In every type of hearing – civil, criminal, family, environmental, employment and any other court or tribunal – knowing how to deal effectively with expert evidence is essential. This programme will concentrate entirely on working with expert witnesses.

You will learn how to brief, examine and cross-examine experts and also have the opportunity to discuss:

• Finding the best expert for the job
• Understanding how and why different experts may arrive at different results
• Applying technical evidence and valuation methods
• Using evidence to clearly explain your client’s position, and to attack the opposing party’s position in cross-examination.

Learning by observing

You will observe experienced faculty members demonstrate evidence-in-chief and cross-examination, and hear them explain their techniques and strategies. You will also have the opportunity to watch other participants and hear their performances critiqued. Your own performance will be recorded and you will review it with a faculty member.

Working with the experts

Experienced valuers from Deloitte’s Corporate Finance group will coach you on critical analysis of the facts and obtaining relevant evidence for your examination and cross-examination of your own and the opposing expert. All the valuers have worked on litigation assignments and many have given evidence.

Learning by doing with critique

Having briefed your expert, you will participate in four simulated courtroom exercises. You will be critiqued by experienced faculty members. Participants will be split into teams of 10, with two experts and three faculty assigned to each team. While you will be required to comprehend and apply valuation principles as you deal with the expert witnesses, the focus is on advocacy not accounting.

Learning objectives

You will have a better understanding of how to get the best from your expert. You will be better able to undertake examination and cross-examination of experts in a trial.

Who should attend

The course is designed for all litigators from civil, criminal, family and other specialist jurisdictions with at least five years’ experience.

Please note:

• Enrolments are restricted to 30 participants.
• Registrations are accepted on a first received basis, however, all registrants must meet with the prerequisite criteria, ie 5+ years of litigation experience.
• The course requires pre-course preparation, so registrations must be received by 5.00pm, Monday 6 May 2024.

Programme director

• Paul David KC, Eldon Chambers, Auckland

Timing

• Registrations close 5pm, Friday 17 May 2024
• Day 1: 10.00am – 5.30pm
• Day 2: 8.00am – 5.15pm

Materials

A course folder containing a case study will be sent to you in advance. The case study involves expert testimony on the valuation of a minority shareholder’s interest in a business enterprise, a common issue of debate. Expert valuers will give evidence in the case placing a value on the minority shareholding using generally accepted methods of valuation. The plaintiff’s and defendant’s experts will arrive at very different values.

Accommodation

This is a non-residential programme, participants will need to make their own accommodation arrangements.

Fee (incl GST)

Advocacy Programme

• $1,645 - Law Society members & associate members
• $2,135 - Non-members

Do you want to register more than one person for this course? Use the multiple registration button below or Click here 

Financial assistance

Financial assistance may be available through the Douglas Wilson Advocacy Scholarship Trust. Applications for assistance must be received by: 5pm on Monday 6 May 2024.
Late applications cannot be considered.

Please note: You must still register to attend this course, either online or by completing a registration form.

Download a Douglas Wilson Advocacy Scholarship Trust application form

Download PDF brochure and registration form

Programme partner

Cancellation and refund policy

Registrations must be received by 5.00pm, Friday 17 May 2024 (closing date). Withdrawal from the programme before the closing date incurs no cost.After that date if the registrant is able to be replaced, an administration fee of $200 is charged. If no replacement is found, no refund is payable. NZLS CLE Ltd reserves the right to close registrations, and, cancel or reschedule an event as necessary. Where an event is cancelled by CLE, a full refund is payable.