This document discusses the skills of an advocate. It states that preparation, identifying key issues, and knowing when to sit down are important skills. An advocate must also act ethically, keep things simple, and practice, observe others, and do research to acquire advocacy skills. When cross-examining witnesses, an advocate should aim to undermine credibility, get the witness to accept their case, and find helpful information, while following rules like asking closed questions seeking yes/no answers.

1. Advocacy
Jeremy Robson – Barrister and Senior Lecturer,
Nottingham Law School

2. 27 June 2012 2

3. What are the skills of an advocate?
“ No brilliance is needed in the law. Nothing but common sense, and
relatively clean finger nails”
John Mortimer, “A Voyage round my father” 1971
27 June 2012 3

4. Preparation
27 June 2012 4

5. An ability to identify the key issues
27 June 2012 5

6. Knowing when to sit down and shut up
27 June 2012 6

7. Act ethically
27 June 2012 7

8. Keep it simple
27 June 2012 8

9. How do you acquire these skills?
Practise
Observation
Research
27 June 2012 9

10. Cross examination
• Aims;
• 1) To undermine the credibility of the witness
• 2) To get them to accept your case
• 3) To establish anything which might be helpful
27 June 2012 10

11. Rules
• Keep the witness under control
• Always follow a logical structure
• Always ask closed questions
• Always aim for a yes/no answer
• Never expect the witness to agree
27 June 2012 11

12. 27 June 2012 12

13. Regina v Adam Small
27 June 2012 13

14. Questions
27 June 2012 14

15. 27 June 2012 15