The right expert witness can help any ongoing case and ensure reaching a favorable outcome. When trail consultants and lawyers are looking to hire expert witnesses for their case, it’s important to keep in mind certain qualities that they own will result in a winning situation. In a legal field, the traits of an expert witness can range from the best to very poor. Many inexperienced lawyers and trial consultants frequently fail to prepare witnesses, concentrating more on their trial responsibilities. Â Working with witnesses can be a little troublesome for even the most trial consultants and lawyers. In some case, expertise and egos can get way in the experts’ ability to deliver requiring lawyers, trial consultants to be creative when looking for right solutions that fit both the issue and the expert witness.
Experienced witness preparation consultants with valuable information and in-depth knowledge shared some case-winning tips to prepare a witness for trial from a conducted jury research.
Use the following expert tips to make your client a great witness.
ANSWER ONLY THE ASKED QUESTION
One of the most common thing consultants experienced in many jury research that expert witness is imprecise and fail to answer the questions they were asked by the judge. Non-responsive and self-serving answers can annoy a judge, affect the witness credibility and oftentimes backfire. Qualified attorneys can move to strike and repeat the same questions again and again. So, prepare witnesses to anticipate the questions with correct damage-control responses and to answer only the asked question.
MAKE AN EYE CONTACT WITH THE JUDGE
Many witnesses fail to make an eyes contact with the judge. Â Some witnesses oftentimes answer to the trail consultants and attorneys, mistaking them for the one who really matters in the court: and that person is the judge. Credibility can be established by connecting with a judge in the courtroom.
ONLY TRUTH: NO LIES, NO EXAGGERATION
Advice the witnesses to respond in the shortest, most truthful answer possible. Don’t forget to tell him or her that exaggeration and lies can easily be exposed in court. Changing of statements to mold the truth can make the judge believe that the person is lying.
PRACTICE MATTERS A LOT
The question and answer part of witness preparation for a trail is one on the most critical session because it clearly imitates what the witness is going to encounter at a trail. Mostly many unexpected and, sometimes uncomfortable questions can be raised by the jury during cross-examination, so prepare the witness in such a way he or she can easily address any kind of issues. Practice, practice and regular practice can only help them confident in their answer.
THE BOTTOM LINE
A witness preparation cannot change the behavioral issues established over a lifetime, but it can help a witness rethink their testimony and follow a better way to connect with the jury. You can also hire a witness preparation consultant for better winning results.
