Feb. 18, 2009 – The State Bar recently released a new Spanish-language video to help your clients prepare for a deposition.

“Imagine your anxiety if you were required to give testimony under oath as a witness in a legal proceeding where you know that every word you say will be recorded for possible use in court at a later date. Now imagine what that experience would be like if the proceedings were conducted entirely in a foreign language,” notes George Brown, State Bar Executive Director.

For many Hispanics in Wisconsin, that scenario is only too real because in Wisconsin, like other states, attorneys routinely use depositions to obtain detailed information about a pending lawsuit. While depositions are a routine and essential part of our civil justice system, they are an unfamiliar experience for most people. That’s why the State Bar has updated its deposition DVDs and booklets in both English and Spanish.

The 43-minute Spanish-language DVD walks viewers through a typical deposition process, showing how court interpreters contribute to the process. Both English and Spanish versions explain why depositions are taken, what participants should expect, and how to be the best witness possible, including suggestions on how to avoid common mistakes that can undermine the testimony of even the best-intentioned witness.

The DVDs are part of a series of client education and staff training law office videos produced by the Bar over the past 20 years. The DVDs help lawyers prepare their clients, train their staff, and operate their practices more efficiently and save invaluable time. The next Spanish language title in the series, released later this year, will focus on compulsory medical examinations.

For more information or to order the new deposition video or law office videos, contact the State Bar at (800) 728-7788 or (608) 257-3838.