SRS CLE Programs
SRS offers three MCLE programs: | In states with a 50-minute hour | In states with a 60-minute hour |
---|---|---|
SRS Deposition Program Defending Depositions Taking Depositions |
13 HOURS TOTAL | 10 HOURS TOTAL |
SRS Trial Skills Program Addressing Jurors Questioning Witnesses Using Exhibits |
20 HOURS TOTAL | 16 HOURS TOTAL |
Ethics Program | 2 HOURS TOTAL | 1 HOUR TOTAL |
Some states give credit for partial hours, in which case these totals would include a fractional share of an hour. |
The program schedule consists of short, concise, on-demand streaming videos, related but not duplicative, explaining and demonstrating specific deposition techniques, trial skills, and litigation-related ethics topics. Our videos can be selected and viewed by individual lawyers in a manner that meets state CLE requirements: (1) in an order that meets the lawyer’s particular professional needs; (2) continuously in a group to meet specific credit hour or “time spent” requirements; (3) over a specified time period to meet annual requirements. Written materials available by free download from the website at any time.
The accumulated time for the videos watched is reported to the state MCLE authorities, usually by the lawyer. Some states have additional requirements for on-demand video MCLE programs that call for reporting or verification by the provider, and SRS will take care of that.
The list of videos in each SRS CLE Program is set out below. You will find the links to these videos under the Video Categories tab on the Home Page.
DEPOSITION SERIES, DEFENDING DEPOSITIONS
NO. | CONTENT | TIME: Minutes |
1 | Defending a Party Witness, Basic preparation checklist | 13:25 |
2 | Defending a Non-Party Witness, Basic preparation checklist | 9:23 |
3 | Deposition Preparation, Talking in lay terms with the witness | 15:51 |
4 | Deposition Preparation, Explaining how the rules work | 13:53 |
5 | Deposition Preparation, Explaining what the lawyers do | 9:56 |
6 | Deposition Preparation, The preliminary questions | 12:09 |
7 | Deposition Preparation, Using role- playing to practice with the witness | 13:25 |
8 | Deposition Preparation, Teaching the witness to handle opposing counsel’s questions | 9:57 |
9 | Deposition Preparation, Helping the witness deal with opposing counsel’s pressure | 11:09 |
10 | Deposition Preparation, Alerting the witness to opposing counsel’s themes and theories | 13:15 |
11 | Deposition Preparation, An expert who doesn’t have testifying experience | 17:50 |
12 | Deposition Preparation, An expert who has solid testifying experience | 16:29 |
13 | Deposition Preparation, A witness named to speak for a company | 13:45 |
14 | Deposition Preparation, Defending a videotaped deposition | 13:28 |
15 | Deposition Testimony, Helping a witness correct mistakes | 16:44 |
16 | Deposition Testimony, Making objections to hearsay | 18:55 |
17 | Deposition Testimony, Making objections to exhibits | 18:27 |
18 | Deposition Testimony, Making objections to leading questions | 21:12 |
19 | Deposition Testimony, Objections that can lead to sanctions | 18:01 |
20 | Deposition Testimony, Making objections to lay witness opinions | 15:02 |
21 | Deposition Testimony, Making objections to speculation | 12:27 |
22 | Deposition Testimony, Making objections to protect a privilege | 18:16 |
Total | 5 hrs. 21 min. |
DEPOSITION SERIES, TAKING DEPOSITIONS
NO. | CONTENT | TIME: Minutes |
23 | Taking Depositions, Basic plan and checklist | 11:36 |
24 | Taking Depositions, Negotiating number and priority | 18:20 |
25 | Taking Depositions, Negotiating time, place & compensation | 15:46 |
26 | Taking Depositions, Negotiating with hostile opposing counsel | 7:53 |
27 | Taking Depositions, Deposing a witness named to speak for a company | 9:34 |
28 | Taking Depositions, Deposing a witness in aid of e-discovery | 14:23 |
29 | Taking Depositions, Deposing a police officer | 17:29 |
30 | Taking depositions, Taking a video conference deposition | 16:00 |
31 | Taking Depositions, Advantages of deposing an adverse witness using video | 17:55 |
32 | Taking Depositions, Thinking creatively about deposing an expert witness | 9:20 |
33 | Deposition Preparation, Preparing a witness who will not appear in person at trial | 16:03 |
34 | Taking Depositions, Checklist for arrangements at the outset of making a record | 13:10 |
35 | Taking Depositions, Asking the preliminary “commitment” questions | 8:41 |
36 | Taking Depositions, Cover a subject systematically with the funnel technique | 19:13 |
37 | Taking Depositions, Converting the witness’s guess into useful testimony | 18:40 |
38 | Taking Depositions, Discovery about the witness’s use of social media | 13:02 |
39 | Taking Depositions, Discovery about an expert’s use of social media | 11:23 |
40 | Taking Depositions, Questions to test privilege claims | 17:39 |
41 | Taking Depositions, Questions to test claims of “I don’t know” | 5:40 |
42 | Taking Depositions, Provide the foundation for a document exhibit | 18:05 |
43 | Taking Depositions, Provide the foundation for an e-mail exhibit | 16:25 |
44 | Taking Depositions, Handling obstruction or coaching by opposing counsel | 15:40 |
45 | Taking Depositions, Resisting hearsay objections: “not offered for the truth” | 11:41 |
46 | Taking Depositions, Resisting hearsay objections: statements covered by specific rules | 9:39 |
Total | 5 hrs. 34 min |
|
TOTAL DEPOSITION SERIES | 10 HRS 55 MIN |
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TRIAL SKILLS PROGRAM, ADDRESSING JURORS
NO. | CONTENT | TIME: Minutes |
JURY SELECTION | 104 MINS | |
---|---|---|
47 | Encouraging potential jurors to talk about themselves | 13:20 |
48 | Listening: A key to jury selection | 23:55 |
49 | Looking for problems of bias and sympathy | 13:14 |
50 | Introducing key points that will arise in jury instructions | 11:43 |
51 | Plaintiff's task: explain the burden of proof | 20:01 |
52 | Finding cause for a challenge | 09:29 |
53 | Assessing specialized knowledge and existing attitudes | 12:30 |
OPENING | 181 MINS | |
54 | How to speak persuasively in a courtroom setting | 12:38 |
55 | Preparing for the opening | 12:00 |
56 | Avoid lawyer-talk when speaking to jurors | 12:20 |
57 | Speak effectively: Pace, volume and tone | 18:03 |
58 | Using motion: Gestures, positioning and expressions | 10:02 |
59 | Structure and delivery | 16:20 |
60 | Previewing testimony and exhibits persuasively | 16:55 |
61 | Presenting expert conclusions in opening | 11:52 |
62 | Permitted use of graphics in opening | 14:10 |
63 | Options for explaining the applicable law | 8:13 |
64 | Countering the other side's expert | 15:04 |
65 | Countering the other side's themes and theories | 14:44 |
66 | The critical last 60 seconds | 17:54 |
CLOSING | 186 MINS | |
67 | Marshall facts and add logical inferences | 17:33 |
68 | Connect the law to the facts | 17:24 |
69 | Think about likely jury instructions | 10:53 |
70 | Countering the other side's experts | 11:23 |
71 | Countering likely sympathy for the other party | 15:23 |
72 | Advanced methods for delivery and content | 17:49 |
73 | Arguing against a party who is not a "bad person" | 10:05 |
74 | Use analogies to bolster your main points | 11:19 |
75 | Reasoning to minimize damages | 17:54 |
76 | Asking for "big money" damages | 13:08 |
77 | Using emotion in closing | 12:43 |
78 | Essential elements of rebuttal | 14:22 |
79 | Selecting and preparing topics for rebuttal | 16:07 |
TOTAL ADDRESSING JURORS | 471 MINS |
TRIAL SKILLS PROGRAM, QUESTIONING WITNESSES
NO. | CONTENT | TIME: Minutes |
DIRECT EXAMINATION, LAY WITNESS | 147 MINS | |
---|---|---|
80 | Make the witness a good source of information for the jury | 14:54 |
81 | Framing questions on direct | 12:52 |
82 | Highlighting with voice, repetition, irony and other techniques | 17:22 |
83 | Highlighting with phrasing in questions | 14:50 |
84 | Help a witness use exhibits successfully | 23:08 |
85 | Minimize harm: Plan for handling bad facts | 26:28 |
86 | Handling problems when your witness testifies incorrectly | 15:53 |
87 | Start strong and end strong | 21:24 |
CROSS EXAMINATION, LAY WITNESS | 146 MINS | |
88 | Form questions to emphasize your points | 22:02 |
89 | Communicate to the jury indirectly with leading questions | 20:03 |
90 | Enhance cross by writing and redefining | 17:20 |
91 | Keep a hostile witness on track | 9:17 |
92 | Keep the witness from fudging the facts | 10:52 |
93 | Ways to control a difficult witness | 10:48 |
94 | Set up carefully to get a concession from the witness | 11:55 |
95 | Use of "color words" during cross | 7:57 |
96 | Overview of impeachment methods | 13:03 |
97 | Impeachment with a prior inconsistent statement | 14:59 |
98 | Impeachment with an omission in a prior statement | 8:27 |
DIRECT EXAMINATION, EXPERT WITNESS | 76 MINS | |
99 | Qualify a witness as an expert | 15:17 |
100 | Describe the facts and data used by the expert | 19:56 |
101 | Present the expert's opinion | 15:56 |
102 | Tender the expert | 14:00 |
103 | Blunt your opponent's attack on your expert | 10:45 |
CROSS EXAMINATION, EXPERT WITNESS | 45 MINS | |
104 | Show the jury the expert's bias | 9:32 |
105 | Challenge the expert's factual basis | 13:15 |
106 | Undermine the expert's opinion | 13:03 |
107 | Contradict the expert with a learned treatise | 8:50 |
TOTAL QUESTIONING WITNESS | 414 MINS |
TRIAL SKILLS PROGRAM, USING EXHIBITS
NO. | CONTENT | TIME: Minutes |
USING EXHIBITS | 187 MINS | |
---|---|---|
108 | Basics of presenting exhibits to the jury | 11:23 |
109 | Introducing an exhibit at trial and providing a foundation | 14:37 |
110 | Providing a foundation for document exhibits | 12:34 |
111 | Using pointers, highlighting images, blanking the screen | 12:30 |
112 | Using visuals to hold the jury's attention during direct | 14:14 |
113 | Using video to present witness testimony | 17:23 |
114 | Exhibits for argument and impeachment | 10:29 |
115 | Exhibits for domestic violence cases | 21:14 |
116 | Using flip charts in direct examination | 16:01 |
117 | Using flip charts for cross examination | 16:42 |
118 | Opposing document exhibits: objections to foundation and content | 24:58 |
119 | Responding to objections to the content of an exhibit | 15:01 |
TOTAL USING EXHIBITS | 187 MINS |
ETHICS SERIES
NO. | CONTENT | TIME: Minutes |
ETHICS | 70 MINS | |
---|---|---|
120 | Ethics Issues that Arise in Witness Preparation | 17:19 |
121 | Be Cautious About Joint Representation | 13:16 |
122 | Ethics Issues that Arise in Defending Depositions | 17:52 |
123 | Ethics Issues that Arise in Taking Depositions | 21:40 |
TOTAL ETHICS SERIES | 70 MINS |
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