Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
depend.on.the.speciic.requirements.and.level.of.expertise.of.
your. audience.. However,. I. recommend. bringing. along. any.
logs. or. other. documentation. that. you. might. be. questioned.
about.as.reference.for.yourself.
Be.concise.and.ensure.you.are.able.to.answer.any.ques-
tion.that.might.be.asked.of.you..It.can.be.very.valuable.to.sit.
down.with.your.legal.counsel.and.rehearse.possible.questions.
and.answers.that.might.be.brought.forward.during.the.case.
or.deposition.
An. important. caveat,. especially. in. a. court. setting,. is. to.
only. answer. the. question. you. are. asked.. It. is. not. your. job.
to. try. to. igure. out. what. else. the. questioner. might. want. to.
know,.or.to.give.details.that.were.not.speciically.requested..
It.is.a.common.mistake.for.someone.in.the.witness.stand.or.
during.a.deposition.to.try.to.be.helpful.and.to.expound.on.
their.deep.knowledge.of.a.subject.without.having.been.asked..
This.might.confuse.the.actual.issue.or.give.opposing.counsel.
information.that.is.not.relevant.or.might.even.be.used.against.
your.side..It.can.lead.to.your.counsel's.inability.to.control.the.
case.to.their.advantage.
Another.important.tip.for.appearing.in.court:.Don't.allow.
your.questioners.to.paint.you.into.a.corner.by.insisting.on.an.
answer..It.is.perfectly.legitimate.for.you.to.reply.that.you.do.
not.know.an.answer,.or.that.you.have.provided.them.with.all.
the.information.you.have..It.is.a.relatively.common.tactic.to.
try.to.get.the.answer.they.want.by.insisting.that.you.tell.them,.
“Yes”.or.“No,”.or.give.some.other.response.that.leads.to.the.
conclusion.they.want..You.can.usually.avoid.this.trap.by.being.
very.careful.to.answer.only.with.what.you.know.for.sure.and.
being.ready.to.say,.“I.don't.know.”
Take.the.time.to.review.all.of.your.data.and.to.go.over.the.
possible.issues.with.your.own.legal.counsel.beforehand..A.
mock.deposition.or.trial.rehearsal.is.a.great.idea.if.you.have.
the.time..It.can.help.to.bring.up.any.areas.where.you.might.
need.more.information.or.research..It.can.also.be.a.way.for.
you. and. your. legal. counsel. to. decide. what. information. is.
truly.relevant.and.what.might.be.privileged.or.unnecessary.
