Episode 1 of Mock Trial Flight School

In this episode, I discuss witness preparation, cooperation, and teamwork. A great mock trial witness connects deeply to the character and knows the facts and personality of the person from top to bottom. The witness prepares a timeline, analyzes strengths and weakness, and helps the attorney to uncover the key facts during direct examination that best support the case theory. The great witness practices both direct and cross-examination with the mock trial team's attorneys. The successful mock trial witness is a team player that works constantly with the attorney to share, discuss, debate and prepare the case for trial. 

Show Outline

How to prepare to be a great witness

a) Intro

i) Knowing the witness

ii) Preparing

iii) Practicing

iv) Teamwork

b) Know the story and personality of your witness

i) Background

ii) Behavior

iii) Personality

Method Acting - The "system" cultivates what Stanislavski calls the "art of experiencing" (to which he contrasts the "art of representation").[5] It mobilizes behaviors the actor's conscious thought and will in order to activate other, less-controllable psychological processes like emotional experience and subconscious behaviour, sympathetically and indirectly.[6] In rehearsal, the actor searches for inner motives to justify action and the definition of what the character seeks to achieve at any given moment (a "task").

c) Prepare a timeline for your witness

i) Know the sequence and order of events/facts

d) Prepare a list of strengths and weaknesses for your witness

i) Help the attorneys develop the best case theory

(1) Best fit

(2) Strength/weaknesses (facts)

(3) The character of witnesses in the case

ii) Know how to answer questions most favorably

iii) Be prepared for dealing with weaknesses during cross-examination

e) Help your attorney cover all of the strengths during direct examination

i) Support your the team's theory of the case

ii) Avoid gaps in testimony that prove the elements of the case

f) Practice direct examination

i) Gain confidence

ii) Discover weaknesses in knowledge and understanding

iii) Practice your acting skills

g) Practice cross-examination

i) Gain confidence

ii) Practice giving most favorable testimony

iii) Practice your acting skills

h) Teamwork

i) Do your part

ii) Know the witness – meet - discuss, share, debate

iii) Timeline – share, prepare together (both need to know)

iv) Fact analysis – co-dependent, witness and attorney must share thoughts and analysis

(a) Case theory – requires witness understanding, collaboration

v) Practice

(1) Fun

(2) While learning the law, analytical skills, and soft skills from speaking, acting, participating in the rigor