How to be a good witness - Tips before you testify

Hi, this is Howard Snader, I'm a board-certified expert in criminal law and the Snyder Law Group is here to help you when you have problems involving criminal or family law matters. In this week's legal tip, I want to talk about a common issue that happens when clients have to testify whether it's an interview with an insurance adjuster, whether it's an interview with a police officer, whether it's being on a witness stand and under oath, whether it's giving a deposition in a civil case or family law matter. And I go through these tips with my clients in the hope that I can prepare them best for moving forward with the questions and answers they're going to receive from a lawyer. Now, when we talk about an interview, it's not necessarily under oath, and in most cases, we want that interview. To go as smoothly as possible, be as upfront and honest as possible. We're not trying to hide anything, when you hide something that half-truth, you're hiding, can come back to bite you. I've certainly had personal experience not being the one bitten but doing the biting, it's a lot of fun for the lawyer, it's no fun for the person to be on the other end of that, you don't want to be that person. So attached to this video attached to the post, I hope the paper that I hand up to my clients will also be attached. And certainly, if it's not, you can contact our office, we'll be happy to send it out to you. With that in mind, I want to go through the tips that I would normally provide to my clients. So even before you have to appear, you want to verify that you're going to the right place, you need to know how long it's going to take you and plan on being early. So whether it's a subpoena, and you want to contact the lawyer or law firm that issued the subpoena, or the court that issued the subpoena, make sure you make that call ahead of time, verify it's still on the calendar, it's still ready to go. There are no problems. If a matter has been continued, make sure that once you get the new date and verify if the subpoena you got or the notice that you've got is still going to be valid for the new date. In many cases, it's not reissued. But the judge will just say that it is continued and the subpoena will remain in effect for the new date. As I tell my clients and as I started off here, really plan on getting to your destination quarter otherwise, about 30 minutes before leaving enough time to park get through security, and just get a bearing for where things are at. In some cases, you may want to drive there prior to the date of your appearance so that you have a better idea of where things are at how long it's going to take, and where you need to go. Now, it is important to know whether or not your interview will be videotaped or whether it will be a live appearance before a courtroom. So you want to make sure that you're dressed appropriately. As I tell my clients when they asked what is appropriate dress like you're going to court. That means no blue jeans are say should say dress like going to church, no blue jeans, no t-shirts, certainly nothing derogatory, no flashy jewelry. If you have tattoos, quite frankly, you want to try and cover them up as best you can. You don't want to give a reason for somebody to dislike you because of your personal appearance. I get it. That shouldn't factor in anything but we're human and it does. So dress appropriately for where you're going. That normally means a minimum of a button-down shirt. If you're a guy. I don't want you wearing a tie or a jacket unless you're comfortable wearing a tire and a jacket. Just look nice. Be well-groomed for the women a professional appearance. Try to avoid being overly sexy over overdressed with jewelry, or makeup or perfume. It really you just want to be neutral in your appearance but professional. That there's no other way for me to describe that. So if it's appropriate for church, it's going to be appropriate for the court or whatever other setting you're going to be in for your interview or deposition or a statement. Always, always, always tell the truth. Think before you speak. Do not exaggerate as any exaggeration can really discredit your testimony. half-truths do come back to bite you. So you really need to listen to the questions that are being asked. You need to answer the question that's being asked and no more. Don't go down the rabbit hole.

SPEAKER
Howard Snader
Snader Law Group
Phoenix, AZ
https://www.snaderlawgroup.com