CalCPA Forensic Services Section and CalCPA Education Foundation will answer those questions and more through the Forensic Expert Leadership Program, which is designed to help forensic accounting professionals expand their practice and prepare for career development as a testifying expert. Top experts in forensic accounting and litigation will share their knowledge and review the skills required for serving as an effective expert witness.

The program is limited to 20 forensic accounting professionals with at least three years of experience and includes interactive components, including the opportunity to practice your testimony on video, get analyzed by a body language specialist, and participate in a mock trial with a judicial representative.

Among the key concepts covered in the five-day program:

• Rules and standards related to expert testimony in judicial proceedings;

• Presenting your forensic accounting experience to qualify as a testifying expert;

• Marketing yourself as a forensic expert to attorneys and clients;

• What juries and judges are looking for from forensic accountants;

• Effective verbal and written communications for the litigation process and in expert and rebuttal reports;

• Deposition preparation;

• Do’s and don’ts of direct and cross examinations; and

• Navigating the witness stand.

Past participants say:

"I got so much value from the program. In the years since I participated, I've had multiple testimony experiences and I can say that the program absolutely helped me to feel prepared and confident. I also met so many wonderful people (instructors, organizers, and other participants) that I have kept in touch with and who continue to positively impact my career."
- Rachel Hennessy, Hemming Morse

"The Forensic Expert Leadership Program was a great boot camp for improving the expert witness skill set. The instructors represent some of the best practitioners in the field. In addition, the students themselves are the future leaders in their firms and in the forensic field, just wanting to accelerate their learning curve."
- Ben Towne, Towne Advisory Services Corp

The application period is currently closed and will open again in spring 2025.