Court Room Skills

Having presented evidence at court rooms for decades such as, Magistrates, Crown, Civil and at the High Court the one common feature is that the witness box can be a lonely place for the unprepared witness irrespective of your subject expertise.

You are left with feelings of isolation and often feelings that you are the one on trial.

This can cause anxiety and frustration which in turn affects your presentation of the evidence you can provide to the court.

This course is aimed at providing witnesses with the necessary understanding of the legal system and the role the witness plays within the court process by enabling them to provide evidence in the most acceptable format.

The course allows for classroom tuition and role play scenarios.

Aims and Objectives

• Recognise different court settings
• Understand your role
• Understand the roles of all involved in the court process
• How the adversarial system works
• Preparation for giving evidence
• Court room familiarisation prior to attending court
• Taking the oath or affirmation with confidence
• Writing and presenting your statement
• Understand the techniques used by lawyers and barristers to question you
• Follow court rules and procedures
• Provide clear and concise evidence
• Understand the do’s and dont’s of giving evidence 

Course Structure 

The course has been designed by highly experienced Police Officers, Senior Social Workers and a qualified Solicitor, people who have provided evidence in cases of the most sensitive nature in high profile cases.

The decision of the Court of Appeal in R v Momodou(2005) emphasised that witness coaching is not permitted.

The Court drew a distinction between witness coaching and witness familiarisation of the court processes.