Testifying with Confidence: Direct Examination Strategies

Overview

This course equips CPAs and financial experts with practical strategies to deliver clear, confident, and defensible testimony during direct examination. You’ll learn how to prepare effectively, structure your testimony, and communicate complex financial analysis in a way that judges and juries can understand. Topics include advance case preparation, file documentation and privilege awareness, scripting direct testimony, using courtroom graphics, and managing credibility under legal scrutiny. Real-world examples and best practices are shared to help you strengthen your effectiveness, maintain independence, and avoid common pitfalls in litigation testimony.

Highlights

• Forensic accounting and litigation support
• Expert witness preparation and testimony
• Legal standards for admissible expert opinions
• Communication strategies for courtroom effectiveness

Prerequisites

Participants should have a foundational understanding of forensic accounting or prior experience providing expert analysis in legal or financial matters.

Objectives

• Apply effective planning and preparation strategies for trial testimony, including documentation practices and privilege considerations.
• Demonstrate mastery of the
• Ten Commandments
• for expert depositions to build credibility and withstand cross
  • examination.
  • Collaborate with attorneys to structure direct examination testimony that is logical, concise, and persuasive.

Preparation

None