Are you going to give a deposition related to a crime that you are accused of? You'll want to work closely with your criminal defense attorney to help prep you for the deposition to ensure that is goes smoothly. That said, some mistakes can be made during a deposition that you will want to avoid.
Talking Too Much
It is easy to be nervous during a deposition, especially because you are talking to lawyer from the prosecution. As a result, you may end up talking too much during the deposition, which si a common mistake that people make. One key thing to remember is that you are being asked questions by someone that wants to get more information out of you. They're not trying to defend you, but successfully find you guilty of the crime you are being accused of.
The best thing that you can do is limit your answers to keep them as short as possible. Don't give more information than is necessary to answer a question, and you will be doing all you can do to meet the requirements of a deposition.
Behaving Inappropriately
Your deposition will eventually be transcribed and submitted as part of the criminal case against you, so remember that even the context and tone of your answers can be removed when reading that transcript back. That's why you want to be on your best behavior and answer questions in a straightforward manner. Now is not the time to be sarcastic and give the other lawyer and attitude about the questions being asked of you.
In addition, be mindful of the language that you use during the deposition. Try not to swear or use slang word that can become misinterpreted by others.
Lying
It may seem obvious, but you must be completely truthful about your case during a deposition. It's really easy to get caught up in lies if you cannot keep your story straight, and there can be big consequences for doing so. Your deposition is given under oath, which means that you could be charged with perjury if it is proven that you have lied.
These are just a few mistakes that can be made during your deposition. For more ideas on what you shouldn't be doing, meet with a layer so they can prepare you for what to expect. You may be surprised at how much some coaching can help get you through the deposition. Contact a firm, like The Fitzpatrick Law Firm, for more assistance.
Share17 February 2019
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