Nolo's Deposition Handbook(3rd Edition) 
asked by jbritt on November 18, 2006 12:54 PM
Court cases are never as quick and tidy as television dramas would have us believe. In fact, most civil disputes are settled long before a judge has a chance to pound a gavel. That's why pretrial fact-finding procedures such as depositions play an increasingly important role in legal quarrels. In fact, it's not uncommon for a deposition to be the only testimony given. All of this explains why Nolo's Deposition Handbook can be such a useful resource. For the uninitiated, depositions are the process that enable either party in a lawsuit to question the other, as well as other witnesses, under oath before a trial begins. To prepare readers, authors (and attorneys) Paul Bergman and Albert Moore do a commendable job of dealing with real-life issues, such as what to do--and not to do--in preparation for a deposition, what to do if you're asked to bring documents to a deposition, how far you can be required to travel, and how to deal with trick questions that many lawyers love to ask. Three "Golden Rules" are also offered to help people through the deposition process. Put simply, the rules are to listen to the entire question and then answer only that question; answer truthfully and completely; and if you don't understand a question, don't answer it. The tone of the entire book acknowledges--without being condescending--that legal arenas are an area where novices feel quite underqualified. For example, the authors warn against engaging in seemingly harmless chit-chat with a companion before and during breaks in a deposition. The reason is one that most non-lawyers would be hard-pressed to imagine: Deposing counsel can ask the companion to reveal what the deponent said. Of course, readers intrigued by that line of thinking will thoroughly enjoy the last half of the book, which is devoted to those interested in representing themselves in legal matters. --John Russell
Reviews
0%
0%
I just went through 13 hours of deposition time and let me clue you, this woman is only giving you the basic bs and I am going to write my deposition book, because the judicial system is at best corrupt and some of the attorneys are absolutely criminals and will lie and cheat - depositions are complexed and a detailed books from a deponent's point of view and with legal ease needs to be done.
Be careful when you are being deposed. Just my humble experience and opinion. This book will not help you in anyway.
Be careful when you are being deposed. Just my humble experience and opinion. This book will not help you in anyway.
reviewed by redryder on November 24, 2006 1:47 PM
0%
0%
As a monitor of the information desk at the Harold Washington Library, Chicago's main library, I regularly make referrals to people looking for all kinds of information. Whenever I'm asked about books on depositions, the first one that comes to mind is "The Deposition Handbook: A Guide To Help You Give A Winning Deposition," by Virginia A. Lathan.
But recently I also came across this book, "Nolo's Deposition Handbook," and I'm thoroughly impressed by the in-depth information it contains on all aspects of the deposition process. Not only is the book well written, but it also has a useful glossary for readily looking up legal terms. It also contains numerous examples of what the author is trying to convey. Additionally, it's well indexed. I particularly found the appendices helpful, because they contain excerpts from the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and also web site addresses for obtaining information about discovery rules for particular states. I think this book would be a tremendous asset for parties to a lawsuit, people who represent themselves in court, and even lawyers who need to refresh themselves on the many aspects of depositions.
However, because the book is so thorough, I will still recommend people check out Virginia Lathan's book. Her simple-and-concise book reminds me of "Cliff Notes," those handy little pamphlets that highlight key points and make it easier to navigate your way through the voluminous writings of complete texts. For that reason, I suggest that you consider purchasing both books, because when thy're used in unison, you'll have all the reference books you need to help you give a winning deposition.
As a matter of fact, in one of his other books, "Represent Yourself in Court" (2nd edition), Paul Bergman highly praised Virginia Lathan's "Deposition Handbook."
But recently I also came across this book, "Nolo's Deposition Handbook," and I'm thoroughly impressed by the in-depth information it contains on all aspects of the deposition process. Not only is the book well written, but it also has a useful glossary for readily looking up legal terms. It also contains numerous examples of what the author is trying to convey. Additionally, it's well indexed. I particularly found the appendices helpful, because they contain excerpts from the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and also web site addresses for obtaining information about discovery rules for particular states. I think this book would be a tremendous asset for parties to a lawsuit, people who represent themselves in court, and even lawyers who need to refresh themselves on the many aspects of depositions.
However, because the book is so thorough, I will still recommend people check out Virginia Lathan's book. Her simple-and-concise book reminds me of "Cliff Notes," those handy little pamphlets that highlight key points and make it easier to navigate your way through the voluminous writings of complete texts. For that reason, I suggest that you consider purchasing both books, because when thy're used in unison, you'll have all the reference books you need to help you give a winning deposition.
As a matter of fact, in one of his other books, "Represent Yourself in Court" (2nd edition), Paul Bergman highly praised Virginia Lathan's "Deposition Handbook."
reviewed by maxmill on November 28, 2006 4:30 AM