Deposition Strategies & Techniques: Honing Your Skills and Finding Your Style

Depositions are one of the most crucial (and fun) stages of litigation. They clarify and illuminate the facts of your – and your adversary’s – case in a way that the documents alone – no matter how much you pore over them – simply cannot. They bring a case to life by putting faces to names. They give you a sneak peek into what a trial might look like. Handled well, they can also lead to settlement, solidify your grounds for summary judgment, and lock opponents into important positions for trial. Whether you are a first-year litigation associate or a senior partner, join skilled and experienced litigators Lisa Coyle and Rayna Kessler for a discussion of strategies and techniques for maximizing your effectiveness at preparing for, taking, and defending depositions.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss the importance of preparation for both taking and defending depositions
2. Explain the goals an attorney should be seeking to achieve in taking and defending depositions
3. Enumerate techniques for achieving such goals and dealing with difficult situations that may arise while taking and defending depositions
4. Clarify the difference between an individual and corporate deposition
5. Identify special considerations when taking and defending depositions of expert witnesses

This course originally appeared as a part of our December 2019 Bridge the Gap event.