Overview

A conference with a client can be one of the most rewarding experiences for a lawyer, but it can also be a daunting one. Good conference techniques can be learnt, and this manual takes a practical approach to the numerous skills which make conferences successful. Every aspect of the interview with the client is taken step by step, from the preparatory stages to the conclusion of the conference. For example, management of legal issues, preparation for the conference, the social and professional skills needed to handle the clients and their problems are all discussed in detail. As the conference is an opportunity to gather information and communicate advice, the key skills of questioning, listening and advising are given special attention. The authors focus on both professional conduct problems and relationships with the variety of clients that the civil or criminal practitioner can expect to meet. This manual is designed to be used often. Each chapter is laid out clearly to aid swift reference, together with flexible how-to-do-it guides and summaries. Although it has been designed for use on the Bar Vocational Course and for the early years of practice at the Bar of England and Wales, lawyers or other professionals who advice clients in the justice system should find it useful.

Full Product Details

Author:   Inns of Court School of Law
Publisher:   Oxford University Press
Imprint:   Blackstone Press Ltd
ISBN:  

9781854315663

ISBN 10:   1854315668
Pages:   230
Publication Date:   01 October 1996
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Replaced By:   9781854316707
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

"Introduction and overview: overview; why there is a need to learn conference skills; how a conference with a barrister differs from an interview with a solicitor. Part 1 General principles: the individual barrister; ethical considerations; dangers of preconceptions; the ""cab-rank"" principle; effective communication; understanding what you hear; interpreting what you have heard; non-verbal indicators; be flexible - think laterally; be judgmental and objective. Part 2 The client: the lay client; the professional client; the professional non-client; the non-professional non-client; the expert witness; a potential witness. Part 3 Meeting the client - conducting the conference: location of the conference; conducting the conference. Part 4 Case preparation: gutting your brief; your perception; legal and factual analysis; summary; a worked example; summary of stages used to prepare sample case; example of a conference plan. Part 5 Questioning techniques: classes of questions; selecting questioning techniques; planning questions; establishing trust and rapport; gathering adequate information to advice the client; worked example; listening techniques; terminology; selecting an appropriate listening technique; barriers to listening; checklist of the signs of good listening; keeping a record; problems encountered during questioning; documents and real evidence in the conference. Part 6 Advice: advising - a step-by-step guide; terminology; standard of advice; reaching the advice stage - assimilating new information; preparing for your oral advice in the conference; how and when to give the client advice; making your advice clear to the client; warning the client of the consequences; giving the client the full benefit of your services - time management; helping the client to understand your advice; dealing conflicting advice; expressing risk to the client; non-verbal expressions of your opinion; assisting the client to estimate risk; legal counselling; some specific advising situations. Part 7 Concluding the conference. Part 8 Specific ethical problems. Part 9 Specific client needs. Part 10 Cross-cultural communication. Part 11 How to judge an effective conference. Part 12 practitioners' perspecrive. Part 13 ""The Queen vs Shirley Jenkins""."

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