Advocacy – Cross Examination Training

Overview

The course is presented and authored by James Welsh.  He trained and practised as a barrister, and has spent more than 20 years as an advocacy trainer. Having trained and assessed literally thousands of candidates across all the main professional advocacy assessments, (including Bar assessments, Higher Rights and the Bar Transfer Test) the course incorporates the very best of all techniques that James has used, and picked up over the years. It covers structure, strategy, questioning technique, and how you deliver points vocally. With all cross examination, your role is to promote and advance your case, and also to undermine the witness where possible.  The content on undermining witnesses is particularly advanced. Witnesses can make errors because of a range of cognitive biases that affect them. The e-learning helps you spot when this might be happening, and shows you how to turn that into well considered cross examination. The e-learning modules contain over 75 video demonstrations so that you can see the advocacy techniques in practice.

Content

 

Module	Section
Level 1
Purpose, Strategy & Structure	Advancing & ‘putting’ your case
	Building logic with case theory
	Witness control – sequencing your questions
Questioning Technique	Framing questions
Communication	Asking questions in cross-examination
	Using crescendo
Level 2
Purpose, Strategy & Structure	Identifying components
	Sequencing
	Transitions
Questioning Technique	Questions you should not ask
Communication	Sounding firm and sounding fair
	Sounding wise
	Sounding low key
Level 3
Purpose, Strategy & Structure	Dealing with internal inconsistency
Questioning Technique	Identical & suspiciously consistent evidence
	Inconsistent evidence
Communication	Tone of voice when conducting an enquiry or test
	Responding to witnesses’ answers

Coaching

Cross-examination coaching sessions are based on a case study exercise which is provided in advance. You can choose either Criminal or Civil. We provide a witness and the cross-examination is based on the assumption that they have given evidence in line with their witness statement during examination in chief. The sessions are recorded and we provide a link to the recording so that after the session you can review your performance and the feedback.

Outcomes

As a result of completing this training you will

• Know how to plan a cross-examination
• Understand the importance of ‘putting’ your case
• Know how to conduct an effective cross-examination
• Have strategies for controlling a witness during a cross-examination

Duration

E-learning – approx. 3 hours Coaching session – 45 mins