This extracurricular module provides an introduction to, and grounding in, interviewing clients and the skills required to enhance inter-personal skills when dealing with clients. This will include an introduction to the concept and skills of interviewing, workshops on the skills required to prepare for, and take part in an interview with a client, leading to participation in an internal client interviewing competition using scenarios provided.
The module culminates in an internal competition in which students compete for the opportunity to participate in the Regional Client Interviewing Competition for England and Wales
This module will be taught by means of seminars, competitions and private study
Total study hours: 20
Contact hours: 9
Private study hours: 11
All Law programmes – not available to non-law students. Only available at stage 3 or 4.
Main assessment methods
This module is non-contributory and assessment does not formally 'count' for the degree. The module represents extra learning and an opportunity to gain transferable skills to enhance employability.
Students who participate in the seminars and participate in the internal competition will be deemed to have met the requirements of the module.
Reassessment methods
This module is non-contributory and assessment does not formally 'count' for the degree. The module represents extra learning and an opportunity to gain transferable skills to enhance employability. As such there is not a reassessment method for the module.
Books
Sherr, A., Client Interviewing for Lawyers, (Sweet & Maxwell 1986)
Westwood, F., Accelerated Best Practice – implementing success in professional firms (Troubador Publishing 2008)
Articles
Morgan, T Thinking about lawyers as counsellors 42 Florida Law Review 439 (July 1990)
Sherr, A Lawyers and Clients: The First Meeting (1986) 49 MLR 323
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. introduce students to the skills of interviewing clients.
2. provide a sound grounding in all aspects of interviewing.
3. provide students with a clear understanding of the various techniques of interviewing clients.
4. be a confident interviewer.
5. apply, in the context of client interviews, concepts and principles studied elsewhere in the Law programme
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. recognise potential alternatives to litigation.
2. identify accurately issue(s) that require researching.
3. further develop and increase students confidence in their oral skills.
4. further develop skills in analysing issues and proposing solutions.
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