You rarely want to attack an opposing expert witness directly. Your best bet during cross-examination is to use peripheral or tangential ways of assailing the expert’s views. Continue reading
Filed under: Civil Litigation, Evidence, Legal Topics, Litigation Strategy, Trial Strategy | Tagged: cross-examination, expert witness, opposing expert, questioning a witness, trial, trial attorney, trial skills, witness examination | 2 Comments »
Your approach to cross-examination will vary depending on the “type” of witness being examined, e.g., the hostile witness, the flippant witness, the timid witness, or the sympathetic and truthful witness. But regardless of which type you’re dealing with—which can even change during your examination—there are some universal principles of cross-examination that apply in any situation. Continue reading
Filed under: Evidence, Legal Topics, Litigation Strategy, Trial Strategy | Tagged: cross-examination, evidence, examining a witness, questioning a witness, trial, witness | 2 Comments »
If you’re planning to use electronic technology in your court presentations, such as in your opening statement or closing argument, consider these six tips to make your use of technology as effective as possible while avoiding common pitfalls. Continue reading
Filed under: Civil Litigation, Legal Topics, Litigation Strategy, Trial Strategy | Tagged: closing argument, opening statement, trial, trial presentation, trial presentation software, trial technology | 4 Comments »
You can always object to the opposing expert’s qualifications or the information on which he or she relied, but don’t forget about using these foundational attacks on an expert’s testimony. Continue reading
Filed under: Evidence, Legal Topics, Litigation Strategy, Trial Strategy | Tagged: evidence, expert testimony, expert witness, foundational attack, opposing expert, trial | 1 Comment »
Some attorneys erroneously think of their opening statement as the first opportunity to present themselves to the jury. In reality, the jurors will begin getting an impression of you—and by extension, your case—as soon as you begin voir dire. It’s critical that you use your interpersonal skills to connect with potential jurors as soon as they enter the courtroom for the first time. Continue reading
Filed under: Litigation Strategy, Trial Strategy | Tagged: jury questioning, jury selection, trial, trial skills, voir dire | 1 Comment »
If it’s your first trial or it’s been a while since you’ve tried a case, here’s a handy list of the steps to take when introducing your evidence at trial. Continue reading
Filed under: Civil Litigation, Criminal Law, Evidence, Legal Topics, Litigation Strategy, Trial Strategy | Tagged: admissibility, evidence, exhibits, introducing evidence, trial, trial exhibits | 2 Comments »
It sounds obvious: You should always listen carefully to the witness during cross-examination. But listening means more than just hearing the words actually said. Ideally, your listening will go well beyond that, which can make all the difference in improving your cross-examination. Continue reading
Filed under: Civil Litigation, Criminal Law, Legal Topics, Litigation Strategy, Trial Strategy | Tagged: attorney, cross-examination, questioning, trial, witness | 1 Comment »
