Client Interview, Attendance Note and Legal Analysis for SQE2 - Bowden, Ian

Résumé :

Table of cases xv

Table of statutes xvii

Introduction xix

1 Oral Communication Skills - An Introduction 1

1.1 Statement of Solicitor Competence 1

1.2 The Importance of Oral Communication to the Legal Professional 2

1.3 Combining Oral and Written Communication Skills 3

1.4 A Student-Centred Approach to Skills Development 4

1.5 Finding Your Legal Voice 5

1.6 The Heart of Communication - The Recipient 6

1.7 Clarity and Structure 7

1.8 Two-Way Communication 8

1.8.1 Active Listening 8

1.8.2 Passive Listening 9

1.9 Leading the Narrative 9

1.9.1 Open Questions 9

1.9.2 Closed Questions 10

1.10 Non-Verbal Communication for the Legal Professional 10

1.10.1 Appearance 10

1.10.2 Body Language 11

1.11 The Pervasive Nature of Ethics 11

In Summary 12

Key Practice Case 13

Practice Tips 15

Practice Risks 15

Exercise A 15

Exercise B 16

Self-Reflection Checklist 17

2 Creating the Right Atmosphere 19

2.1 Introduction 19

2.2 An Overview of the Regulatory Framework 21

2.2.1 The Legal Services Board 21

2.2.2 The Law Society 21

2.2.3 The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) 22

2.2.4 The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) 24

2.2.5 The Legal Ombudsman for England and Wales (LeO) 25

2.3 Principles of Legal Interviewing 26

2.3.1 What Is the Initial Client Interview? 27

2.3.2 Is Eff ective Interviewing an Aptitude or a Skill? 28

2.3.3 Why Is Interviewing Important? 28

2.3.4 Why Is the Initial Client Interview So Important? 29

2.3.5 The Aims and Objectives of the Initial Client Interview 30

2.3.6 What Skills and Competencies Are Needed? 31

2.3.7 The Structure of the Initial Client Interview 31

2.3.8 A Client-Centred Approach to Interviewing 33

2.3.9 A Client-Centred Approach in SQE2 33

2.4 Controlling the Interview Environment 34

2.4.1 Where Should the Initial Client Interview Take Place? 35

2.4.2 Ethical Considerations at the Planning Stage of the

Interview 36

2.4.2.1 The Equality Act 2010 36

2.4.2.2 SRA Principles and Codes of Conduct

(CCS and CCF) 36

2.4.2.3 Areas of Concern in Practice 39

2.4.3 Planning for the Arrival of the Client 41

2.4.4 Preparing the Interview Room 42

2.4.4.1 Minimum Expectations for an Interview Room 42

2.4.4.2 Seating and Table Arrangements 42

2.4.5 Preparing Yourself for the Interview 43

2.4.5.1 How Should You Dress for the Interview? 44

2.5 Barriers to Eff ective Communication 44

2.5.1 The Interview Room and Surrounding Areas 46

2.5.2 Culture Gaps and Inter-Cultural Barriers 47

2.5.3 The Interviewer 48

2.5.4 The Client 50

2.6 Client Bridges 50

2.7 Building Rapport 51

2.7.1 What Is 'Rapport'? 52

2.7.2 The Importance of Building Rapport 52

2.7.3 How Do You Build Rapport? 52

2.7.4 How Do You Rebuild Rapport? 55

2.8 Balancing Empathy 56

2.9 Equality in Language - The Pitfalls of Sounding Like a Lawyer 57

In Summary 60

Key Practice Case 61

Practice Tips 62

Practice Risks 63

Exercise A 63

Exercise B 64

Self-Refl ection Checklist 65

References 65

3 Listening Skills 67

3.1 Introduction 67

3.2 Listening Skills in SQE2 68

3.3 Listening or Hearing? 68

3.4 Listening and Non-Verbal Communication 69

3.4.1 Auditory Messages - Paralanguage (Prosody) 70

3.4.2 Visual Messages - Body Language 70

3.4.3 Visual Messages - Appearance 72

3.5 The Lost Art of Listening 72

3.6 The Essentials of P...

Sommaire:

Ian Bowden is a practising solicitor advocate and the LLM SQE Programme Manager at Liverpool John Moores University. He is the author of Essential Constitutional and Administrative Law for SQE1 and Essential Legal System and Legal Services for SQE1.

Stephanie Brown is a solicitor with many years of experience in legal practice and is a legal trainer in a leading Manchester law firm.

Mohammad Sabuj is Barrister-at-Law (Lincoln's Inn) and Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Greenwich.