Happy Friday everyone! I hope everyone is well. Today I wanted to dive a little bit deeper into the world of depositions. I have explained to you what they are, and why they can be helpful, but today I want to provide some advice and information on how to best prepare for a deposition when the time comes during your legal case.
First off, why are depositions taken? Here are a few reasons:
1.) To discover what you know about the case. Attorneys who take your deposition are looking for evidence.
2.) Depositions can also be taken so that your story is under oath. This helps ensure the truthfulness of what occurred.
3.) To find evidence that may help the attorney who is conducting your deposition use in their case, or to find out the weaknesses in their case.
So, what do you need to prepare for a successful deposition?
1.) Be prepared. I know the blog is about how to be prepared, but this really is important. You should go over the facts of your case with your attorney before the deposition so that it is fresh in your memory and your attorney can help address how to be upfront and truthful.
2.) Think before answering. Try to listen to the entire question that the other attorney is asking and take a moment to collect your thoughts before responding. This will make the deposition smoother if you and the attorney are not speaking over each other.
3.) Don’t guess. If you genuinely don’t know the answer to a question or don’t remember, just say so! You are under oath, so you do not want to lie and it is better to admit you don’t know or don’t remember something than to make a false statement.
4.) Dress appropriately. Whether in person or on camera, treat this as a professional event and make sure you are wearing more than pajamas. They always say dress to impress. This does not mean you have to wear a full suit by any means but put a little extra effort into what you wear on the day of your deposition.
5.) Take breaks! If you are getting tired, emotional, or confused, it is completely fine to ask for a break. We are all human and if you need a few minutes to compose yourself or to talk with your attorney that is completely fine. A deposition is not a trial – you are allowed to be comfortable while it is being conducted.
Hopefully, this post gave you some helpful advice on how to prepare for a deposition. Your attorney will also make sure that you are more than prepared for when the day comes. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact our office so that we can help you!
**The thoughts, facts, and information shared in this blog post do not constitute legal advice of any form. Should you have legal questions that you need to be answered, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
Sources: https://www.mayorlaw.com/helpful-deposition-preparation-tips/
https://www.leonicklaw.com/top-10-tips-when-preparing-for-a-deposition/
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