Course Overview:
An expert witness is a person with expertise in a particular field that exceeds the knowledge level of the trier of fact and who applies that expertise in a legal setting. Becoming an expert witness is a significant accomplishment. It means that through your education, training, and experience you have gained knowledge in a particular field of endeavor that is superior to that of the trier of fact.
From both a criminal and civil trial perspective, it is essential that a forensic expert be able to communicate vital information in an effective and compelling manner so as to maximize its value. The ability to do that is rarely innate and is something that can be learned and practiced. This course is designed to teach experts how to become effective expert witnesses.
This highly rated course is dynamic and combines lectures, demonstrations, and moot court practice. All these training elements are effectively delivered in the virtual live format. This course has been presented live at various locations in Canada and the United States for federal and state investigative agencies, forensic laboratories, provincial regulatory agencies, provincial and municipal police services, and other professional groups.
Prerequisites:
LEVA membership is not required to attend training classes.
Even though LEVA is presenting the course, it is not a forensic video analysis focused course. Specific examples and moot court practice will focus on the areas of expertise represented by course participants. Previous experience as an expert witness is not required.
Instructor:
Dr. Jonathan W. Hak KC is a barrister and solicitor who served as a Crown Prosecutor in Canada for over thirty years. He has extensive experience prosecuting serious and violent crime and utilizing image-based evidence in complex cases. He is an international imagery law researcher and lecturer who teaches extensively in the UK, US, Canada, Singapore, and Europe on the legal and practical considerations involved in the effective use of image-based evidence in criminal prosecutions. Jonathan holds a Diploma in Criminal Justice (Mount Royal University, Canada), a BSc (with distinction) (California State University, US), an LLB (University of British Columbia, Canada), an LLM (University of Cambridge), and a PhD in Law (Leiden University, Netherlands). The focus of his recent PhD work is on the use of non-textual evidence in international criminal prosecutions. He is the author of Image-Based Evidence in International Criminal Prosecutions: Charting a Path Forward (Oxford University Press, 2024). Jonathan was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2006. He lectures full-time at the University of Leicester Law School (UK) and is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Lethbridge (Canada).
Software and Equipment:
Credits and Certificate:
Graduates of the course receive a LEVA certificate indicating successful completion of the 24-hour curriculum. That certificate should NOT be interpreted as a certification of any type. Registering for any LEVA class indicates they fully understand they are not receiving certification from any one LEVA course and must refer to this training as LEVA’s on their resume, CV, or any discoverable document. This class is not conducted to officially endorse any product or service.
Additional Information:
Contact Troy Lawrence, LEVA Executive Director, troy.lawrence@leva.org