COMPETENTE, JUVIT JR. G.

LAW 3B
Legal Counseling and Social Responsibility.

A client asked for a conference with you regarding her interest to file a
complaint for annulment.

Steps to be taken before meeting the client :

 Research and prepare several common jurisprudence on annulment of

marriage which could be similar to the client’s issue. Also, review certain
provision of the Civil Code and Family Code which would be related to the
case/s to be presented to you by the client.

 Determine what are the possible remedies based on what the

jurisprudence states and the reliefs to be pursued which needs urgency
and priority like for example, gaining custody of his/her child from the
defendant or the issuance of a TRO commanding the defendant from
visiting the minor once once custody is awarded by the court to your client

 Prepare several questions for the client to answer upon meeting him/her.
This will help you get the needed and direct answers, thus saving time by
making repeated clarifications once the client has finished communicating
the facts of his/her case.

 Also prepare a written contract of lease of services or retainership

contract. This is to prevent any future misinterpretations between you and
your client, it is true that the said contract may also be verbal in form but
the act of placing the terms of your contract is a better way to further
strengthen your lawyer-client relationship and also this will clear any doubt
as to what are the conditions asked, like payment and extent of services.

 Prepare a draft for your interview and see to it that it will cover most or all
possible instances of the client’s case may be, also be prepared to explain
the language of the law in a simple, clear and concise manner. This will
help you explain better on what are the circumstances surrounding her
case and what are the avenues to be taken and which should be not.

 If you still have enough time, also check out what are steps that the
opposing party would be possibly taking, the defenses she will raise and
also her potential claims. By gaining knowledge of the adverse party’s
possible or “would-be” line of reasoning, you will be able to explain to the
client the paths your team may take, and he/she will be fully informed and
be prepared for what could possibly happen before and after he/she
files/has filed a complaint.