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Keep Calm and Testify On: A Practical Guide for Giving Expert Testimony 

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Price
$49
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Time
90 Minutes

Originally Aired
January 21, 2026 

Sheri Vanino
Dr. Sheri Vanino
Forensic and Clinical Psychologist

Expert witness testimony is essential for helping jurors understand the dynamics of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, trafficking, stalking, and other forms of gender-based violence. Yet many jurisdictions struggle with a shortage of qualified experts who can explain trauma responses, offender patterns, delayed reporting, and other “counterintuitive” behaviors that regularly arise in these cases. 

Professionals with substantial experience responding to these crimes—such as law enforcement officers, medical providers, advocates, and mental health clinicians—are often well-positioned to become generalized experts. This webinar will outline what is required to qualify as an expert witness and how to distinguish between fact and expert testimony. Join the discussion to learn strategies for preparing for direct and cross-examination, avoiding common pitfalls, staying within scope and your lane of expertise, and communicating clearly and effectively with the court. 

Objectives

As a result of this webinar, participants will be better able to:

  1. Understand effective techniques for preparing for expert qualification, including organizing credentials, defining the scope of expertise, and responding to foundational questions. 
  1. Explain key trauma-informed communication strategies that support clear, accurate, and defensible expert testimony during both direct and cross-examination. 
  1. Identify practical courtroom skills—such as managing difficult questioning, maintaining composure under pressure, and staying within scope—that strengthen the clarity and credibility of expert testimony. 
  1. Describe how to balance personal professional experience with trauma-informed, evidence-based research to provide clear, accurate, and defensible expert testimony. 

With a paid registration or subscription, you are free to personally listen to this webinar, as many times as you wish. You may also excerpt or cite the material following accepted conventions. However, you may not allow other individuals to listen to this webinar without their own registration or subscription.

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