Expert Testimony: Developing Witness Skills

Synopsis: Every day expert witnesses contribute to the work of courts, tribunals and inquiries. While these witnesses, by definition, are expert in their own field, they are often inexpert in the legal or quasi-legal process. This training package uses dramatisations and examples to demonstrate how the witness needs to behave, how evidence should be prepared, what constitutes expert evidence and how to ensure that the evidence is properly received.
1: Discusses the physical arrangements of court and tribunal rooms and introduces the invisible triangle, how to use prefaces, how to be heard.
2: Looks at the nature of expert evidence and includes the difference between ordinary and expert evidence, the adversorial system, the restrictions on experts.
3: Covers matters such as making facts more factual, making interpretations more sound and becoming less opinionated.
4: Tuition with examples regarding the handling of awkward questions, interruptions, and thinking on your feet.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Video; Videocassette. VHS. col. 90 min.
Year of production: 1994
Availability: Sale; 1995 sale: £650.00 (+VAT inc p&p)
Documentation: Accompanying print materials: tutor’s guide, student’s exercises and a self-help guide.
Subjects: Law; Psychology
Keywords: expert evidence; witness skills

Title: Presenting yourself
Synopsis: 1: Discusses the physical arrangements of court and tribunal rooms and introduces the invisible triangle, how to use prefaces, how to be heard.
Title: Module 1
Synopsis: 2: Looks at the nature of expert evidence and includes the difference between ordinary and expert evidence, the adversorial system, the restrictions on experts.
Title: Experts and procedures
Synopsis: 3: Covers matters such as making facts more factual, making interpretations more sound and becoming less opinionated.
Title: Module 2
Synopsis: 4: Tuition with examples regarding the handling of awkward questions, interruptions, and thinking on your feet.
Title: Preparing your evidence
Title: Module 3
Title: Coping with questions
Title: Module 4

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British Universities Film & Video Council