Basic trial advocacy skills

About the course
Effective courtroom performance is a result of experience and diligent preparation. Everything that happens in court should be prepared for in advance. Any decision - from the smallest detail to deciding on the theory of the case - can have a huge impact on the outcome. You need to think your case through beforehand and do your research!

Take cross examination for instance - the skill of cross-examining is often not sufficiently taught or practiced at university. A proficient cross-examiner knows how to formulate a plan of attack, and knows when to stick to a short, concise cross-examination, and when to instead opt for a period of lengthy questioning.

A cross-examiner has to know how to rely on intuition - to know when to deviate from the original plan, when to take things slowly and when to, on the spur of the moment, jump to a crucial point.

Being able to either get the witness on your side, or unsettle him, in order to prompt the information you require, are essential skills in the cross-examiner's repertoire, as is planning your questions in such a way that you can draw out the desired answer.

This one-day course is designed to give participants an overview of the skills and techniques they will need in planning and undertaking a trial.

Who will benefit from this course?
Anyone who intends to argue a case in court, including law students, advocates and attorneys.

After attending this course, participants will - in addition to other basic trial advocacy skills - be able to:

- Plan a strategy for questioning a witness
- Understand various techniques for questioning
- Understand what types of questions to avoid

Course outline
The topics to be covered will include the following:
- Studying the relevant case law to establish background
- Analysing the case to formulate a strategy
- The importance of good cross-examination skills
- Preparing the questions

Course presenter
William Boothis an admitted attorney who appears regularly in the High Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court, and has also acted as a regional magistrate.

He serves on and chairs several committees of the Cape Law Society (CLS) and the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA), and is a member of the Prosecutors, Magistrates and Attorneys Committees for the Cape Town and Wynberg Magistrates courts. He is also a CLS representative on the Cape High Court Case Flow Management Committee.

He has lectured for LEAD since 2004 and has spoken at various seminars and discussion groups on matters of criminal law, procedure and constitutional law. He has also appeared on television and radio on behalf of CLS and LSSA on criminal law matters.

Registration details
Programme and venue information:
Signing in will commence at 9am on the first day unless otherwise advised. Each day will end at approximately 5pm. Instructions regarding the programme and directions to the venue will be sent to you electronically a week prior to the event.

Award of certificate:
A certificate of attendance from UCT will be issued to those who attend the full day. Please ensure that you sign the attendance register.

Closing date for registration:
One week prior to the course.

Registration and enquiries:
Please contact the Professional Development Project:
Paula Allen on 021 650 5558
Andrea Blaauw on 021 650 5413
Fax:021 650 5513
Email:az.ca.tcu@nella.aluap/az.ca.tcu@wuaalb.aerdna/az.ca.tcu@llafressaw.aneri
OR visit our website: www.lawatwork.uct.ac.za to download the registration form.

Date: 23 October 2015
Time: 09:00 - 17:00
Venue: Cape Town
Cost: R2,500 per delegate. Fee includes parking, tea, lunch and course materials

More info:

Instructions regarding the programme and directions to the venue will be sent to you electronically a week prior to the event.