Deposition preparation for paralegals is often a strenuous task. It is the main opportunity for an attorney to gain more information on a case as well as impeach any testimony that is not an exact representation of the truthful facts of the case. Here is a small list of some of the duties and responsibilities of the paralegal during the deposition process.
Paralegals preparations before the deposition
- Preparing notices of deposition and/or subpoenas.
- Coordinating schedules of witnesses, attorneys, court reporter and all other parties involved.
- Assessing correct fees for deponents.
- Finalizing conference room space for deposition with the court reporter.
Paralegals preparations for the deposition
Prepare the witnesses
One of the most important duties of the paralegals assisting with depositions is preparing the witnesses. Almost all witnesses have nearly no courtroom experience; therefore, it is the duty of the paralegal to familiarize the witness with what will take place, what they must do and why they are there.
Research related cases
One of the duties includes the research of related or similar cases.
Document preparation
One of the duties they have in regards to depositions is the preparation of legal documents. They will create a list of questions that the lawyer can ask and create documents that show the evidence already collected. Paralegals may create exhibits that lawyers will use to show where the witnesses were during the event. Those exhibits can feature other types of evidence.
The purpose of the deposition is to allow both sides involved in litigation to engage the witnesses in an interview process to unveil the truth and facts of the case and to gain evidence that can be used later in court. It is quite often viewed as one of the most important stages in litigation.
If you are looking for a skilled and reliable court reporter for your next deposition, please contact us today!