Interview techniques and pre trial participation

Interview techniques and pre trial participation

On 01.11.2019., special Lecture was conducted by Ms. Mumtaz., Guest Lecturer., SOEL on “Interview Techniques and Pre Trial Preparation”. She starts with introduction of the topic that the Preparation is the key to successful trial practice. Contrary to what you may see on television, no part of trying a case is extemporaneous. From opening statement, to cross-examination, to the objections you make, to your impassioned closing argument attacking the credibility of an adverse witness, everything you do and say in the courtroom is planned in advance. Any lawyer who tells you differently is simply justifying his or her own laziness. Further she covered interview techniques that the Interviewing may be the single most important part of preparing for trial, because you cannot present a case to a jury effectively unless you first gather, sort, analyze, select and then effectively present facts. Those facts are acquired largely through interviews. Thus, the primary goal of interviewing is to maximize the flow of accurate information from the wit- ness to you. The interviewing process is not as simple as asking witnesses to tell you everything they know about an event. Many factors influence the information flow, distorting and limiting it. Finally concluded with the note that the Interviewing is useful not only for discovering facts, but also for learning something about the witnesses as people. Knowing how witnesses appear and how they react to questioning is essential for preparing their direct examination.