The Ins and Outs of Cross-Examination at Deposition & Trial

For most of us, formal training in cross-examination - which Wigmore described as "beyond any doubt, the greatest legal engine ever invented for the discovery of truth"- begins and ends with the late, great Irving Younger's Ten Commandments. It's an invaluable starting point.

But there's more to be learned, and many of us rarely get the chance to cross-examine often enough to hone our skills.

This course, taught by attorney Theodore Blumberg, is designed to go beyond the Ten Commandments and discuss approaches to cross-examination that will get us to the next level of excellence, and provide a range of approaches-a set of tools-that will be useful for every situation. Topics that will be discussed include the various types of cross-examination (bludgeoning, surgical, exploratory), how to avoid asking only leading questions, using the witness's goals to shape your cross, the see-saw approach to an evasive witness, case theory, and using mock juries.

 

Learning Objectives:

1. Review the various styles of cross-examination

2. Provide a range of approaches to cross-examination 

3. Arm yourself for the expert witness

4. Simplify your language