1. Kingsford Legal Centre sees a range of clients, many of whom are disadvantaged in some way. What were some of the ethical and/or professional issues and considerations that arose during your interviewing sessions? How were these issues addressed or resolved? How might they be different from working with other types of clients? (350 words)
The first issue that arose was that I had to deal with a distressed female client. She constantly checked her phone and asked for breaks during the interview. I implemented John Barkai’s principle that ‘the primary purpose of active listening is to build rapport with the client’ by listening intently to her description of the background of her case without interrupting her which in turn increased her confidence in my role as a legal assistant. When the solicitor entered the room and asked for further information about her case she repeatedly looked at me for reassurance. My decision to adopt Kay Lauchland’s recommendation that an interviewer should express sensitivity towards their client’s emotional state encouraged her to speak openly about her situation and this made it easier for me to discern the relevant legal issues.
The second main issue was that the solicitor who interviewed the same woman constantly interrupted her in an attempt to attain his preconceived conception of the pertinent facts. While the solicitor may have used constant close-ended questions in order to save time, this made the client frustrated as she felt that he was not listening to her concerns. This reflects Lauchland’s contention that an approach which fails to make a client emotionally comfortable in practice invalidates their experiences and lessens their confidence in the quality of offered advice. Third, I developed a strong emotional connection with the second client’s case as I felt that he experienced significant injustice. His humble demeanour and low socio-economic circumstances made him appear vulnerable. When he asked me for advice at the end of our interview, I instructed him to speak to the solicitor even though I wanted to comply with his request. I felt an internal conflict between an impulsive desire to adopt an ethics of care approach and my knowledge that being a responsible lawyer was more appropriate in this circumstance. I understood that balanced and reasoned advice would best assist the client to carefully consider his options. Words: 330 2. What skills and strategies did you use in your interviewing sessions? What do you think facilitates good communication during an interview? (300 words) The first strategy that I used was to greet the clients in a professional manner, offer them a comfortable place to sit in the room, and then hand them a KLC guide before conferring to them my commitment to confidentiality. This was an effective approach because they became more relaxed and eager to discuss the facts of their case. While I told them that I was not in a position to give advice, I should have further explained the structure and process of the interview. I did not ask questions early in both interviews. This made the clients feel that I was sensitive to their experiences which in turn enabled me to attain a broader understanding of the issues that they faced. My ability to calm down the first anxious client helped her to feel comfortable when she conveyed facts to me. I learnt that Hyams, Campbell and Evans’ principle that ‘mutual respect and open-ended questions are useful’ is accurate because it allows a lawyer to facilitate the procedure of an interview towards an outcome that allows the client to make an informed decision about their options. Both clients reacted positively when I wrote down what they were saying in a conscientious manner while …show more content…
The current unequal distribution of legal resources contributes to a systematic restriction on the ability for underprivileged citizens to attain competent advice or representation. Consequently, a lawyer should be aware that engaging in pro bono work empowers individuals from marginalised groups to feel less socially excluded as they become more aware of their legal rights and responsibilities. This can counter the effect of neo-liberalism which Hazel Genn argues facilitates inequality in the production of power and wealth within the legal