diff --git a/backend/app/services/clients.py b/backend/app/services/clients.py
index c974faa..ed8f702 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/clients.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/clients.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os
+from typing import Union
 
 from app.core.config import settings
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
@@ -6,31 +7,66 @@
 
 load_dotenv()
 
-
 class Clients:
     def __init__(self):
+        self.client_azure_4o = self._create_client(sync=True)
+        self.aclient_azure_4o = self._create_client(sync=False)
 
-        self.client_azure_4o = self._create_azure_client()
-        self.aclient_azure_4o = self._create_azure_aclient()
+    def _create_client(self, sync: bool = True) -> Union[OpenAI, AzureOpenAI, AsyncOpenAI, AsyncAzureOpenAI]:
+        """
+        Create and return an OpenAI client based on the environment configuration.
+        
+        Args:
+            sync (bool): If True, return a synchronous client. If False, return an asynchronous client.
+        
+        Returns:
+            Union[OpenAI, AzureOpenAI, AsyncOpenAI, AsyncAzureOpenAI]: The appropriate OpenAI client.
+        """
+        api_key = os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY") or os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY")
+        api_version = os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_API_VERSION", "2024-02-01")
+        azure_endpoint = os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT")
 
-    def _create_azure_client(self):
-        # if os.getenv(OPENAI_API_KEY) exists, use it
-        if os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY"):
-            return OpenAI()
-        else:
-            return AzureOpenAI(
-                api_key=os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY"),
-                api_version="2024-02-01",
-                azure_endpoint=os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT"),
-            )
+        if not api_key:
+            raise ValueError("API key not found in environment variables.")
 
-    def _create_azure_aclient(self):
-        # if os.getenv(OPENAI_API_KEY) exists, use it
         if os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY"):
-            return AsyncOpenAI()
+            return OpenAI() if sync else AsyncOpenAI()
         else:
-            return AsyncAzureOpenAI(
-                api_key=os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY"),
-                api_version="2024-02-01",
-                azure_endpoint=os.getenv("AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT"),
+            client_class = AzureOpenAI if sync else AsyncAzureOpenAI
+            return client_class(
+                api_key=api_key,
+                api_version=api_version,
+                azure_endpoint=azure_endpoint,
             )
+
+    @property
+    def default_client(self) -> Union[OpenAI, AzureOpenAI]:
+        """
+        Returns the default synchronous client.
+        """
+        return self.client_azure_4o
+
+    @property
+    def default_async_client(self) -> Union[AsyncOpenAI, AsyncAzureOpenAI]:
+        """
+        Returns the default asynchronous client.
+        """
+        return self.aclient_azure_4o
+
+    def get_model_list(self) -> list:
+        """
+        Fetch and return a list of available models.
+        """
+        return self.default_client.models.list()
+
+# Example usage
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    clients = Clients()
+    print(f"Default client: {type(clients.default_client)}")
+    print(f"Default async client: {type(clients.default_async_client)}")
+    
+    try:
+        models = clients.get_model_list()
+        print(f"Available models: {models}")
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"Error fetching models: {e}")