Detecting Lies in Legal Proceedings

People lie in legal proceedings, and in every scenario the common denominator is the same – it’s the lawyer who everyone expects to know how to separate truth from lies, fiction from fact. The problem? Most people – including lawyers – are notoriously poor lie detectors. The universal conclusion of decades of behavioural science research is that most of us are no better than a coin flip at spotting lies. But there is hope: studies say an ability to detect lies is not an immutable trait you have to be born with. It’s a skill, which means like any skill it can be learned, and if it can be learned, it can be mastered.

Detecting Lies explores lie signs validated by behavioural science research and road tested by litigators, law enforcement, and poker professionals. David B. Simpson draws on over 40 years as a litigator to explain why someone averting their eyes is not a sign of lying, but why beginning an answer with "truthfully" can be, or why accusing a witness of lying doesn’t help, but asking, "Are you an honest person?" can. This book includes exercises to practice and improve lie-spotting skills, and advanced strategies to outfox liars into unwittingly exposing themselves.

David B. Simpson is a trial attorney and employment litigator of over 40 years, and a former adjunct professor at the Glendale University College of Law.