Advanced Deposition Skills: Effective Techniques for Taking and Defending Key Depositions for Trial

Litigation Partner Dan Small will speak at a Massachusetts Bar Association CLE Program titled "Advanced Deposition Skills: Effective Techniques for Taking and Defending Key Depositions for Trial."

As civil trials become increasingly rare, the opportunities to develop the advocacy skills a lawyer relies on -- to decide what depositions to take and how to take them -- grow more scarce. In this seminar, a panel of experienced trial lawyers, and a trial technology consultant, will teach you how to take and defend depositions with a purpose. Panelists will teach you how to develop the themes and theories of your case early on and to formulate an effective plan for deposing the key witnesses and preparing your own witnesses for deposition. Topics include:

• how to identify the themes and theories of your case early and take targeted, cost-effective depositions from the key witnesses
• the strategic considerations for taking out-of-state depositions and videotaped depositions
• how to use demonstrative aids in preparing for and taking depositions, so a deposition is as compelling as possible
• how (and when) to take a great Rule 30(b)(6) deposition
• how to defend the deposition of your client effectively through powerful witness preparation