Advanced Litigation Skills 2025

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Designed for practitioners with at least six years’ civil or criminal law experience, this advanced five-day, non-residential programme is based on the teaching method so successfully applied in the annual Litigation Skills Programme.

This advanced course is based on one extensive civil case, however, the skills learnt are equally applicable to criminal lawyers. Using only one case will enable you to concentrate on improving your trial advocacy skills in the context of a case that requires mastery of many complex legal and factual issues with a heavy reliance on experts.

Learning by Doing with Critique

You will actively perform in simulated courtroom exercises every day and be critiqued by faculty members who include a member of the judiciary and some of New Zealand’s most experienced counsel. All faculty members are trained in the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) method of teaching.

Learning by Observing

Throughout the course you will have the opportunity to observe others in your group and hear them being critiqued. Your performance will be recorded every day and then critiqued through video review. You will also have the opportunity to observe experienced faculty conducting a variety of demonstrations and discuss differences in styles and methods.

Teaching Approach

Modules will include:

• Demonstration of a key skill
• Practising a key skill
• Receiving constructive advice on improving your performance
• Reviewing your own performance on video
• Observing others performing and listening to faculty comment.