Christian & Small attorney Jonathan M. Hooks recently had the opportunity to teach young lawyers essential deposition skills at the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association’s (ADLA) Deposition Boot Camp. The two-day seminar at Jones School of Law at Faulkner University included faculty lectures and demonstrations of techniques, as well as breakout sessions where students practiced examining and cross-examining both lay and expert witnesses. Faculty members then made critiques and provided students with constructive feedback.
Hooks was one of 10 attorneys statewide selected for the faculty. His presentation focused on questioning witnesses and physicians, emphasizing the need for early and extensive preparation, diligence during the deposition to respond to new information or changes in witness demeanor, and ways to preserve for-the-record non-verbal and other information learned during the deposition.
Christian & Small’s own Keren E. McElvy participated in this year’s Deposition Bootcamp as a student, and was complimentary of the experience:
“ADLA’s presenters provided useful information about preparing for a deposition from start to finish, then served as witnesses who we were able to question based on a mock lawsuit we had been given prior to the Bootcamp – giving us the opportunity to put into practice what was being taught,” McElvy said. “With lectures on preparing for depositions, preparing and questioning witnesses, and using documents in depositions, the ADLA Deposition Bootcamp gave me the tools I needed to conduct a thorough and effective deposition.”