Courtroom Skills for Local Authority Prosecutions, Day 2 - public date

A highly intensive and practical day, where the procedures in giving evidence, the order of events, the roles of different people in the court and the process of giving evidence will be explained. The techniques lawyers use to disconcert and discredit witnesses will also be examined.

The morning session is designed to demystify the process of giving evidence, whereas in the afternoon session a number of delegates will experience being cross-examined by a lawyer on a fictional case study.

The trainer will give constructive feedback on some of the delegates witness box presentations and delegates will learn through observation and review.

Many witnesses find the witness box to be a lonely place. Our adversarial system means that cross examination can be uncomfortable. Doubt can be cast upon your experience, qualifications, methods and opinions.

The session is designed to ensure that those who may have to give evidence undergo a process of familiarisation or review to gain knowledge of the procedures involved and to equip them with the necessary skills to give a coherent account from the witness box.