National Maritime College of Ireland

Course Name:

Expert Witness Skills for Port Professionals (3 days)

Course Price:

€Price available on request (Prices are charged on a per person basis.)

Short Description:

This 3-day intensive practical course is a competency based programme which will equip Maritime experts with the skills required to comply with best practice standards.

Course Type:

Port Sector Training

Full Description:

Why attend this training?

This course designed and delivered by skilled lawyers will allow both new and experienced maritime experts to learn about expert witness procedure, best practice in report writing and how to present first class evidence under difficult cross examination.
Our skilled trainers will equip delegates with evidence gathering techniques, writing expert witness reports and providing oral evidence to ensure they meet current best practice standards.

Course outline

The course is intensive, highly practical and interactive where delegates learn by doing through interactive sessions, practical exercises and role-plays. It is a flexible and modular based programme in order to meet the exact needs of the audience.

Day 1 - Law, Evidence & Procedure for Experts
- The expert’s role in litigation
- The expert’s duties
- The Law Reform Commissions Consultation paper on Expert Evidence
- Terms of engagement for experts
- Effective investigation skills
- Evidence gathering techniques
- The rules of evidence
- Procedure in civil and criminal cases

Day 2 - The Experts Report
- Identify issues you are asked to address
- Conduct a factual investigation on which to base your opinion
- Express an opinion on the issues
- Pitch the language of the report at the right level
- Express an independent view and argue your conclusion
- Set out your qualifications and experience
- Include research references
- Exhibits, photographs, diagrams and plans
- Develop your own report format
- Understand the contractual position between expert, solicitor and client
- Receive guidance on Terms and conditions and Experts’ fees
- Be clear on the implications of Statutory Instrument 391/98 on Exchange of Reports

Day 3 - Courtroom Skills
- Understanding court procedure
- Knowing what your lawyer needs - proofs
- Protocol & procedure in court - roles of individuals in court
- Preparing to give 1st class evidence
- Lawyers techniques used in cross-examination & how to handle them
- How to give clear, honest and objective evidence
- How to give confident & clear testimony under cross-examination
- Simulated cross examination role-play for each of the attendees by our lawyer/trainer

In order to view the brochure corresponding to this course please click here.