GCB NEWS

Advocacy training: expert workshop pants with a more rounded assessment than they might otherwise have received. Report by a participating junior, EB Clavier of the Pretoria Bar Calling upon my own experience again, it is true to say that it took the four par­ n 19 and 20 September 2003 the the opportunity of presenting their cases ticipants acting for the plaintiff some Pretoria Bar held an expert in the wonderfully restored courthouse time to get the ball rolling, but I whole­ Oworkshop on behalf of the GCB and courtroom - the current venue for heartedly believe that, as a direct conse­ at the Palace of Justice in the city centre. the Boeremag treason trial and which quence of the excellent guidance we once housed the Rivonia trial. Twenty-four junior counsel from across received from our trainers, experts and the country and from the various Bars The workshop consisted of four differ­ Van Dijkhorst J, by the time the work­ took part in the workshop geared towards ent facets: shop adjourned at 17hOO on Saturday training juniors - predominantly with the conducting of consultations afternoon, our performances had between three and five years experience with expert witnesses; improved drastically and our knowledge - in consulting expert witnesses, leading the leading of expert evidence; of expert-related matters had been bet­ of expert evidence and cross-examina­ the cross-examining of opposing tered exponentially. tion of opposing expert witnesses. experts; and The training schedule was rather tight the presentation of closing argu­ The training and assessment of the par­ and proceeded extremely efficiently. ments in respect of expert evidence. ticipants' performances was entrusted to The workshop was brilliantly organised a crack team that included four judges The participating juniors were divided and for this thanks need to be extended (Kriegler, Van Dijkhorst, Bertelsmann into three different groups, each of which to John Mullins se and Carlos Da Silva, and Schwartzman JJ), six experts and 18 had to conduct a separate moot court trial and also to John's secretary, Linda trainers. Most of the Bars were repre­ in front of a presiding judge. Each group WoIff, without whom, according to sented and the 18 trainers included two had four participants pleading the plain­ John, the workshop would have been a from England; namely, Messrs Timothy tiff's case and four participants opposing near non-event. Dutton QC and David Spens QC, six on behalf of the defendant. The general consensus amongst the par­ from Pretoria, four from Johannesburg Due to time constraints it was not possi­ ticipants about the quality and success of and one each from Cape Town, Durban, ble for each participant to conduct the the workshop was extremely positive. Bloemfontein, Grahamstown, Port entire trial. Instead, the teams of four The workshop is a wonderful concept Elizabeth and Transkei. would share the tasks mentioned above and I implore the powers that be to con­ The participating juniors came from as and would divide the heavy burden of, sider hosting similar workshops across far afield as Cape Town (two), Durban, for example, cracking the opposing the country on an annual basis. It may Bloemfontein and North West (one expert in cross-examination. also be a good idea to raise awareness each). Eleven juniors were from amongst the juniors of the invaluable Speaking only from my own experience Pretoria and eight made the long, fright­ learning that takes place at the workshop within my group, I must commend the ful journey across the feared Jukskei so that more and more will want to trainers and judges who made the effort River from Johannesburg. attend next time around. If I might just to guide and correct our initially shaky make a suggestion, it would be to pro­ Unfortunately"for those who had waited . attempts with extreme patience and vide next year's participants with more too long to apply, there was only room unerring tact, and gave useful, impor­ time to consult with the experts and to for 24 active participants. Impressively, tant advice on those aspects each prepare for cross-examination. though, 11 juniors, including one from respective participant needed to Bloemfontein, attended the workshop as improve on. During lunchtime on the On behalf of all of us who participated I mere observers. This was an indication Saturday my own feelings were echoed would like to extend heartfelt thanks to of just how much interest the workshop by every junior that I spoke to and it the judges, experts and trainers who all generated and it is heartening to see that would appear that everyone of us sacrificed their incredibly limited spare level of commitment, which also bodes received invaluable training. time to assist and to train us. It is a great well for the future of the profession. testament to the spirit of our profession It was a special privilege to have the and to the wonderful camaraderie that .The cost of participation was only moot court trials presided over by exists at the Bar that the number of par­ R250. For this we need to thank the judges. This created a more formal ticipants was exceeded by those who GCB and Nedbank which came to the atmosphere and motivated every parti­ taught us. party and subsidised the hosting of the cipant to work harder and prepare more event. In return, participants received thoroughly. The presence of two It was a privilege to attend this work­ invaluable training and advice, free Queen's Counsel from Great Britain shop. To those who missed out, make refreshments, and lunch in the High was also a huge bonus. The varying sure that next year you stand at the front Court Chambers' common room on the approaches followed by the different of the queue to put your name down on Saturday, as well as a gift upon their trainers from different Bars and juris­ the list. Until the next time, thank you arrival. In addition, it gave participants dictions helped to provide the partici- very much! QJ

24 ADVOCATE April 2004