Interviewing

Question 1

if you have any concerns about your client being vulnerable, what could you say to them at the outset of the interview?

Answer 1

Please let me know if you have any accessibility needs, preferences or concerns about today’s interview and how I can support you going forward.

Question 2

how should you greet your client at the first interview?

Answer 2

• use their name
• state your name
• state your position

e.g. Good Morning Mr Brown. My name is Lucie Millington and I am a solicitor with the firm

Question 3

where should any outstanding matters from the client interview be noted? e.g. if you ran out of time to discuss them in the interview

Answer 3

the attendance note

Question 4

what should a typical attendance note layout contain?

Answer 4

Question 5

when giving an estimate of costs during an interview, what must the solicitor include?

Answer 5

VAT

Question 6

you are contacted by William Baulkwill about a contract he entered into with Lucie Millington for the consignment of jumpers he intended to sell at his shop.

the jumpers were poorly made and he wants his money back.

before proceeding, what should you check with William?

Answer 6

• in what capacity Lucie Millington was operating in?
• as an individual on her own behalf?
• as a representative of a partnership or LLP?
• as a director of a limited company?

Question 7

what is the purpose of damages in contract?

Answer 7

to put the claimant in the position they would have been in had the contract been properly performed

Question 8

what is the purpose of damages in tort?

Answer 8

to put the claimant in the position they would have been in had the negligent act not occurred

Question 9

what is the purpose of damages for a claim of misrepresentation?

Answer 9

to put the claimant back to the position they were in before the contract was entered into

Question 10

what is the purpose of damages for a claim in nuisance?

Answer 10

to put the claimant in the position they would have been in had the nuisance not occurred

Question 11

what kinds of questions could you ask if the client wants to add a development to their land?

Answer 11

• first think of whether they would need PP
• if they do…
  1) do you have planning permission
  2) are there any conditions on the planning permission
  3) have you obtained building regs consent
  4) conservation area / listed building?

Question 12

you are acting for a client on the purchase of a property. you have been told there was a recent development to the property. what things might you think to ask?

Answer 12

• was PP obtained
• building regs consent
• were there any breaches of the PP?
• no correspondence from the LPA suggesting as such?

Question 13

if your client isnt giving you much information at all, waht could you say to them?

Answer 13

• I know you are in a difficult situation / I know this is a difficult time for you
• but I would like to try to help you as much as I can today
• and the best way for me to help you is for you to give me as much information as you can