A coach or paralegal that is officially certified as a BSW WITNESS PREP PRACTITIONER will uphold the laws by making sure not to ask any witness to disclose any information or details of the lawsuit. Sessions can be recorded, and generally are as a matter of professional practice. These recordings are available to be scrutinized to know that the witness’s testimony has not been compromised whatsoever. Please note: As a matter of policy, NO recording will be released if there is a balance owing to the Witness Prep Practitioner.
We have a “reactive symptom self-assessment” questionnaire that stresses that we do NOT need nor want any information about the case. The assessment is used to teach the witness how to rate their own reactive state; so that the witness knows to practice the techniques on a schedule that will ensure the witness can be an effective witness; and know how to be able to remain so under cross-examination.
The potential loss in each case is only known to the lawyer. The lawyer must be diligent about advising the witness about the potential stressors in the witness’s appearance on the witness stand. Doing so will help the witness to correctly assess the potential of being unable to concentrate well enough to effectively deliver the facts under the cross-examination process. The witness will know the need for using the specific BSW techniques is based on facts rather than monetary, or promotional reasons.
The witness preparation sessions also include training the witness to be respectful to the judge and provides details of the expected court protocol. This training is also how a BSW Practitioner assesses the stress levels of the witness, so that these additional stressors are also neutralized.