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Advocacy skills

Date: 9th September 2019

Time: 09:00 - 16:15

Location:
Law Society of Scotland
Law Society of Scotland
Atria One
144 Morrison Street
Edinburgh
EH3 8EX

This event is intended to serve as a clear introduction to the fundamentals, where, expert, experienced speakers will share what works for them and offer advice to those seeking to develop their advocacy skills.
Training Details


5.5 hours verifiable CPD

Performing effectively in court is about so much more than knowing the law. It brings together a wide range of skills, from the ability to express yourself with clarity and confidence to a keen awareness of strategy and an ability to anticipate counterarguments.


Communication, of course, is key. You must be able to influence the court with your argument. You should be able to work effectively with witnesses, particularly vulnerable witnesses.


Advocacy calls upon a wide range of skills that can take years to develop, and more than anything else, that must come from regular practice. This event is intended to serve as a clear introduction to the fundamentals, where expert, experienced speakers will share what works for them and offer advice to those seeking to develop their advocacy skills.


The afternoon will consist of a practical exercise, giving you the opportunity to put what you’ve learned into practice.

By attending this event you will: 

  • Develop your knowledge of techniques for practising advocacy and developing presentation skills 
  • Learn effective strategies for preparing for hearings
  • Discuss techniques and best practice for cross-examination and working with vulnerable witnesses. 
  • Laura McMillan, Solicitor Advocate and Partner, Brodies (Chair)
  • Frances J. McMenamin QC, Black Chamber
  • Steven McDonald, Solicitor and Notary Public, Inksters
  • Neil Hay, Solicitor Advocate and Director, MTM Defence Lawyers
Testimonials

"Excellent variety of speakers with great expertise. Good mix of civil, criminal and theory."

June 2018

"Speakers were excellent, very knowledgeable. Good venue, well organised and scheduled."

June 2018

"Very enjoyable and learned a great deal of advocacy tips"

June 2018

"Interesting and informative!"

June 2018

  • 09:00 - 09:20

    Registration and refreshments
  • Speaker

    Laura specialises in liability defence disputes, acting for insurance, corporate, public sector and individual clients. As a solicitor advocate, she regularly appears in courts across Scotland in a variety of cases including defender personal injury, motor, professional negligence (including clinical negligence), health & safety and general commercial litigation.

     

    She also delivers in-house training to clients on claims defensibility, court procedure and witness familiarisation. As Brodies’ director of advocacy, she works with our solicitors and other solicitor advocates to drive our advocacy offering across the whole of litigation.

  • 09:30 - 10:20

    How can you develop your advocacy skills?

    • Common mistakes and how to avoid them
    • Developing presentation skills and improving confidence
    • Useful exercises for improving courtroom performance

     

    Speaker
    Laura McMillan, Partner, Brodies

    10:20 - 11:10

    Preparing for a hearing

    • Creating an effective strategy
    • Preparing submissions 
    • Evaluating the probability of success

  • 11:10 - 11:25

    Refreshments and networking
  • 11:25 - 12:05

    Examination in chief and cross-examination

    • Theory and practice 
    • Using statements
    • Discrediting witnesses 

    Speaker
    Neil Hay, Solicitor Advocate and Director, MTM Defence Lawyers

    12:05 - 12:45

    Working with vulnerable witnesses

    • Categories of vulnerable witnesses and their needs
    • Challenges and solutions
    • Adapting your approach for vulnerable witnesses

    Speaker

    Since admission to the Faculty in June 1985, Frances has practised almost exclusively in criminal law.

     

    In addition to her work as defence counsel, mostly in the High Court, her highly regarded experience has led, over the years, to a number of appointments. Since 1991, she has been a visiting lecturer at The Scottish Police College. She was a Temporary Sheriff from 1991 until her appointment as an Advocate Depute in 1997. From then until 2000, she prosecuted High Court trials and represented the Crown in the Appeal Court. Thereafter she returned to establish a very busy practise in the High Court as Senior Counsel for the defence, having taken silk in 1998. In 2009 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Strathclyde University. In 2010 she was appointed to be a member of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission until 2018. In 2014, Lord Bonomy invited her to be one of his expert group to assist with his Post Corroboration Review, published in April 2015 and she receives many invitations to lecture on various aspects of criminal law and practise. She is the senior woman practising at the Scottish Bar.

  • 13:05 - 13:50

    Lunch and networking
  • 13:50 - 14:50

    Practical exercise 1: Presentation skills and improving confidence

     

    Speaker

    Steven McDonald is a Solicitor and Notary Public.

     

    Steven grew up in Edinburgh and lives and works there. He also works from Inksters' Glasgow office from time to time. He has been practising as a Solicitor in Scotland since 1996.

     

    Most of his experience is at senior management level, handling all aspects of residential property work including estate agency, purchase and sale conveyancing, remortgages, equity release, matrimonial conveyancing, title transfers in estate planning cases, insolvency conveyancing, repossessions and voluntary assisted sales.

     

    Steven has also advised business families on a variety of legal matters including succession planning. He was in May 2012 awarded The STEP Advanced Certificate in Family Enterprising Advising with Distinction.

     

    In addition to his legal qualifications, Steven also has a BA honours degree in Business Organisation as well as ACTL Diplomas in Speech and Drama and Performance Arts.

     

    When Steven is not working as a lawyer he is a professional actor, writer and musician. He is a member of Equity and Spotlight and has released albums with his band Einstein's Wardrobe.

     

    As well as releasing studio albums of original songs Steven has also written music for TV and for the 2002 Scottish Commonwealth Games Team.

     

    Steven is a former President of Erskine Stewart's Melville FP Hockey Club.

    14:50 - 15:05

    Refreshments

    15:05 - 16:05

    Practical exercise 2: Advocacy

     

    Speaker
    Laura McMillan, Advocate and Partner, Brodies
  • Chair name, title, organisation

Prices

prices exclude VAT

Member:
£210.42
 
New member:
£175.00
 
Accredited Paralegal:
£175.00
 
Trainee:
£175.00
 
Unemployed member:
£162.50
 
Non-member:
£222.92
 

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