what should a lawyer ask during a client interview

by Mr. Brennan Sporer 8 min read

9 client interview questions to add to your intake process

  • 1: Why did you come in today? Of the hundreds (or even thousands) of attorneys in your area, this potential client...
  • 2: Have you ever worked with an attorney before? If this is the first time the potential client has ever set foot in a...
  • 3: Why did you decide to pursue this matter? This question will allow...

Full Answer

What questions do lawyers ask their clients?

Some relevant questions to ask include:

  • Do you have time to represent me?
  • Are there other criminal defense attorneys in your office who will work on my case? May I meet them?
  • When I have questions, whom should I call? How do you prefer to be contacted? How quickly should I expect a reply?

What questions should I Ask my Lawyer?

You seem to mainly want an acknowledgment and (presumably) an apology from your cousin. You should also explore with your therapist any other options you might have, including legal options.

What questions would a lawyer ask?

Ask a Lawyer; Free Q&A with attorneys. Every 5 seconds someone gets free legal advice from Avvo. How it works . Ask your question—it’s free and anonymous. Get notified when a lawyer responds—usually within 12 hours. Ask follow-up questions—make sure you understand your options.

What questions do they ask during an interview?

  • What would you do in the first week, month and year in this role?
  • What techniques do you use to stay motivated?
  • What can you offer us that other candidates can't?
  • How would you manage many deadlines at once?
  • How would you work with a difficult client?
  • What would you do if you didn't agree with a client's feedback?

More items...

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What does a lawyer need to know?

Your lawyer needs to know the results you desire at the end of the suit. It helps them to work towards attaining them. For instance, if you want monetary compensation for something terrible that was done to you, let them know. Do not forget to tell them the amount you think would be enough for you.

Do lawyers want to know your case?

A lawyer will want to know every single detail of your case. This includes the circumstances that forced you to file the suit. When answering this question, be as honest as possible. Do not withhold any important information from your attorney. It will increase your chances of winning in court.

Can a lawyer negotiate with a client?

You can even ask them to lower them for your convenience. Most lawyers have no problem negotiating with their clients. These are some of the many questions that your attorney might ask you during your first meeting. Be as genuine as possible because it will lay a solid foundation for your working relationship.

Why do people retain lawyers?

Legal clients choose to retain attorneys for many different reasons – to recover damages, right a wrong, enter into a contract, obtain a divorce – and it’s important to find out what your client is hoping to accomplish.

What is the first step in the client acquisition process?

The first step in the client acquisition process for legal professionals is usually the initial client interview. Here are nine interview questions you should ask potential clients and why asking them matters:

Is it a good idea to communicate with clients?

A one-size-fits-all approach to communication with clients is usually not a good idea. Some will want copies of everything sent via snail mail, others will appreciate regular emails or texts with case updates, and some clients will want to speak to you in person or via phone. Frequency must also be determined – daily, weekly, monthly, or as needed.

Why do you conduct an interview with a client?

You are expected to conduct an interview with a ‘client’ in order to obtain and convey the information required without stepping outside of what you know or can do. The information you obtain should be enough for you to take the next steps without going back to the client for more.

Why do you have to open questions in an interview?

Open questions are good to get the client talking and to get the conversation flowing whereas closed questions get the details out. A good interview technique is to start with open questions and slowly narrow down to closed until you have the information you need.

What to do if client claims he has permission?

If the ‘client’ claims he has permission, explain you will need to check with your supervisor first and that you are under a duty of confidentiality. You may be able to safely provide generic advice about process, e.g. what happens in probate, but don’t give anything specific. Managing client expectations.

What to do when you come across a conflict?

If you come across a situation where a conflict might arise, you should close the interview down and explain you need to carry out a conflict check before going any further. If they ask why, explain that you may already act for the other party and will be under a duty to them.

Can you control what your client says?

In my opinion, the best way to conquer the nerves and to get everything you need is to have a good handle on what is going to happen. Yes, you can’t control what your client is going to say but it is your interview, so it can be guided in whatever way you wish.

Can you take notes in an interview?

if you have written ‘date of birth’ already, you will only need to write the actual date in the interview.

Is it a good idea to end an interview?

If not, it’s a good way of ending the interview. This structure is easy to follow and should elicit all the information you need. Try not to script yourself; it will be easy to spot if you are rehearsed and you will be lost if something unexpected happens. However, it is worth a bit of advanced planning.

Can you please name a Supreme Court case that impacts your practice of law on a daily basis?

The purpose of this question is not necessarily to test the substance of the answer but more the fact that the candidate has an answer. This is indicative of the fact that they are informed and see the larger picture. So much of what a lawyer does relies on having strong background knowledge of the law.

Can you give an example of where you have chosen to involve yourself in the broader legal community?

Lawyers that network and do the “extra-curricular” activities are generally better informed about recent developments than other attorneys. In addition, networking helps a lawyer build a reputation in the legal sector. Attorneys who have better connections with other attorneys benefit from getting referrals of business from those other attorneys.

How do you handle a disagreement with a superior over a legal matter?

Disagreements happen in the practice of law. Two attorneys can reach different opinions about an issue and both can be correct. It is even more difficult when one of the attorneys works for the other. Part of being a successful lawyer is learning how to make one’s voice heard without being overbearing.

Can you elaborate on a situation where you were unsuccessful and how you handled it?

You should get a sense of how the lawyer handles adversity because there is quite a bit of it in the legal profession. A good lawyer will learn from failure and make the necessary adjustments so it does not happen again in the future. Every lawyer will experience failure at some point.

Why conduct a client success interview anyway?

Your agency must understand the customer’s needs and expectations with your offerings. Otherwise, it’s like spelunking without a flashlight. Asking clients questions on the front and backend of a job well done gives your team the info they need to be successful.

Scheduling a Client Success Interview

The first step in the process is to schedule the initial client interview. I know, right? Who would have thunk it?

Potential Client Interview Questions to Ask

If you’re not sure if you can actually help improve their business, ask your potential clients these critical questions to understand their goals, expectations, plans, and objectives.

Questions to ask potential clients: Understanding the pre-buying process

Use these questions for understanding where your potential client is currently in the pre-buying process and if you can meet them there. These questions are beneficial when conducting a sales call.

Client Questions to Ask for Understanding the After-Sale Process

When you clinch the sale, asking clients questions about why they chose your specific company and why they like your brand can give your marketing team a lot of valuable insight.

Offboarding client interview questions and critical insights

Scheduling an exit interview with your clients helps get the much-needed brand clarity to drive more customers to your offerings.

What Is the Counseling Interview? 2 Types

Counseling interviews are multifaceted and can be structured or more fluid, depending on the therapeutic relationship stage at which it is conducted. The conversation should be characterized by respect, empathy, and active listening. The counselor should also be mindful of their affect and tone throughout the discussion (Prout & Wadkins, 2014).

9 Useful Assessment Questions

Alongside determining your patient’s intent for seeking counseling and how they want their life to improve as a result, it is also important to collect information that addresses the patient’s concerns and serves as a starting point for planning (Balkin & Juhnke, 2014).

Process of the Interview: Step-by-Step Guide

After conducting the initial clinical assessments, each subsequent session with patients is viewed as an informal interview.

How to Use Open Questions: 9 Examples

There are two broad approaches to questioning in counseling: open-ended and closed questions.

17 Best Questions for Your Sessions

A large part of knowing what and how to speak to your patients involves building a strong emotional bond. Emotional bonding between counselors and therapists could include compassionate and empathetic listening or humor.

Helpful Resources From PositivePsychology.com

Our site has many tools and resources that can help enhance your counseling practice. Whether you are a clinical counselor, marriage and relationship counselor, or career counselor, our activities and worksheets are highly variable and can apply to a variety of different contexts in the counseling profession.

A Take-Home Message

Building positive connections with your patients is a key part of the therapeutic process. How you respond to your patients’ feelings, needs, and goals will determine the strength of the clinician–patient relationship and, ultimately, determine how much your patients choose to open up to you about their difficulties in their sessions.

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What Lawyer-Client Interview Questions Should You Ask Potential Clients?

  • While the exact questions you’ll ask should be customized to each potential client’s specific situation, these lawyer-client interview questions are a good starting point:
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What Answers to Client Questions Should Lawyers Prepare for?

  • The meeting isn’t just about you interviewing a potential client—the client will have questions for you, too. Being prepared for the common questions that clients have is key. Here are four common questions you should prepare to answer:
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Conducting The Lawyer-Client Interview

  • If you want to nail your initial consultation, it’s about more than just what attorney-client interview questions you ask. Follow these tips for interviewing in a client-centric way:
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Conclusion

  • Conducting a great client interview is critical to an effective client intake process. It’s also an important part of providing a client-centered experience. If you want to perfect your process, the key is to prepare with the right lawyer-client interview questions—and truly listen to their answers. By asking questions at the start, you’ll get a better idea of what your client expects from you (wh…
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