ABSTRACT

Learn reliable techniques to prepare and present effective testimony!“Soon after leaving graduate school I was thrown to the courtroom wolves with no preparation. No social worker should have to go through that,” says Janet Vogelsang, author of The Witness Stand. Few colleges of social work prepare their students for the inevitable involvement with the courts entailed by their profession. This timely book provides you with a blueprint for presenting yourself as a competent and credible professional in court cases. This indispensable guide tells exactly what happens in court, how to counter common strategies for discrediting your profession, and what to do when your client's attorney is obnoxious. The Witness Stand emphasizes the biopsychosocial assessment as the essential tool for a social worker called on to testify in court. Its helpful features include sample forms and affidavits and actual court testimony. The end-of-chapter summaries can be used for rapid review and as a ”to do” checklist for preparing a court case.The Witness Stand offers practical, detailed advice on such matters as:

  • how the legal system works
  • how to handle contacts with attorneys and investigators
  • what to do with documents and files
  • how to prepare your testimony
  • how to handle direct testimony and cross-examination
  • how to define your social work expertise on the stand
  • what to wear when you go to court
The Witness Stand can help you deal with the anxiety-provoking complexities of the legal system. Instead of being confused or intimidated by legal arcana, you will be well-prepared, well-organized, and ready to present yourself as the confident, reliable professional you are.

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

chapter |20 pages

How the Court System Works

chapter |6 pages

Interviews

chapter |8 pages

Records

chapter |4 pages

Interviewing Other Experts

chapter |5 pages

Visual Aids

chapter |4 pages

Preparation of Testimony

chapter |11 pages

Qualifying As an Expert

chapter |5 pages

Direct Testimony

chapter |4 pages

Cross-Examination

chapter |2 pages

Courtroom Demeanor