Expert Witness Training Program

Next session:

15 NOVEMBER 2024 - SOLD OUT

Online via Zoom

(The next face to face session will be held in March 2025.)

Testimonials

"A pretty unique opportunity to gain courtroom experience in the moot. One of the best courses I have been on, and I’ve been on many in my career! Excellent faculty; credible, knowledgeable, and really taxed my thinking prior to and during the moot. I was very impressed by their abilities to examine my evidence. Outstanding! This will give me more confidence should I be required to give oral evidence in future." - Dr David Raw (2023 Attendee)

Click to read more testimonials

BOOKINGS

15 November 2024 session:

This session is now sold out. Please contact us if you wish to attend this session and we will place you on a list in case a spot becomes available.

Please note:

The training will run for the duration of Friday 15 November 2024 (1 day). It may extend to the morning of 16 November 2024 (1.5 days) depending on the class size. You must arrange to be available for 1.5 days until advised otherwise. The exact duration will be confirmed approximately 2 weeks prior to the course.

Those who are planning to attend the 8 November Expert Report Writing prerequisite course will not be able to attend this 15 November Expert Witness Training due to the significant pre-course work required along with lead time for report marking and preparation for moots. If you wish to attend the pre-requisite this year, please consider attending the 6 September Queenstown session.

Future sessions:

Please use the button above to sign up for future course notifications.

About the course

The aim of this course is for health care practitioners to develop the skills required to provide evidence to the Court as an expert witness.

Overview

Legal Medicine encompasses the interchange between medicine and law and nowhere is this more apparent than when clinicians are invited to provide expert witness testimony. This is provided as either the treating clinician or to provide an independent assessment of a circumstance within the domain of the clinician’s expertise. Being an expert witness requires providing a report and/or attending a court or tribunal and is often stressful for the clinician concerned. The Australasian College of Legal Medicine (ACLM) runs an Expert Report Writing Course and Expert Witness Training Program to familiarise medical professionals as to what is required within such real-world situations.

Lectures:

The Expert Witness Training Program includes didactic lectures to offer advice as to what is expected of the expert by the barrister and the adjudicator (such as the judge). It instructs the clinician how to behave within set situations. There is also provision of didactic / interactive advice from an experienced expert witness.

Pre-course Submitted Report:

Each participant is expected to submit a de-identified court-ready report at few weeks prior to the course. These reports are critically marked to provide advice as to how they can be improved and they serve as a basis to be led and cross-examined in a moot (a mock trial) involving real lawyers in a courtroom environment.

Moot Court:

The Moot Court is based on the case reports/material submitted by each candidate which the ‘expert’ marks and provides to each of the barristers and the judge before the day. The barristers alternate between leading and cross examining. Before each candidate enters the witness stand they are asked to give an overview of the material facts of the case in which they are appearing as a witness, in order for the audience to understand the nature of the case. After each moot, the performance of the candidate is openly discussed with all participants invited to comment and a summary given before the start of the next case. The marked reports are returned to the candidates upon completion of the course.

Learning outcomes

Participants will:

1. Describe the roles and responsibilities of the various members of the legal profession involved in the court process.

2. Write an expert medicolegal report that satisfies the requirements of the Court.

3. Differentiate between ‘hearsay’, fact and opinion as forms of evidence.

4. Plan and prepare to provide oral evidence in the courtroom.

5. Integrate the theory provided in the prereading and interactive lectures with the practical delivery of expert evidence via role play (Courtroom Moot).

6. Show the ability to describe a technical medical issue to lay people, avoiding the use of medical jargon.

Pre-requisite

The ACLM Expert Report Writing course is a pre-requisite to attend the Expert Witness Training Program. You will be required to provide evidence that you have already attended the ACLM Expert Report Writing course to be accepted into this Expert Witness Training Program.

Please see the Program & Overview below for more information on the pre-course work required.

Download the program

15 November 2024 - EWTP Overview & Program

Please note: The training will run for the duration of Friday 15 November 2024 (1 day).

Location

15 November 2024 - Virtual (online via Zoom). Instructions are sent to attendees after registration, closer to the date.

FEES

AUD $990 ACLM members (inc. GST) | AUD $1,190 Non-members (inc. GST)

TEACHING FACULTY

- Professor Roy Beran (Expert/Facilitator)
- Dr Donal Buchanan (Judge)
- Professor John Devereux (Barrister #1)
- Clare Dart (Barrister #2)

CPD Information

The following CPD information applies to a 1.5 day session. This will be adjusted if the program is only 1 day in duration.

ACLM CPD Program recognition:

22 hours, Relevant to Legal or Forensic Medicine

CPD home submissions:

The following allocations are suggested by ACLM and will be shown on the attendance certificate. It is up to the attendee to check that the activity meets their own CPD home's requirements and to allocate the activity type according to their CPD home's guidelines.

Educational Activity: 7.5 hours

Reviewing Performance: 12.5 hours

Measuring Outcomes: 2 hours

Total: 22 hours

Program Level Requirements met:

- Maintaining and developing professionalism

RACGP CPD Program recognition:

This Activity No. 407098 has been allocated 22 CPD hours in the RACGP 2023-25 CPD Program. If you have any concerns about this activity, you may submit a GP Feedback form to the RACGP.

ACRRM CPD Home:

This activity is approved in the ACRRM 2023-25 CPD Program - Activity No. 34106.

Osler CPD Home:

This activity is an Osler Approved Activity for the Osler CPD Home.

CANCELLATION & Privacy POLICY

By registering to attend, you agree that you have read and accept the Cancellation and Privacy Policies:

Cancellation policy

A refund less $150 administration fee will be provided for all cancellations received by 30 October 2024. Any
cancellations after this point will be non-refundable.

View the ACLM Privacy Policy here.

Testimonials from ACLM Expert Witness Training Program attendees:

"I cannot recommend enough this course on expert witness work. It was a privilege to participate. The constructive criticism given by the panel will result in improved practice in both written and oral expert witness work with improved statement justification and better performance in presenting evidence. The teaching faculty is exceptional."
- Dr George Georgantidis (2023 Attendee)

"I have already recommended this course to several colleagues; I attend a few courses / conferences, and it’s rare that one fulfils such a clear need for our profession, is so well organised and well resourced. I feel I have much better understanding of the judicial process where it might intersect with my medical practice, and have far better resources in the event that I may be required to give evidence in court. This was a unique learning experience, I have certainly benefited from it and will continue to recommend participation in the future."
- Dr Mary Stevens (2023 Attendee)

"Having given evidence before in court multiple times (both in person and online), this activity was extremely valuable in recreating the authentic feeling of a courtroom. The moot court with both prosecution, defence and judge was spot on, and I learned so much listening to multiple other participants give evidence and be cross examined, particularly by the judge. I have done multiple moot courts previously in various settings, but never before with the role of the judge ... Great initiative, and has taken the anticipatory dread away from upcoming online court cases."

- Anonymous (2023 Attendee)

"I cannot think of a better course out there that prepares a doctor as an expert witness."
- Dr Olabanji Ajegbomogun (2023 Attendee)