Witness Examination

What is Witness Examination?

Witness Examination involves individuals acting as counsel in court. Each counsel has their witness, who they must lead in chief. Each counsel must also then cross-examine the opponent's witness. A fact scenario raising legal issues is given to participants 1 and ½ hours prior to the commencement of the Witness Examination competition. Counsel must come to grips with the fact scenario in that time. 30 minutes prior to the commencement of the competition, counsel is given they get access to their witness in order to brief them on their case theory. During that time counsel must prepare arguments and questions for both their witness and their the opposing counsel's witness. The overall objective is, by adducing and leading evidence, to prove that the fact situation of your client is more plausible than your opponent's.

 

Why Participate?

For those competing it gives all those aspiring Evidence Law scholars the chance to put theory into practice. Witness Examination develops three skills. Firstly, your knowledge of the area of law (usually criminal law), secondly, your knowledge and grasp of Evidence Law and thirdly the ability to think on your feet. It also allows competitors to become accustomed to court protocol.

For witnesses it provides an opportunity to see first hand how the competition is run. It is also an essential and rewarding experience for those who want to compete or have a view to going to the bar when they graduate.

 

How Do I Participate?

Competitors and Witnesses - Throughout semester one and two each year, the UTS Law Students' Society holds senior and junior witness examination competitions. In preparation for the ALSA Conference, the senior witness examination competition is held in semester one. The winner of the senior competition is often invited to compete at the ALSA Conference. The junior competition is held in semester two. Accompanying the junior competition is a seminar series to educate and help junior witness examiners develop their skills prior to the competition getting under way.

 

Those of you who are interested in witness examination and would like more information can contact Jonathan Ballo - Competitions (Advocacy) Officer. 

 

When Does the Competition Take Place?

As a guide the senior and junior competitions are scheduled to begin in the fourth week of each semester with a seminar taking place in weeks one to three. The competition is held in the Haymarket Campus and will be held in one of the three moot courts in the law faculty (subject to availability).

 

Do I Need any Previous Experience?

No experience is required to compete in the junior competition (held in semester two). However, for those wishing to compete in the senior witness examination competition, it is advised that they should have competed in the junior competition or an advocacy competition before entering the senior competition.

 

Registration and Dress Code?

Registration for the witness examination competitions will open in weeks one and two of each semester - check out the LSS notice boards for more details. Scenarios will be released 1 and ½ hours prior to the start of the competition. Competitors will get access to their respective witnesses 30 minutes prior to the start of the competition.

The dress code is business attire or of a standard expected of counsel representing a client in court.

 

Witness Examination Handbook

To view the online version of the Witness Examination Handbook, click here.