Expert Witness: Family Court Proceedings (Level 4)

This workshop aims to provide the participants with the knowledge needed to become a reliable and sought after expert witness in the family courts. It explores the requirements placed upon applied psychologists by the legal system when working as an expert witness in family court proceedings.

Provisional timetable
09:30 Registration/tea and coffee
10:00 Workshop starts
12:30-13:00 Lunch
16:30 Workshop ends

Details

The work of expert witness psychologists preparing reports for the family courts is always a challenge. More recently such reports have been subject to criticism in the press. This workshop examines the particular requirements for family court.

Attendees will discuss the particular rules of the family court and the duties of an Expert Witness. Best practice in report writing and court appearance for the family court will be discussed. The importance of placing the welfare of the child first will be emphasized throughout.

This workshop adds further to the understanding of the requirements of the family court, the importance of the focused court report and appearance.

This is skills based training for psychologists acting as expert witnesses. This workshop is an advanced workshop which follows the series of three workshops offered to provide a strong foundation for providing services as an expert witness.

To attend level 4 workshops delegates must have attended the previous workshops (levels 1 to 3).

• Expert Witness: Essential Knowledge of Being an Expert Witness (Level 1)
• Expert Witness: Report Writing (Level 2)
• Expert Witness: Presenting Court Room Evidence (Level 3)
• Expert Witness: Using Psychometric Assessments for Court (Level 4)
• Expert Witness: For Family Court Proceedings (Level 4)
• Expert Witness: For Civil Courts (Level 4)
• Expert Witness: For Criminal Courts (Level 4)

Learning outcomes and objectives

Participants will:

• Understand the role and responsibilities of being an expert witness in family court proceedings
• Understand the importance of presenting both observational material and evidence based reports
• Understand the link between a well written report and the expert’s experience in the witness box

Facilitator: Susan van Scoyoc CPsychol CSci AFBPsS

Susan has acted as an expert witness as an applied psychologist for a number of years. She offers training in small group environments in order to assist psychologist colleagues to learn how to present their existing knowledge at its best in legal settings. Susan is a member of the UK Register of Expert Witnesses as well as on the BPS registers for supervision, psychologists specialising in psychotherapy and psychometric testing.

Booking information

Fees:

• Non-Society Member: £234 (£195 + VAT)
• Society Member: £156 (£130 + VAT)

From 1 January 2013:

• Non-Society Member: £252 (£210 + VAT)
• Society Member: £168 (£140 + VAT)

How to book:

Please note: online bookings will close 24 hours prior to the event. Please call +44 (0)116 2529512 for availability after this point.

To pay by cheque or request an invoice complete and return the registration form.

Please note that we are only able to accept invoice requests at least 6 weeks before the event date.