QUESTIONAIRE FOR INTERVIEWERS
Name –
Partner's Name –
ST
Date of interview – 01 NOVEMBER, 20
SECTION ONE
(To be completed before you conduct the interview)
Please read the following questions and answer them briefly in the space provided.
1. Before you meet the 'client' describe briefly:
A. What are the objectives of the interview?
Ans. As an advocate, firstly we have to establish a comfortable relationship with the
client. If our client will not comfortable then he/she will not tell his/her story deeply.
The main objective of the interview is to collect all the necessary information regarding
the case and never miss the important facts required for the case
B. Describe briefly how you plan to structure the interview (topics, order, time, etc.):
Ans. Firstly, introduction of client and to make him/her comfortable, choose an
appropriate location like (in the office, chamber), If we are in the office, so, check no
one should be present at the time of interview. Plan the question to be asked should
be present at the time of interview. Plan the question to be asked and handle the
situation in such manner that the victim view the advocate behaviour as positive.
Open question and avoid to explain legal or law language deeply. Closure, time
management, sufficient time should be given to the client.
C. What have you learned from your reading about interviewing that you intend
to practice or avoid?
Ans. As an advocate, I should not avoid a client's expectation let him/her know that
the conversation between me and my client are confidential, so, they share everything
comfort and tell all the facts truthfully. And I also ensure that me and my office staff
have developed the safety plan for my own workplace and have protocols in place to
ensure safe and confidential communication with my client
D. What is your role in the interview and what standpoint do you wish to adopt?
Ans. My role is an advocate in the interview and standpoint will be to provide him/her
best possible remedy and to ensure that he/she will get justice.
SECTION TWO
(To be completed after the Interview)
2. A. In your conduct of the interview, how well/poorly do you think that you
performed the following?
Very Wel Averag Not Poorl
l e y
Well well
a Placing client at ease
)
b Empathizing with the client
)
c Eliciting facts
)
d Checking facts and changes
)
e Explaining law
)
f Advising about implications
)
g Agreeing follow up
)
h Reassuring client
)
i Note taking
)
j Time management
)
B. What, if any, ethical or moral issues did you encounter?
Ans. As a lawyer, it is important to deal with all aspects of the case, whether legal or
ethical and give as much as weightage as required according to case demand. Hence,
I definitely encounter with the same to the extent, I would be able.
3. A. What in brief are the key facts of the client's legal problem?
Ans. My client had been denied his share in the property. The whole property has been
taken care by his uncle after the death of his father. Uncle’s son has helped him in handling
the business. Now, when the uncle has died, his son doesn’t want to return that property to
my client.
B. What is / are the legal issue(s) involved?
Ans.
1. What is the nature of the suit property?
2. Whether Sh. Ghanshyam, can claim a right in the property?
C. Were there other facts in the case which seriously concerned the client but
which were not related to the legal issue(s)?
Ans. Yes, my client has suffered from stress and anxiety. He has to suffer with his
family (mother, wife and two children) who have no place to reside at the time of
dispossession. Also, the cousin to whom he loved and respected for so many
years has betrayed him.
4. A. List the other possible outcomes in this
case. Ans.
1. My client can send a legal notice to his uncle’s son and claim his share.
2. Thereafter, he can also file a partition suit in which court decide the share of my
client with metes and bounds along with compensation faced by my client.
3. He can also opt for arbitration or mediation
B. Which in your opinion is the most likely outcome?
Ans.
1. If we go to court for partition, the court would grant a decree in the client’s favour and
then in execution proceedings, the partition would be possible by metes and bounds.
2. In arbitration or mediation, they can settle amicably.
C. What is/are the client's desired outcome(s)?
Ans. The client’s desire is to receive the share in the property and possession in the family
residential house.
D. What are the main obstacles, if any, to this/these being achieved?
Ans. The main obstacles which come in the way is the emotional as well as social
obstacles.
E. How will it / they (client's desired outcome(s)) be achieved?
Ans. A partition suit can be filed as per the jurisdiction of the courts in which property is
situated according to Section 20 of CPC under Hindu Succession Act (1956)
F. What alternative strategies were available?
Ans. The alternative strategy is to choose the option of Arbitration and mediation.
5. A. What did you learn from the
interview? Ans.
1. How to build an advocate client relationship
2. How to empathize a client
3. How to establish a good communication to get the relevant information from the
clients
4. How to provide a good advice to the client
B. What did the interview remind you of from your previous reading about
interviewing? Ans.
• How to deal with client in the first meeting
• How to make ease to the client and can get relevant information from him
• As a lawyer I must try to be active as well as passive listener
• I must try to be good reflector as a lawyer
• I must be updated with all the aspects of the laws, orders, cases or everything which is
directly or indirectly related to my case so I can give him best advice or can defend
my case easily.
C. What could you have done to improve the interview?
• The time management means how much time to be given to a particular aspect of
the case
• May ask some other information which are indirectly related to the case
• If I have knowledge about the latest laws then can give him the best advice
D. What do you think the client thought of the interview?
Ans. I think client got the information about law or anything else which he wanted and he
is relieved and satisfied because of our meeting
Name –
Partner's Name –
ST
Date of interview – 01 NOVEMBER, 20
CASE PLANNING CHART
Case name:________________________________________
Client Goals / Objectives:
Lega Element Facts Source Informal Formal Opponent’s
l s
to Discover Defences
Clai of Claim support of Proof Discove y (Theory,
m r
y Proof, Discovery
Claim )
