an exhaustive list of questions and expect full and honest answers in return. Oftentimes, these questions can become quite personal, and undergoing a deposition may seem like an unfair experience. If the other side gets to ask you difficult questions, why don’t you get to do the same?

The answer to that question is that you do—but at a different time and place. During your own deposition, it is primarily the other side that gets to ask questions. During that time, your attorney is present with you to make sure that the other side doesn’t abuse the rules, and to make sure you have an opportunity to elaborate on any answers that you need to. But you, as the plaintiff, will have your opportunity as well, although it will actually be your attorney who asks questions on your behalf. Prior to trial, both sides get the opportunity to discover facts and information that the other side has in their possession. The deposition is one way of doing this, and just like your opponent gets to ask you questions, you get to ask them questions as well. Your attorney will select key people that might know valuable information and schedule depositions with them. During those depositions, your attorney will ask questions on your behalf on matters that are important to the case—some of them may be as uncomfortable for the other side as you were in your deposition.