Key Discovery Points: ESI Protocol Objection Denial Party
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The Journey of Litigation
Podcast - Part II: The Do’s and Don’ts of Demonstratives
Podcast - Persistence and Determination
Podcast - Part I - The Do’s and Don’ts of Demonstratives
Podcast - Walking Tall
Podcast - The Seeds of Corruption
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 316: Spotlight on Torts (Part 1 – Negligence)
Podcast - How Do You Define Success?
Podcast - Seek Out Feedback
The Three C’s for Addressing Prior Inconsistent Statements
Podcast - Part II: Being an Expert Is a Lonely Business
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 313: Spotlight on Criminal Law (Part 3)
Podcast - Part I: Being an Expert Is a Lonely Business
Podcast: Don't Just Say It – Show It
Podcast - Finding Common Ground
Law School Toolbox Podcast Episode 504: Listen and Learn -- Motions for Judgment as a Matter of Law and Motions for New Trial (Civ Pro)
Podcast - "Ready for Trial?"
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 311: Spotlight on Criminal Law (Part 1)
Experienced litigators often describe successful trial preparation as a process that begins with identifying desired outcome, followed by “reverse engineering” the constituent parts of the desired result....more
Testifying, whether in a deposition or in trial, can feel pretty threatening. Particularly if you’re a named defendant in a lawsuit, you know you’re going to be the target. But even when you’re on the other side, or you’re an...more
In the second part of this special guest episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small interviews Scott Duval, managing director at FTI Consulting, about the practical aspects of...more
Some of the most critical evidence at trial comes in the form of deposition testimony from witnesses who are unable to testify live at trial. Done right, deposition designations can powerfully support your case. Done poorly,...more
As a litigator, I routinely prepare clients for depositions. A deposition is a pre-trial procedure where a party or witness in a legal case provides sworn testimony outside of a courtroom. A lawyer asks questions of the...more
Preparing for a deposition can be challenging whether it is a person’s first or hundredth time testifying under oath. Being questioned frequently causes anxiety. But the experience does not have to be so daunting with...more
When I first decided I wanted to become an attorney, I did not think about being in trial. Even in law school, I gave little thought about what it would mean to be in trial. Like a lot of people, my experience with being in...more
Notwithstanding frequent “hallucinations” and the consequent embarrassment of getting caught relying on court rulings that do not exist, generative artificial intelligence is nevertheless fast becoming a familiar component in...more
Court reporting is more than a logistics exercise - it’s a critical component of case strategy. In today’s litigation landscape, where deadlines are compressed, teams are stretched, and expectations are high, the service...more
Behind every winning argument is a compelling story. But crafting that narrative is not as simple as piecing together a few pieces of evidence. Legal teams have to prepare for and take depositions, manage transcripts, conduct...more
The pen is mightier than the sword in a courtroom. Legal decisions can pivot on a single word or comma in a contract or transcription, and adding multiple languages to the mix multiplies the possibility of inadvertent...more
The Reptile Theory is a litigation strategy intended to activate jurors’ survival instincts during trial and is designed to induce fear over logic and reason when hearing a case. Rather than focusing on the standard of care...more
Trial outcomes often hinge on witness testimony. Attorneys collect much of this testimony during a formal process called a deposition. A critical component of discovery, depositions traditionally occur in law offices or...more
Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! This is the second of three episodes in which we review the substantive Civil Procedure law we've covered in our "Listen and Learn" series. This time we're talking about...more
Promotional material for a continuing legal education program on deposition practice that crossed our desk recently gave a “pros and cons” assessment of remote versus in-person depositions. And while the authors took care to...more
Imagine a legal case where the official transcript is riddled with errors—witness statements are misquoted, key details are missing, and timelines are scrambled. Now, imagine an attorney building their entire case strategy on...more
Cross-examination is the stuff of drama in fictional courtroom depictions. The savvy lawyer taking on a hostile witness on the stand—these are the moments TV and movie audiences live for. However, the truth is real-life...more
We have been writing about the personal traits and professional skills litigators need to be successful in pretrial discovery practice for a long time. Whether it’s offering tips on how to master remote depositions, pointing...more
Given how critical depositions are to the legal process, it stands to reason that fair deposition practices are paramount to a legal team’s success. However, several forms of unethical and unfair conduct can emerge during...more
Jury testing is a powerful tool in litigation, and attorneys would be well served to think about their cases as studies worthy of experimentation. Cases are not mysteries to be solved; they are a series of testable questions...more
On this episode of Litigator's Lounge, Niall McMillan and Anders Sleight discuss crucial tips for answering questions during depositions. Anders shares valuable advice, highlighting the importance of truthfulness, careful...more
Noticing a deposition is a critical part of the litigation process. Far from just a formality, it’s an assurance that a deposition you’re engaging in is being done fairly and in good faith. By giving all interested parties...more
The blog post Turning Deposition No-Shows to the Client’s Advantage proved popular with our readers when written (2021!) and for years afterward. The sustained readership of that article is gratifying but also disappointing...more
Last week’s blog recounted the story of a litigator surprised by the unannounced, off-camera presence of the witness’s mother in the room during her son’s remote deposition. That should never have happened and, in modern...more
The receipt of a notice for a client’s deposition usually sets off a chain reaction of familiar events in most law offices across the country. The deposition is calendared. Materials requested in the notice or accompanying...more