By attending this course, and showing your competence during this course, you will receive a certificate enabling you to apply to the LPC for the -
- right of appearance in the High Court (s 25(3)); or
- conversion from attorney to advocate (s 32(1)(a)).
- Alternatively, this is the ideal course to upskill yourself in the area of trial advocacy. Candidate attorneys may therefore also attend if they just want to upskill in this area and are not seeking right of appearance in the High Court or a conversion from attorney to advocate.
Effective trial advocacy requires great skill. It is the aim of this LPC-accredited course to help you develop the essential courtroom skills necessary to successfully present your case at trial. Trial lawyers need to work with the toolkit of available facts, however, it is only the effective lawyer who can paint a superior picture at trial.
Our course offers a theory-driven approach to advocacy with the help of practical exercises and examples. It will assist you to develop a winning case theory and to use it effectively during every phase of the trial, including the opening statement, witness examinations, and the final argument.
Dr Willem Gravett will explain how to present your case as a captivating story, and how to tell that story in the courtroom persuasively and impactfully. We will examine the rhetorical techniques that enhance the persuasive quality of advocacy as well as the basic principles of formulating effective questions.
This course takes an in-depth look at each phase of the trial – opening statement, examination-in-chief, cross-examination, and final argument – and through practical real-life examples we break down those fundamental principles and strategies necessary for success in the courtroom. At the end of this in-person course, you will have gained the skills necessary to apply advocacy skills in an effective, coherent, and most importantly, persuasive manner.
Novice and experienced attorneys and advocates.
- The course is presented on five working days in Lynnwood, Pretoria, or in Fairland, Johannesburg over five Saturdays from 08:00-16:00.
- In-person attendance will be limited to 20 people. Register early to secure your seat.
- The presentation is accompanied by a comprehensive reference manual.
- On the last day of the course, your performance in a mock trial will be assessed by the lecturer and a moderator to assess whether you show proficiency in trial practice sufficient to warrant the right of appearance in the High Court. Their decision will be final.
- This course is a great way to upskill and improve your knowledge of trial advocacy.
- You will acquire the practical skills and theoretical background required to become a more competent and effective trial lawyer.