Advanced Trial Skills: Cross Examination Strategies that Win Cases

From early trial advocacy classes in law school, trial lawyers tend to see cross-examination as a destructive exercise. We strive to destroy the opposing witness. This course offers an alternate view of cross-examination, focusing on the constructive cross as outlined in Cross-Examination: Science and Techniques, by Roger Dodd and Larry Pozner. Using this method, cross-examination becomes a tool to prove one's own case and not merely a way of destroying the opposition.

This program will benefit seasoned practitioners who want to reinvigorate their trial skills. The program will highlight helpful sources and will demonstrate effective cross-examination techniques.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss the value of constructive cross-examination 

2.  Demonstrate looping as a way of storytelling

3.  Introduce the chapter method of cross-examination 

4.  Identify word selection as a key to constructive cross-examination