Junior Competitions 2015 VP Competitions: Elly Phelan Competitions Convenors: Sammy Toogood & Hannah Maxwell

Tutorial https://youtu.be/LoD1xOVFMgQ

Junior Client Interview Who is eligible to compete? Are you a Griffith University Law Student? Are you in either your first or second year? Are you interested in making new friends, wearing business attire and learning new skills? If you answered yes to all of the above, you may compete in our Junior Client Interview Competition.

Junior Client Interview What is it? A simulation of the first meeting between a client and their potential legal representative. The client has a legal problem. You must provide the solution. BUT Your client may not be totally innocent or honest…

Junior Client Interview What is it? Aims: Gather facts about the problems Understand the client’s position Provide informed advice for the client

Junior Client Interview How does it work? Competitors will compete in teams of two. Teams will be provided with a client memorandum. The memo will briefly indicate the general nature of the case. The majority of your information will have to be extracted from the client. Teams will have 30 minutes to interview their client. After the interview, the teams will have 5 minutes to discuss the interview. There will then be a 15 minute discussion with judge, regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the interview.

Junior Client Interview Inside the Interview Step 1: Meet and Greet Step 2: Formalities Step 3: Information Gathering Step 4: Summarise Step 5: Advice Step 6: Farewell These things include: getting contact details from the client outlining the legal fees explaining the interview process and outlining lawyer-client confidentiality. The general rule for fees is that the initial consultation is free and from then on it is a standard fee of $200 per hour.

Junior Client Interview Important Skills Oral Communication Teamwork, i.e. note taking etc. Time management and thinking under pressure Establishing a professional working relationship with your client Ability to extract relevant information from the client and identify the important issues Recognizing and dealing with moral and ethical issues.

Junior Client Interview Marking Criteria Teamwork Worked together? Balance of participation /10 Self Analysis Identified strengths and weaknesses? Learnt from experience? Client’s Informed Choice Assisted Client in understanding and making informed choices? /10 Effective Conclusion Effectively concluded the interview? Client’s Goals and Expectations Learned the client’s goals and expectations? /10 Problem Analysis Analysed the clients’ problems? Moral and Ethical Issues Recognised and dealt with moral and ethical issues? /10 Alternative Courses of Action Developed alternative solutions? Working Atmosphere Established effective relationship with client? /10 Description of the Problem How client views their situation and problems? Ineffective Somewhat ineffective Standard Effective Highly Effective 0-2 2-4 4-6 6-8 8-10

Junior Client Interview Preparation Client Interview does not require much preparation! We suggest: Read the competitions handbook Practice with your partner (talk about the roles) Compare strategies and prepare general questions Have some knowledge of the area of law that is involved (you will only be provided with scenarios from areas of law that you have already studied, i.e. contracts)

Junior Client Interview Benefits for you! Practical experience that you will use in the future! Make new friends Opportunities to enter external competitions Feedback provided from older students who have competed previously

Junior Client Interview Important Dates Saturday, 15 August, 9am – 5pm (approx.) Monday, 17 August (times to be confirmed or throughout the week) Tuesday 24 August 5 pm (for a 5:30 start) If you would like to compete in this competition, please complete the sign-up form. Please note that sign-ups for this competition will close on Friday, 7 August 2015 at 5 pm. If you sign-up and drop out of the competition, you must do so on or before 5 pm Monday, 10 August 2015.