In today’s legal environment, traditional in-person depositions are rapidly being replaced by remote depositions as the new norm. The transition, brought about primarily by the ongoing pandemic, has drastically slowed down the legal process. As depositions move online, witnesses now have to grapple not only with the typical stresses of deposing but also with the added strain of navigating a digital platform.
Depositions have always been exhausting affairs. For many witnesses, they represent a singular plunge into an uncharted legal world on whose shores a substantial part of their future might rest. In a room populated by strangers, where layers of legal jargon wrap around unfamiliar concepts like a shell around its core, and a court reporter meticulously records every spoken word, even the most forthright witness can understandably find the situation disconcerting. Now, all this must be faced from behind a screen
Given these evolving circumstances, it is prudent for today’s legal professionals to understand how best to prepare their witnesses for these remote depositions. Despite the technological overlay, the central objective remains the same: to ensure that the witness can provide complete, clear, and truthful testimony.
Witness preparation will invariably involve teaching them how to use the appropriate virtual platform, while at the same time ensuring that they are comfortable with the technology. Equally important will be imparting strategies to maintain focus during the deposition, regardless of the various digital distractions that may arise. In the world of virtual depositions, the physicality of human interactions has become condensed into pixels and transmitted over the internet. This guidepost for ‘normal’ behavior thus makes it even more crucial that professionals train their witnesses to express themselves effectively within this new format.
You can read more about this in the online post “Preparing Witnesses for Today’s Remote Depositions” by Esquire Deposition Solutions, LLC. As the digital shift continues to redefine the legal landscape, it is essential for professionals to stay ahead and adapt their strategies accordingly.