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Innovations in Witness Preparation
Loquitur had the great pleasure to speak with Horace Wu from Syntheia recently about recent innovations in witness preparation and training, and how technology can be used by solicitors, barristers, and the witnesses themselves to assist in their preparation to give evidence at trial.
Syntheia is a cutting-edge legal technology company with a focus on distilling and applying legal knowledge from text data in the preparation of legal documents. In this context it was interesting to discuss how technology has evolved greatly to assist lawyers in the preparation of documents, and how the latest technology may in fact not (or at least not yet) be the answer to the effective delivery of testimony by witnesses under cross examination in court.
The conversation was fascinating and wide ranging and covers three main themes:
What witness familiarisation training is and how it can help witnesses give the best evidence possible
The introduction of witness training courses as an innovative new concept in Australia; and
How technology can, and potentially could, help witnesses prepare to give evidence.
Topics specifically covered in the discussion include:
How technology can, and potentially could, help witnesses prepare to give evidence.
Where it has been used previously
Innovation in legal practice
How this new and innovative concept has been applied in Australia
How witness familiarisation can help witnesses prepare to give evidence while staying safely inside strict ethical guidelines
How it can also assist legal practitioners in their witness preparation
What technologies can improve witness preparation
How to use simple and existing technologies to prepare witnesses for trial, and how new technology is not always the answer
The importance of good witness preparation for the profession, the judiciary and society
Skills and mechanisms lawyers need in order to teach witnesses to overcome the stresses of giving evidence cross examination
Discover the Expert Witness Rules