by Naomi Cunningham & Michael Reed
A key part of many tribunal documents is an account of what has happened. Witness statements are the most obvious example, but, ET1s, ET3s, written submissions and notices of appeal will also contain a recitation of the facts.
Unless there is a very good reason not to, this account should be given in chronological order.
One of the most useful tools of advocacy is a collection of conventional phrases. Many of them are clichés, but they help oil the wheels.…
Closing submissions should last 30 minutes for each day the hearing has lasted.
Advocates and tribunals do disagree. In many cases that disagreement will only become apparent once the tribunal gives its judgment, but, fairly often, the tribunal will intervene at some stage to say something to the effect of “One moment, Mr Rhodes, that is just not right”.
Lawyers are notorious for their use of jargon, or ‘legalese’ as it is sometimes known in this context. There are really two reasons for lawyers’…
New advocates are often told not to say ‘umm’. This is good advice. ((Although the odd ‘umm’ does no harm and there is no need…
One of the important techniques in cross-examination is leading up to an important point with the right preliminary questions. The key is to place the…