Courtroom Testimony for Expert Witnesses (online)

June 23- 25, 2025

LEVA membership is NOT required to take this course.

The Courtroom Testimony for Expert Witnesses course is offered in a virtual live format. We realize that traveling for training is not feasible for everyone and so we are bringing the training to you!

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

 This three-day course is specifically designed for experts (and experts in training) in ANY area of expertise. 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, nor is LEVA membership.

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.

NOTE:  This course fulfills the 24-hour Courtroom Training requirement for the Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Video Association (LEVA) Forensic Video Analyst Certification Program.

SCHEDULE:  Monday – Wednesday, 0800-1630. Times are listed in the Mountain time zone, which will best accommodate all North American time zones. Participants from other countries are welcome to attend as well.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course will provide participants with a considerable amount of useful and practical information.  Topics covered include the following:

• Preparation for courtroom testimony
• Drafting expert reports
• Format
• Content areas
• Wording of opinions
• Peer review
• The role of the prosecutor, defense attorney, judge and jury
• Trial procedure
• Becoming qualified as an expert witness for the first time
• Expert witness bias
• Drafting curriculum vitaes (CVs)
• The role of the expert witness
• Strategies for effective direct examination
  • Essential communication skills needed when presenting evidence to juries and judges
  • Visual multimodal presentation of evidence
• Strategies for successfully handling cross examination
• Changing opinions
• Daubert and Frye hearings
• The role of the expert witness when there is an opposing expert
• Moot court practice

THE 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).

Tuition: US $1,125.   NOTE: The seat is not guaranteed until tuition is paid.

Unless otherwise arranged with LEVA, students accepted to attend must pay the course fee at least 30-days prior to the first day of class.

Payment options are check, credit card online (Visa, Mastercard and American Express only), PO and wire transfer.  Detailed payment instructions will be provided after you are notified your application has been accepted.

REFUND POLICY: With the exception of war, government regulation, disaster, strikes or exigent circumstances, no refunds of tuition should be expected. However, in exigent circumstances, a refund may be applied minus a $25 service fee.

Certificate: LEVA will issue a certificate to each student who completes the course.

Application:  Register on-line.

REFUND POLICY: With the exception of war, government regulation, disaster, strikes, exigent circumstances or catastrophic Internet failure, no refunds of tuition should be expected. However, in exigent circumstances, a refund may be applied minus a $25 service fee.

REGISTRATION

Disclaimer

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. The disclaimer and student’s signature on the course application further indicate they fully understand they are not receiving any certification from this course and must refer to this training as LEVA’s on their resume, CV, or any discoverable document.

Additional Information

For additional information regarding this course or LEVA, contact Troy Lawrence, LEVA Executive Director, at Troy.Lawrence@leva.org