2021

CLINEME 7.0
CLIENT
COUNSELING

[RULES AND FORMAT]

Legal Aid Committee, RMLNLU

 CLINEME- 7.0
[CLIENT COUNSELING RULES AND FORMAT]

LEGAL AID COMMITTEE R.M.L.N.L.U

RULE 1: ELIGIBILITY
These are the Rules and Format for the CLINEME 7.0 Client Counseling Competition
(‘Competition’).
The Legal Aid Committee shall be the be the sole Organizing Committee, excluding
members participating in the Competition

The participants must be students pursuing B.A.LL.B (Hons.) at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya
National Law University, Lucknow (U.P.)

Every team participating in the Competition shall be comprised of only two members.

The students who wish to participate in the Competition can do so by taking the Screening
Test (‘Test’), as a team of two members, which will be organized by the Organizing
Committee. The details of the same shall be notified in due time.

RULE 2: LANGUAGE
The official language of the competition shall be English.
RULE 3: FORMAT
Competition shall consist of a screening test followed by Preliminary rounds, Quarter- Final
rounds, Semi-Final rounds and a Final round.
The first thirty-two teams, ranked by Test scores, shall be eligible to participate in the
Preliminary Round.

Each team shall participate in only one session during the Preliminary Round.

After the conclusion of Preliminary Rounds, a total of eight, ranked on the basis of their
score’s, shall qualify for the Quarter-Final Rounds. Thereon, four teams shall advance to the
Semi-Final Rounds. Finally, two teams from the Semi-Final Rounds shall participate in the
Final Round.

RULE 4: PROBLEM

The Problem for each Session shall be made available to the Clients 15 minutes before the
commencement of each Client Counseling session and shall include facts and the confidential
information.
The contents of the problem will not be disclosed to the participating teams by the Organizing
Committee.

Legal Aid Committee, RMLNLU

 RULE 5: TIME LIMITS
Each Client Counseling Session in the Preliminary Round shall last for 30 minutes. The
time frame of 30 minutes will consist of 25 minutes of consultation period with the Client and
5 minutes of post-consultation period.

Each Client Counseling Session in the Quarter-Final Round and Semi-Final shall last for
35 minutes. The time frame of 35 minutes will consist of 30 minutes of consultation period
with the Client and 5 minutes of post-consultation period.

Each Client Counseling Session in the Final Round shall last for 50 minutes. The time frame
of 50 minutes will consist of 40 minutes of consultation period with the Client and 10
minutes of post-consultation period.

RULE 6: EXHIBITS AND PROPS

During the Client Counseling Sessions, teams may bring their own notes and, if need be, make
their own notes on separate sheets of paper. No electronic devices will be allowed.

RULE 7: CONSULTATION PERIOD

The consultation period shall be as per Rule 5.

The time period shall start from the moment the client enters the chamber.

The time period is meant to be used for consultation with the client during which participants
are expected to elicit the relevant information, outline the problem, find the client’s
expectations, legal standing and propose a solution or other means of resolving the problem.
Any documents required may also be sought for.

Should the participants feel that some documents are appropriate, like a letter to the client
confirming their retention as attorneys, the fee arrangement etc., or a letter to opposing counsel
or to the party with whom the client is having their legal problems etc., they may dictate such
a document during the post-consultation period.

During the consultation and post-consultation period, the team may use books, notes and
other materials. The team may also use office props such as files and the like, as they deem fit.

The aforementioned time period is to be strictly adhered to. At the end of consultation period,
the client would leave the room and the post-consultation period would begin.

Judges may, in their discretion, penalize teams that allow the Counseling session to run
longer than the stipulated time period.

Legal Aid Committee, RMLNLU

 RULE 8: POST-CONSULTATION PERIOD

The post-consultation period shall be as per Rule 5.

The time period will start from the moment the client leaves the chamber.

Participants may summarize the interview, indicate the scope of the legal work to be
undertaken, and state the legal issues that should be researched.

After the completion of the Consultation period the judges may question the participants on
matters deliberated upon or mentioned by the participants or the client during the post-
consultation period.

The judges may ask any question which they consider material and questions meant to test the
participant’s understanding of the facts and/or law applicable or applied by the participants in
the case.

RULE 9: SCOUTING
Team members shall not be allowed to observe the Client Counseling Session of other teams.
Scouting is strictly prohibited and any violation of this rule entails loss of points or
immediate disqualification.

Disqualification of teams under this rule is at the sole discretion of the Organizing
Committee.

RULE 10: CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

Judges and Clients must not reveal the contents of the Confidential Information, either
directly or indirectly, to the teams in any way, before the commencement of or during, the
session.

Clients, however, may disclose their Confidential Information in the course of the
Consultation Session.

RULE 11: INTERPRETATION OF PROBLEMS

Every effort will be made to ensure that the Problems are unambiguous. While teams are not
permitted to invent any material facts, the facts of the Problems may be subject to reasonable
interpretation. Whether a team’s interpretation is reasonable, is a matter entirely within the
discretion of the Judges. Teams are free to draw reasonable inferences from the facts provided.

RULE 12: PENALTY

Any violation of these rules shall lead to immediate disqualification of the team from the
Competition. For any variation in this regard or in case of ambiguity, the decision of the
Organizing Committee shall be final. The Organizing Committee is empowered to take such
other measures as are required for the orderly conduct of the Competition.

Legal Aid Committee, RMLNLU

 CLINEME 7.0
CLIENT COUNSELING COMPETITION

JUDGE NAME- ROOM NO.-

TEAM CODE- ROUND-

CATEGORY DESCRIPTION SUB-TOTAL TOTAL

Opening 1. Introducing Yourselves (1 mark)
Statement
(5 marks) 2. Explaining Attorney Client Privilege
(2 marks)
3. Explaining Plan of Interaction (2
marks)
Legal Advice 1. Analysis of Issues in Legal
and Legal Perspective (2 marks)
Analysis 2. Providing client with multiple
(9 marks) possible solutions (including ADR)
(3 marks)
3. After providing with various multiple
options helping them in making an
informed choice (2 marks)

4. Knowledge of law (2 marks)

Creating 1. Listening Skills (2 marks)

Working 2. Professionalism and mannerism (2
Atmosphere marks)
(6 marks) 3. Instilling sense of confidence in client
(2 mark)

Ability to 1. Ability of counsels to identify relevant

identify the issues involved by breaking down the
issues to be narrative given by client (3 marks)
resolved
(9 marks) 2. Ability to explain and narrate the
issues to client (2 marks)
3. Ability to dismiss trivial problems
which might not be direct issues (2
marks)
4. Asking pertinent questions to
strengthen the understanding of
issues. (2 marks)
Effectively 1. Asking relevant questions to get
conducting the confidential information (2 marks)
session

Legal Aid Committee, RMLNLU

(9 marks) 2. Being sensitive to client’s emotional,
social and economic concerns (2
marks)
3. Keeping client on point and avoiding
deviations (2 marks)
4. Ability to make a balance as to when
to allow the client to speak and when
to interrupt (2 mark)
5. Time management (1 mark)

Teamwork 1. Equal participation of both counsels

between the (2 marks)
counsels 2. Listening skills towards each other
(4 marks) and not interrupting each other (2
mark)
Post 1. Summarizing the session (3 marks)
Consultation (5 2. Answering the questions of judges
marks) with clarity (2 marks)

Fees and 1. Discussion on fees (1 mark)

Documents 2. Asking for relevant documents
(3 marks) (2 marks)

Grand Total (50 Marks)

Legal Aid Committee, RMLNLU