Podcast - Bring Out the Bad Stuff
Podcast - Expert Witnesses, Special Issues
Podcast - Direct Examination of Expert Witnesses
Preparing for Deposition Success
Podcast - Getting Dressed for Court
Podcast - The Witness Outline
More on Cross-Examination: Building a Case Brick by Brick
Podcast - Refresh vs. Impeach: Know the Difference
Podcast - Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses
Cross-Examination: The Three C’s of Impeachment
Cross-Examination: How to Effectively Impeach with a Prior Inconsistent Statement
Podcast - Cross-Examination: Don't Argue - Elicit Facts
Work This Way: A Labor & Employment Law Podcast - Episode 20: Tips for Court Cases with Judge Dennis and Judge Wilkins of Maynard Nexsen
Understanding When to Cross-Examine
Basic Points to Consider in Redirect Examination
Podcast - Direct Examination: Getting Rid of Clutter
Exuding Credibility in the Courtroom
Podcast - The Differences Between Persuasion and Argument
Witness Testimony Themes, Cross Examination, & Preparation Consultants – IMS Insights Podcast Episode 55
Witness Prep Goals, Credibility Factors, & Juror Comprehension – IMS Insights Podcast Episode 54
The dramatic impact of an attorney pacing before a jury and projecting their voice to the back of the courtroom may become a thing of the past if television and films catch up to reality. With the rise of virtual...more
Most business disputes settle. But if you bank on settlement without preparing for trial, you put your company at a disadvantage. The best settlements come when the other side knows you are fully ready for court. That means...more
Labor arbitrations often seem like the proverbial “box of chocolates” – you never know what you’re going to get. While uncertainty abounds, there are numerous steps companies and counsel can take to assess, prepare, and...more
There is a well-known principle in communication circles, first expressed by cognitive scientist George Lakoff: “When we negate a frame, we evoke the frame.” It means that even when we try to deny a specific attack against...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook," litigation attorney Dan Small examines the challenges of preparing witnesses for trial, emphasizing the importance of honesty and addressing unfavorable facts in advance. Mr....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
Trial strategy isn’t solely a matter of collecting and presenting the right set of evidence and testimony—it requires organizing and crafting a narrative that connects with jurors. With each new jury, you’re back at 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
We know that successful trial outcomes are rarely the result of a single, game-changing moment. Instead, they are built on preparation, precision, and the cumulative impact of small, strategic decisions. In a recent IMS...more
As a witness prepares to testify in trial, the big fear is often cross-examination. While the direct questioning by the witness’s own attorney is seen as the “easy part” (friendly, open-ended questions that allow you to “tell...more
Law firms are increasingly using technology to assist and optimize their litigation and trial processes, and this trend will almost certainly continue into the future. In particular, the use of external graphics technologies...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small discusses the challenges and strategies associated with using expert witnesses in trials. He advises against agreeing to stipulate...more
In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small reviews how the effectiveness of expert witness testimony can influence case outcomes. He outlines four critical components...more
The line between ethical witness preparation and unethical coaching is somewhere between ensuring a witness doesn’t show up unprepared for a legal proceeding and putting words in their mouth. Incorporating a solid trial...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
1) Preservation Demand. Send an evidence preservation notice to anyone you think may be liable or contributed to the fire (so the entity is on notice not to destroy, delete, or alter relevant evidence)....more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small talks about the importance of one's appearance while in the courtroom. He especially emphasizes that the wrong clothing can be...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
A year or so ago, I became a full-time mediator. While mediation had been a routine component of my 35-plus years as a trial lawyer, conducting mediations as the mediator is a strikingly different role and has taught me some...more
The ongoing attempts by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to mediate the war between Hamas and Israel bring to the forefront the potential that mediation can have to resolve conflict. Yet the use of alternative dispute...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small discusses the best practices for organizing a trial and questioning witnesses. He highlights that no one approach is the same and...more
Legal discovery often comprises the longest stage of casework—identifying evidence, developing timelines, and vetting witnesses. The facts, strengths, and weaknesses of a case provide puzzle pieces that attorneys identify and...more
Thorough preparation of the deposition witness is critical to successful deposition practice. Prior to the deposition, the witness should be advised how and when to respond to questioning, the roles of counsel and the court...more
Before jurors can deliberate on a case after an expert witness testifies, the expert witness must first complete voir dire. French for “Speak the truth,” voir dire is a questioning process judges and lawyers utilize to...more