Whether you are a civil or criminal law practitioner, it is important to keep up-to-date on developments in the law of evidence. Presented by evidence law lecturers and two of the co-authors of Mahoney on Evidence: Act & Analysis (Thomson Reuters 2nd ed, 2024 forthcoming), our annual evidence law update returns in December. 

The 2-hour session will focus on the current application of key sections of the Evidence Act 2006 in both the civil and criminal law jurisdictions. It will cover recent developments in evidence law of interest to all practitioners. Topics covered will vary at the discretion of the presenters, but can include:

1. relevance / unfair prejudice/ propensity evidence;
2. expert opinion evidence; 
3. claims of privilege / confidentiality;
4. hearsay / business records;
5. defendant’s statements and improperly obtained evidence;
6. eligibility and compellability of witnesses;
7. examination-in-chief;
8. cross-examination;
9. modes of presenting evidence;
10. reliability warnings;
11. “quick takes” on evidence issues in civil and criminal cases.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

• Update your knowledge of key provisions of the Evidence Act 2006 and recent evidence case law from the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
• Learn about recent and potential legislative changes to the Evidence Act 2006 – together with reforms proposed by the Law Commission in its recent (March 2024) 3rd and final Review of the Evidence Act.
• Gain practical and useful insights into the application of evidence law in civil and criminal proceedings.

Who Should Attend?

All civil and criminal law practitioners who appear in court.

Presenters

Scott Optican, Associate Professor (Evidence & Criminal Procedure), University of Auckland Faculty of Law 

Jack Oliver-Hood, Barrister / Former Lecturer in Evidence law (Auckland & AUT Law Schools) – both members of the Law Commission Expert Advisory Group for the March/ 2024 3rd Review of the Evidence Act