LAWS Assignment Sample PDF

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Client Interview/Video Assessment Task Sample. For LAWS1100 which is new course code...

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Word Count: 750

Reflecting on your own client interview and the skills, identify which skill/s you most need to develop and explain specifically what you need to do in order to improve. Undoubtedly the relationship between a client and lawyer is pivotal in understanding how better to aid the client. Client interviewing is a crucial aspect in building rapport with the client, which is essential in order to gain information so lawyers are able to assist the client to the best of their ability. There are an array of vital skills that need to be exercised when interviewing, so that one may successfully build a strong relationship with the client. These skills include, active listening, communicating in plain english and reflecting and reframing. As a law student, it is important that I develop these skills so that once I enter the legal workforc , I am able to put these skills into practice.

There are a range of skills that need developing and throughout my law degree. One skill that I believe is important when interviewing clients is active listening. Whilst communication is an essential aspect to client interviewing, the ability to listen to the clients needs is crucial in order to assist the client to the best of one's ability. Active listening is a valuable skill to lawyers as it enables them to effectively prepare the case and build rapport with the client1. Through active listening the lawyer is able to convey that they are processing the information given by the client, as gathering information from the client is an important part in client interviewing2. Reflecting upon my own client interview3, I recognise that active listening is a highly important skill to learn. I was able to practice this skill with simple head nods and through verbal affirmations such as ‘ok’ and ‘right’. One way I can improve this skill is through the use of eye contact, as it demonstrates empathy to the client and shows that the lawyer is engaged in what the client is saying.

1John L Barkai ‘How To Develop The Skill of Active Listening’ (1984) 30 The Practical Lawyer74. 2 Ibid., p. 75. 3 Domenico Portolesi, ‘LAWS1100_MQ45641374’ (Youtube, 19 April 2020) 00:00:00-00:09:34 .

Moreover, another valuable skill of client interviewing is communicating with the client in plain english. As a law student, I recognise that the legal terminology used between lawyers may be difficult to understand by the average person, which is why it is important to communicate in plain english. It's presumed that clients experience stress to some extent, when meeting with a lawyer, which is why it's important to communicate in a way an average person would understand in order to not increase anxiety and therefore overwhelm the client4. Plain english is particularly important when explaining client confidentiality, as it builds trust and encourages the client to confide in the lawyer5. Which is why it is crucial that the client understands the key characteristics of client confidentiality. Through my client interview6 I felt that I struggled to communicate in plain english. I found it difficult to reframe what I was communicating to my client, as I noticed that I had to often stop and think about what I was about to say. One way I am able to develop this area is to consciously review the legal terminology used during client interviewing and replace them with words an average person would be able to understand.

Furthermore, another vital skill I demonstrated in my client interview7 was reflecting and reframing the information given by the client. Reflecting and reframing demonstrates to the client that you understood the facts given. This skill assists in achieving an engaged clientcentered interview, as it provides clarification and conveys that the lawyer is engaged and willing to help with the clients issues8. An important aspect of this skill is to await for verbal confirmation from the client, such as ‘yes’ or a head nod, to clarify the information is correct.

4 Gay Gellhorn, ‘Law and Language: An Empirically-Based Model for the Opening Moments of Client Interviews’ (1998) 4 Clinical Law Review321-322. 5

Elisia Klinka and Russell Pearce, 'Confidentiality Explained: The Dialogue Approach to Discussing Confidentiality with Clients' (2011) 48 San Diego Law Review158.

6 7

Domenico Portolesi (n 3). Ibid.

8 Katherine Kruse, 'Engaged Client-Centered Representation of the Moral Foundations of the Lawyer-Client Relationship' (2011) 39 Hofstra Law Review588.

I felt that reflecting and reframing the information given by the client was a strength of mine upon reflection of my client interview. In my client interview9 I had the opportunity to exercise this skill, which conveys pauses after every key point stated, awaiting confirmation from the client. The pause also allows the client to elaborate further on points which makes transparent what issues are important to the client.

In conclusion, as a law student it is crucial that I continue enhancing these skills learnt, in particular communicating in plain english. I have realised that these skills are crucial in building rapport and trust with the client in order to better assist the client and cater to their needs. It is with combining these skills and applying them one can successfully allow the client to feel comfortable to confide in the lawyer, as a result benefiting the case at hand.

9Domenico Portolesi (n 3) 00:04:04....