Strategic Depositions, Effective Outlines, Information Gathering, Admissions, Witness Management, Advanced Strategies, and More

Veronica J. Finkelstein
Veronica J. Finkelstein
Wilmington University School of Law

Veronica J. Finkelstein is an accomplished litigator and educator dedicated to developing the next generation of legal advocates. She spent much of her career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice in Philadelphia, where she served as a civil division training officer, paralegal supervisor, and later, senior litigation counsel.

William C. Martucci
William C. Martucci
Shook Hardy & Bacon

Mr. Martucci, who holds an LL.M. from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., practices nationally in complex class action litigation (including high-stakes commercial litigation and wage & hour litigation). His jury work has been featured in The National Law Journal.

Live Video-Broadcast: May 23, 2025

2 hour CLE

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Program Summary

Session I – Getting the Most Out of Depositions – Veronica Finkelstein

A well-prepared deposition can be a game-changer in litigation. This session will equip attorneys with essential skills for conducting effective depositions, from crafting a strategic outline to handling exhibits with precision. Attendees will learn best practices for gathering critical information, obtaining key admissions, and locking witnesses into their testimony to prevent later contradictions. With practical guidance on structuring questions and controlling the flow of testimony, this session will help attorneys maximize the impact of depositions and strengthen their overall case strategy.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • Creating an Effective Outline
  • Handling Exhibits
  • Gathering Information
  • Getting Admissions
  • Locking the Deponent In

Session II – Mastering Deposition Strategy – William C. Martucci

This advanced session covers key strategic deposition considerations in the context of big picture objectives and implementation. Learn how to employ strategic questioning, deal with objections, use exhibits effectively, depositions during discovery, summary judgment considerations, depositions during trial, and ADR considerations. An ideal opportunity to take your deposition strategy to a new, advanced level of strategic refinement.

Shook, Hardy partner Bill Martucci will discuss the deposition process in a fashion that is practical and valuable for advanced efforts.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • The Big Picture
  • Strategic Questioning
  • Dealing with Objections
  • Exhibit Use
  • Depositions Transcripts During Discovery
  • Summary Judgment Considerations
  • Effective Use of Depositions During Trial
  • ADR Considerations

This course is co-sponsored with myLawCLE.

Date / Time: May 23, 2025

  • 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm Eastern
  • 1:00 pm – 3:10 pm Central
  • 12:00 pm – 2:10 pm Mountain
  • 11:00 am – 1:10 pm Pacific

Closed-captioning available

Speakers

Speaker_Veronica J. Finkelstein_FedBarVeronica J. Finkelstein | Wilmington University School of Law

Veronica J. Finkelstein is an accomplished litigator and educator dedicated to developing the next generation of legal advocates. She spent much of her career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice in Philadelphia, where she served as a civil division training officer, paralegal supervisor, and later, senior litigation counsel. Finkelstein successfully litigated civil affirmative and defensive matters, including tort, employment law, and medical malpractice cases, as well as criminal child exploitation cases. She also prosecuted fraud claims, such as qui tam actions, earning the Executive Office of United States Attorneys Director’s Award for Superior Performance as a Civil Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2014. Prior to her government service, she clerked for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and worked in construction litigation at Duane Morris, LLP, and Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman, PC.

Now a full-time professor at Wilmington University School of Law, Finkelstein has an extensive teaching background, having taught at Drexel Law, Emory Law, and Rutgers Law. She has also instructed at the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center and serves as a program director for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. Recognized for her excellence in teaching, she received NITA’s Jo Ann Harris Public Service Award in 2024 and multiple accolades from Rutgers Law. Her scholarship spans evidence, civil procedure, and constitutional law, and she co-authored Ethical Lawyering: A Guide for the WellIntentioned, now in its second edition. A graduate of Emory University School of Law and Pennsylvania State University, both with honors, Finkelstein was an elite moot court competitor and a member of the Order of the Barristers.

 

William C. Martucci | Shook Hardy & Bacon

Mr. Martucci, who holds an LL.M. from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., practices nationally in complex class action litigation (including high-stakes commercial litigation and wage & hour litigation). Chambers & Partners America’s Leading Lawyers for Business notes: “Bill Martucci is worth having on any dream team for litigation and policy issues.” His jury work has been featured in The National Law Journal. He is listed in the Euromoney Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America for Business and Employment Litigation. He teaches multinational business policy and the global workplace at Georgetown. Bill is a partner with Shook Hardy & Bacon in Washington, DC, and New York.

Agenda

Session I – Getting the Most Out of Depositions | 2:00pm – 3:00pm

  • Creating an Effective Outline
  • Handling Exhibits
  • Gathering Information
  • Getting Admissions
  • Locking the Deponent In

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

Session II – Mastering Deposition Strategy | 3:10pm – 4:10pm

  • The Big Picture
  • Strategic Questioning
  • Dealing with Objections
  • Exhibit Use
  • Depositions Transcripts During Discovery
  • Summary Judgment Considerations
  • Effective Use of Depositions During Trial
  • ADR Considerations

Credits

Alaska

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through Alaska’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity.
Alabama

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Arkansas

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Arizona

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

California

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Colorado

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Connecticut

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

District of Columbia

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Delaware

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Florida

Approved via Attorney Submission
2.5 General

Receive CLE credit in Florida via attorney submission.
Georgia

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Hawaii

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Iowa

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Idaho

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Illinois

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Indiana

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Kansas

Pending CLE Approval
2 Substantive

Kentucky

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Louisiana

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Massachusetts

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Maryland

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Maine

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Michigan

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Minnesota

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Missouri

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Mississippi

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Montana

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

North Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

North Dakota

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through North Dakota’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity. Section 1, Policy 1.14
Nebraska

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

myLawCLE reports attendance to Nebraska on each attorney’s behalf for all programs. Please do not self-report.
New Hampshire

Approved for CLE Credits
120 General

As of July 1, 2014, the NHMCLE Board no longer provides pre- or post-approval of courses. Attendees must self-determine whether a program is eligible for credit, and self-report their attendance online at www.nhbar.org, based on qualification provisions of Rule 53.
New Jersey

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New Jersey’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity, except for the courses required under BCLE Reg. 201:2
New Mexico

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Nevada

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

New York

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New York’s Approved Jurisdiction Group “B”.
Ohio

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Oklahoma

Pending CLE Approval
2.5 General

Oregon

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Pennsylvania

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Rhode Island

Pending CLE Approval
2.5 General

South Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

South Dakota

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Tennessee

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Texas

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Utah

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Virginia

Not Eligible
2 General Hours

Vermont

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Washington

Approved via Attorney Submission
2 Law & Legal

Receive CLE credit in Washignton via attorney submission.
Wisconsin

Pending CLE Approval
2.4 General

West Virginia

Pending CLE Approval
2.4 General

Wyoming

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

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