AAA Offers Expert Witness Training Program

I am really pleased to see the major appraisal organizations offering quality educational programs that are related to appraisal theory and methodology.  We have seen so many classes on product knowledge, but from my perspective, more programs are needed where appraisers can gain additional appraisal skills and develop new services by strengthening appraisal theory and methodology competence. These new skills not only make us better appraisers, but they also allow us to expand our offered services and build strong and successful appraisal practices.  For example,  ISA recently held a very successful webinar on the Broad Evidence Rule.

Now the Appraisers Association of America is offering a two-day expert witness training program in NYC on February 26 and 27. The fee is $895 and 14 continuing education credits are offered. For any appraiser who may wish to become involved in expert witness testimony, this program will lay the groundwork to educate and prepare for being on the witness stand while being cross-examined by an opposing counsel and how to impress a jury.

AAA reports on the training program

How to be an Effective Expert Witness
Thursday, February 26 & Friday, February 27, 2015
New York City
Start off the new year with 14 CE Credits

Instructor James J. Magraviti, Jr., Esq., Principal, SEAK, Inc. will lead a group through a fast-moving two-day Expert Witness training program specifically for appraisers. This interactive workshop will cover deposition, direct examination, and cross-examination skills as you learn how to become a more effective and valuable expert witness.

Instruction will utilize four methods: lecture, questions & answers, videos of experts testifying in real cases, and mock trial demonstrations using student volunteers.

Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in demonstrations and to receive constructive feedback on how to improve their performance. In addition, each attendee will receive a content rich seminar manual and a certificate of completion at the end of the training issued by SEAK, Inc.

This course is now available for members of the Appraisers Association and the general public. Click here for more information on SEAK Inc, the world’s leading provider of Expert Witness training.

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES:At the conclusion of this workshop, you should be able to:

Discuss the strategies and goals of opposing counsel at deposition and duringcross-examination

• Describe how to properly prepare for deposition and trial 
• Discuss strategies that can be followed when giving an expert deposition and when testifying at trial 
• Explain techniques for excelling at videotaped depositions 
• Explain opposing counsel’s deposition and cross examination tactics and how to defeat each tactic 
• Describe effective techniques you can use when testifying at deposition and trial 
• Discuss methods for responding to trick and difficult questions at deposition and trial 
• List teaching methods that can be used to improve the persuasiveness of your expert testimony 
• List techniques for developing powerful, memorable language and analogies 
• Describe how to best insulate yourself from attacks by opposing counsel 
• Discuss techniques to make a positive impression on the jury

Source: Appraisers Association of America