Deposition Skills & Direct/Cross-Examination Workshop with Kirkland & Ellis (Day 1)

Where: Kirkland & Ellis LLP (in person)

When: This is a three-day training held on October 13, 15, and 16. It is extremely important that attendees show up for all three days. The trainers at Kirkland & Ellis will be breaking attendees into small groups and pairs. Failure to show up for all three days both deprives other legal aid attorneys of the chance to attend this space-limited program and negatively impacts the learning experience of other attendees.

Instructors: Faculty from the Kirkland Institute for Trial Advocacy (“KITA”)

Who Should Attend: New litigators with limited deposition and trial experience.

Why You Should Attend:
This training is a great opportunity designed for attorneys with limited deposition and trial experience who look to expand and enhance their basic trial skills, knowledge and ability. The program will include lectures to educate participants on taking and defending the depositions of witnesses and how to examine them in court. In the hands-on portion of the training, participants will prepare a witness for testimony, take and defend a deposition, and conduct a direct and cross-examination. Participants will also receive feedback from experienced attorneys. 

What You Will Learn:

The goal of this program is to discuss and practice the foundational building blocks for taking effective depositions. There is no mechanical checklist for taking an effective deposition.  Taking depositions is an art, like learning to write a brief, and no two lawyers are going to agree on every approach. Attendees should take the advice received and test it in their own experience, to see what approach is right for them. All are encouraged to read the handout provided and review it again when preparing to take a deposition, and again after the deposition to think about adjustments to improve questioning.

Topics covered in Kirkland partner-led demonstrations include:

• • Purpose of a deposition
  • Preparation and Organization including strategy, assembly of witness files, and written outlines
  • Conducting and Defending the deposition
  • Logistics and Rules
  • Introduction to Direct and Cross Techniques

Skills practiced throughout the workshop:

• • Taking and Defending depositions
  • Direct and Cross examination based on depositions and exhibits

Registration:
Registration is closed.

This training is brought to you by PLATA and Kirkland & Ellis.