court (magistrates and Crown)
- The role of the participants (judge, lay bench, counsel, clerks, ushers etc.)
- The role of witness in court – types of evidence
- Court etiquette (modes of address, initial procedure etc.)
- Preparing for court – the ‘tool-kit’
- Consent / Confidentiality / Rules of Disclosure / Ethics
- Sufficiency of Evidence / Public Interest test Right to a fair trial
- Proportionality & necessity
- What constitutes a credible witness – legal issues
- Practical understanding of evidence in chief – crucial facts
- Practical understanding of cross examination – coping under pressure
- Re-examination
- Tips on oral evidence
- Court room scenario
- Officer of the court v representative of your organisation
- Grounds for exclusion of evidence
- CPIA
- Common submissions, applications or procedures
- Familiarisation v coaching
Course Suitability
- Immigration
- Local authorities
- Central government
- Education
- Health
- Private organisations
- Fire service
- Social services
- Community safety partnerships
- Local safeguarding children’s boards
- Prisons
- Probation
- Charities
- Any investigative body
