Effective Depositions is a comprehensive, practical guide through every stage of the deposition process. It concisely covers the law of depositions and related discovery issues and gives a clear, thorough understanding of the process and its practical challenges so that either taker or defender can make the best use of the opportunities the process offers. Whether you are a seasoned veteran of depositions or a first-timer, you will get techniques and strategies for effectively





preparing for a deposition, whether as taker or defender;

taking a deposition;

defending a witness;

using (or countering) the deposition at trial; and

avoiding costly, damaging mistakes along the way.


This edition covers timely subjects such as





realtime transcription;

video depositions;

the Fifth Amendment on civil depositions;

issues for women at depositions; and handling deposition discovery disputes.


The appendices offer quick, practical guides for handling skills, such as asking questions about a conversation for purposes of discovery, asking questions about a document, making objections, and using depositions at trial. The book helps navigate through the legal and practical problems and issues that may be encountered with each deposition. It contains numerous case studies and clearly-explained examples, in addition to models, sample forms and checklists.