HOW TO PREPARE FOR CLIENT COUNSELING COMPETITION

by Sidhant Kampani, RMLNLU, Lucknow

PURPOSE OF THE CLIENT COUNSELLING COMPETITION

The Client counselling Competition promotes knowledge and interest Among law students in
the field of preventive law and counselling functions of law practice. It also happens to
encourage students to develop planning, interviewing and analytical skills in the lawyer-client
relationship in the law office. interviewing and advising are a major part of a lawyer’s work.
All too often, lawyers are assumed to have the listening and questioning skills necessary to
conduct an effective interview. Regrettably, not all lawyers have these skills and abilities.
This Competition Provides an excellent opportunity for valuable educational and cultural
interchange changes between students, law Teachers, and lawyers.

NATURE OF THE COMPETITION

As the name suggests, client counselling is all about making your client feel that you are as
concerned about his problem as he is. The Competition simulates a consultation, in which
two Students of law, acting as lawyers (attorneys / solicitors / legal practitioners) shall be
presented with a client matter. A brief written memorandum is given to them that identifies
the general nature of the subject-matter of the client 's problem (e.g., that a client wants
advice about a problem arising from building a house, that the customer faces a shoplifting
charge, etc.) before of the interview is started. When the client enters your room, he talks
about his problem and he lays bare everything he's been through. Since he's already grieved,
the first step that the student takes is to calm him down. Choose a conversational style while
talking to your client, or questioning them. Being too professional might not be taken very
well by both the client and the judges. The students conduct an interview with an individual
who plays the client’s role. Students are Expected to obtain relevant information, explore
with the client his or her preferred outcome, outline the nature of the problem, and present the
client with a means (or range of alternatives, if appropriate) for resolving the problem. Start
inquiring about his problem once the client feels comfortable with you, and try to determine
what remedy he is looking for. Make him trust you. The exercise to build confidence will
earn you bonus points. Even though his problem can sound complex, give him some ray of
hope and tell him that his issue will be resolved and you will support him to the best of your
abilities.

Here is an example of a client counselling session in a competition

Main criteria for judging the participants in a client counselling competition

Judges observe and evaluate how well you can advise your client and provide him with a
practical solution to his problem. Judges are not there to test how well you know the law,
how well you can explain it to your client and flaunting your legal knowledge to them is a big
no. So, the students are evaluated against specific criteria emphasizing the use of questioning
listening, planning, and analytical skills in a lawyer/client interview. Once the evaluation of
interview has been completed by the judges, the students are called back in and the judges
provide a quick overview of the team's handling of the consultation period and post-
consultation.

The primary purpose of the competition is to promote a healthy lawyer-client relationship.

Judges also observe the level of comfort that you have developed with the client, and whether
the client is willing to come back to you for further assistance.

So, the Main criteria for judging can be:

 Ability to explain the law and legal terms in a simple laymen language – excessive
legal jargon is to be avoided.
  Comfort level between client and the lawyers
 How well-versed you are with the laws with which you’ll be dealing.
 Client satisfaction - whether your resolution or approach to his problem would make
him come to you again.

What is the Problem faced by participants in a client counselling

competition?

 Your performance largely depends on the client client that you are provided. His
reactions and responses could make or break your show. Also, the client’s problem is
another important factor.
 Negotiating the fee with your client – has to be done with great care, bearing in mind
his / her occupation and financial position.
 The competition is on-the-spot. There are no announced solutions and one will never
know exactly what the client's question will be like. However, there may be a general
theme on which the problems will be based. One doesn’t know how the other teams
have performed as they are not pitted against each other.
  Have good knowledge of the remedy or the grievance redressal system under that law.
The client does not need your knowledge of law but instead needs a solution to his
problem. So, if you are suggesting a remedy, make sure you have legal backing.

Other things to keep in mind while participating a client counselling

competition

 Adopt a standard conversational style of speech - be a human first, then a

lawyer.
 Gradually introduce your client to the law involved - don't bombard him
with your legal knowledge.
 Be slow and steady - gaining the confidence of the client is the first key
to an effective client consultation session.
 Never guarantee the effectiveness of a suggested solution – false
promises are dangerous, and may disappoint the judges. Don't sound too
confident or too complacent. A lawyer can never provide 100% guarantee
with his solution.
 Offer him pro bono services if he does not seem to be in a very good
financial position.

LIST OF SOME CLIENT COUNSELLING COMPETITIONS

 The Louis M. Brown and Forrest S. Mosten International Client Consultation

Competition
 NLS ADR Tournament for Client Counselling, Mediation, Negotiation, NLSIU,
Banglore
 NLIU-Link Legal Client Counselling Competition – NLIU, Bhopal
 NUJS Khaitan Client Counselling Competition- NUJS, Kolkata
 Adv. Ram Jethmalani Client Counselling Competition – SLS, Pune
 National Level Client Counselling Competition – K.C Law college, Mumbai
 UPES National Client Counselling Competition – UPES, Dehradun
 National ADR Competition - Christ, School of law, Bangalore
 VIPS Dispute Resolution and Client Counselling Competition – VIPS, Delhi
 National Client Consultation Competition - NorthCap University, Gurugram
 IMS Unison University Client Counselling Competition - IMS Unison University,
Dehradun