The client was the applicant’s husband in financial court proceedings, relating to his divorce. The hearing was a Final Hearing at court. The client was introduced to me for witness familiarisation training, via his solicitor.
There had already been protracted legal proceedings ongoing for several years. The husband and wife had now issued ‘cross applications’ in relation to the finances.
The focus of the training
The client needed to practice how to present his oral evidence to come across confident as well as clear and consistent about historical facts. I was made aware of the issues that might trigger the client, which included recollecting events, dates, and questions about a particularly sensitive issue.
Work carried out with the client
The client was clearly fed up with the long legal proceedings he had already had. We needed to work on him feeling fresh and motivated to answer questions he had covered many times before in correspondence and negotiations.
We practiced how to present answers;
- talking clearly,
- feeling confident
- talking loud enough for the judge to hear, and
- providing concise, focused answers.
We discussed how best to approach uncomfortable questions, to avoid him being triggered in cross-examination. He felt he knew the facts of his case really well and it was important for him to feel motivated to get his crucial points across to the judge, who was new to the case.
We had two Zoom meetings. The first 2hr meeting and then a “top-up” session to practice answering questions. Over the 2 meetings, we covered:
- The client’s story – to help me understand how he felt about his situation.
- What to expect on the day of the hearing – the itinerary for the day, running order, etc.
- How to create a positive mindset.
- How to manage difficult emotions.
- Practice questions and answers – friendly questions and uncomfortable questions.
- How to present oral evidence – both the content of the answers and the tone of voice, etc.
After the meetings
I sent a follow-up email to summarise the top tips we had discussed for his oral evidence, as well as my help sheet with a reminder of the advice we had worked on.
I kept myself free on the day the client was giving his oral evidence in case he went ‘part heard’ and needed to speak to me in the lunch break.
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Feedback from client and instructing solicitor.
Client: “Thank you so so much for your wonderful coaching. It was a massive help on the stand while giving evidence.”
Solicitor: “Firstly, my sincerest thanks for all your help with XX. It was invaluable and I really appreciated it and more importantly it was of great assistance to him. The work you did was superb and helped us achieve the outcome we did.”
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Click here to read testimonials for my witness familiarisation training, from both clients and solicitors: Read Testimonials.
Resources
For more information for solicitors about my Witness Familiarisation Training, click here: Witness Familiarisation Training.
To receive a copy of my Client Guide to Witness Familiarisation Training to forward to your clients, click here: Client Guide.
I also have an eBook for clients called Giving Evidence in the Family Court, which can be purchased and downloaded here: Giving Evidence in the Family Court eBook.
©Rhiannon Ford 2010-2026. All rights reserved
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To find out the different ways I could help you with your divorce or separation, please click here: Rhiannon’s Services.
And click here to check out my resources and products available from my website: All Products.
Why I became a divorce consultant.
