Advanced Law of Evidence Workshop

This workshop will equip you with a thorough understanding of evidence and practical questioning techniques to implement your knowledge; and empower you to deal confidently with evidential issues in arbitrations, court or in disciplinary enquires. After equipping delegates with a proper theoretical understanding of evidence and an in-depth discussion of case law, the third day is devoted to practical questioning techniques.

 

Delegates will be able to explain

  • Why have rules of evidence?
  • What is evidence?
  • Types of evidence (documentary; real; inspection in loco; oral; device)
  • Evidentiary materials (admissions; presumptions; judicial notice; evidence)
  • Admissibility, Relevance and Desirability
  • Presumptions (factual; legal)
  • Admissions
  • Judicial notice
  • Hearsay in labour law
  • Weighing of evidence
  • Techniques in closing submissions
  • Open & closed questions
  • Cross-examination and Re-examination techniques
  1. Introduction
  2. Theory and background
       - the purpose of the Law of Evidence
       - origins of the South African Law of Evidence
       - African indigenous approaches to proof
       - the sources of South African Law of Evidence
       - Law of Evidence Amendment Act of 1988
       - the Labour Relations Act
       - courts vs arbitrations vs disciplinary enquiries
  3. Evidentiary material
       - evidentiary material
       - admissions
       - presumptions
       - judicial notice
       - evidence:  forms of evidence
  4. Admissibility – relevance
       - overview
       - relevance
       - opinion evidence
       - expert opinion
       - hearsay
  5. Admissibility – desirability
       - unfairly prejudicial
       - prior consistent statement
       - similar fact evidence
       - character evidence
       - public policy
       - privilege
       - improperly obtained evidence
       - admissions and confessions
       - entrapment
       - in camera evidence
       - polygraphs
  6. The process of judgment
       - the onus
       - standard of proof
       - credibility – or what makes you believe that a person is or is not telling the truth
       - corroboration, probability, demeanor, consistency
       - circumstantial evidence
  7. Structuring closing submissions
Johannesburg, 4-6 August 2010, Genesis Suites and Conferencing
Cape Town, 18-20 August 2010, Capetonian Hotel
Durban, 18-20 August 2010, Elangeni Hotel
The Fee (Recoverable from Skills Development Levy)

One delegate………………………….R 6 903.00 plus VAT = R 7 869.42
Two or more delegates
from the same organisation…………R 6 213.00 plus VAT = R 7 082.82

Registration form