Deposition Skills Academy

MCLE Credits: 10.0
Ethics Credits Included: 1.0

Live Zoom:	Thursday, May 12 *AND* Friday, May 13 (SOLD OUT)
Program Schedule for Both Days:	May 12: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. May 13: 9:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Registration Deadline:	Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.
MCLE Credit:	10.0 (Ethics: 1.0)
Live-Interactive Credit:	10.0
Designation Credit:	10.0 Trial Practice/Litigation, 1.0 Ethics (Designations Information)
Registration Fee:	$599

Information
Schedule
Faculty
Locations, Dates and Fees

Information

Why Attend?

If you are looking to improve your deposition skills, this remote, interactive program is for you!

Get hands-on training and learn essential deposition skills from a faculty of experienced litigators
Practice your deposition skills in our remote, interactive workshops, and receive real-time coaching from the instructors
Examine ethical issues relevant to preparing for and conducting depositions
Gain confidence that can translate into success in your legal practice

Sold out: Registration is now closed.

Live, Remote, Interactive 2-Day Program

Deposition skills are essential to your cases, especially since the majority of cases do not make it to trial. Are you equipped with the right questioning techniques to get the information you need? Have you adequately prepared your witnesses for what they will experience? Do you know how to properly object to opposing counsel’s questioning? Whether you have taken many depositions or only a few, coaching throughout this program will help you increase your skills and confidence, positively impacting the outcome of your cases and your career.

Our experienced faculty of trial lawyers will provide you with useful guidance and best practices with an interactive, hands-on approach. Over the course of two days, you will receive training on deposition techniques and then participate in simulated depositions. You will receive immediate coaching on how to improve your skills based on the methods taught throughout this course.

The course will cover:

Developing techniques for preparing, taking, and defending depositions
Working with lay and expert witnesses
Using of exhibits and demonstrative aids
Ethically preparing for and conducting depositions
Coaching with individualized guidance and advice to improve your skills

Zoom Requirements: You must have an Internet connection and the ability to use Zoom for this program. Please click here to see Zoom system requirements. A webcam is also required; you cannot dial-in without video to receive MCLE credit for this course.
After registration, you will be sent an email with more details on accessing the program and receiving program materials.

Please note: Virginia CLE^® Online Bundle credits may NOT be used to register for this program.

Discounts: This program is not eligible for general Virginia CLE^® discounts. Two discounts are available, however, for eligible registrants:

Lawyers in private practice law firms of 1-5 attorneys, including solo practitioners, may use the coupon code SMALLFIRMDEPO at checkout to take 25% off regular registration for this program.
Lawyers employed at organizations funded by the Legal Services Corporation of Virginia may use the coupon code LEGALAIDDEPO at checkout to take 80% off regular registration for this program. Use of this discount is limited to the first two registrants (first come, first served).

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellation requests for a full refund will be honored until Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. Cancellation requests received between Thursday, April 21, 2022, and Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. will be charged $100. Cancellations made after Wednesday, May 4, 2022, are not eligible for refunds.

Questions: For more information about this program, please contact the Program Planner, John Rotman, at jrotman@vacle.org.

Schedule

COURSE SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 12

9:00	Introduction (No MCLE Credit)
9:15	Depositions: Goals and Techniques—Lay Witnesses Elliott Buckner, John Owen Preparing lay witnesses Types of questions to ask Questioning techniques Taking and defending techniques
10:30	Break
10:45	Outlines and Objections Melissa Katz, Patricia J. Bugg Turner Making and dealing with objections Strategies and tips for outlining a deposition How to prepare a deposition outline
11:30	Break into Small Groups: Introductions, Logics, and Q&A (no MCLE credit)
12:00	Lunch Break
12:30	Hands-on Deposition Workshop—Lay Witnesses Attendees will participate in demonstrations and receive hands-on instruction in preparing and deposing lay witnesses based on the lecture and prepared written materials
2:00	Break
2:15	Hands-on Deposition Workshop—Lay Witnesses (continued) Attendees will participate in demonstrations and receive hands-on instruction in preparing and deposing lay witnesses based on the lecture and prepared written materials
3:45	Workshop Reviews (no MCLE credit) Review instruction and demonstrations from workshops
4:00	Adjourn

Friday, May 13

9:00	Depositions: Goals and Techniques—Experts and Exhibits Martin Schubert, Christopher Jacobs
10:15	Break
10:30	Hands-on Deposition Workshop—Exhibits with Depositions Attendees will participate in demonstrations and receive hands-on instruction in preparing and deposing expert witnesses and using exhibits based on the lecture and prepared written materials
12:00	Lunch Break
12:30	Hands-on Deposition Workshop—Expert Witnesses Attendees will participate in demonstrations and receive hands-on instruction in preparing and deposing expert witnesses based on the lecture and prepared written materials
2:00	Ethical Issues in Depositions Tom Spahn
2:15	Program Review and Closing Remarks (no MCLE credit) Review of Day 2 workshops Review of program concepts, goals, and techniques Closing remarks
3:15	Adjourn

Faculty

FACULTY

Elliott M. Buckner, Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci / Richmond
Patricia J. Bugg Turner, Spotts Fain, PC / Richmond
Robert B. “Chip” Delano, SandsAnderson / Richmond
Michael Garnier, Garnier & Garnier, PC / Herndon
David L. Greenspan, McGuireWoods LLP / Tysons
Christopher I. Jacobs, Kalfus & Nachman / Norfolk
John R. Owen, Harmon Claytor Corrigan Wellman / Richmond
Dennis Quinn, Carr Maloney / Washington, DC
Martin Schubert, McGavin, Boyce, Bardot, Thorsen, and Katz, PC / Fairfax

Program Director:

Melissa Hogue Katz, McGavin, Boyce, Bardot, Thorsen, and Katz, PC / Fairfax

Melissa H. Katz is a principal at McGavin, Boyce, Bardot, Thorsen, and Katz, PC. Her practice focuses on personal injury defense. She obtained her B.A. from the University of Virginia and J.D. from the University of Richmond. Before joining her present law firm, she clerked for the late Chief Justice Leroy Rountree Hassell of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Ms. Katz is the Immediate Past President of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys and is presently serving on the Virginia Model Jury Instructions Committee. She is recognized by both Washington, DC and Virginia Super Lawyers and honored in the Virginia Lawyers Weekly Inaugural Class of Influential Women of Law 2019.

Deputy Program Director:

Kasey Hoare, Spotts Fain, PC / Richmond

Kasey Hoare is a litigation associate attorney at Spotts Fain, PC, a mid-sized business law firm in Richmond, Virginia. She represents clients in commercial and business litigation in Virginia's state and federal courts. Prior to joining the firm, she had the honor of serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Beverly W. Snukals for the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond after graduating from the University of Richmond School of Law in 2017.