Client interviewing

Client interviewing is one of the most important skills required of a lawyer – it is the practice of communicating with, and advising a client on a legal matter.

Client interviewing allows you to develop the skills needed when conducting a legal interview, such as how to establish a relationship with the client, how to identify the nature of the legal problem and then how to obtain the relevant information from the client in order to reach a potential solution.

At the School of Law and Social Sciences, we host internal client interviewing competitions. Working in teams of two, you will interview and advise a “client” (a role playing actor). You will be observed and then marked on criteria such as your interpersonal skills as well as your ability to handle the legal problem.

We also enter teams into the Client Interviewing Competition for England and Wales. In recent years, teams from Oxford Brookes have gone on to win both regional and national finals in client interviewing.

  • In 2010, Oxford Brookes GDL students won the National Final and took second place in the International Client Counselling Competition.
  • In 2012, GDL students won ‘Best GDL Team’ and were runners-up in the National Final. GDL students have also finished third in the National Final in 2009, 2011, and 2015; and they were finalists in 2016.
  • In 2018, Oxford Brookes GDL students once again won the National Finals and were given the opportunity to travel to the Netherlands and represent England and Wales in the International Client Counselling Competition.

Client Interviewing Training Day

We host client interviewing competition training days at Oxford Brookes. Teams of students from other law schools are invited to take part in demonstrations, discussions and critique of client interviewing skills and ask questions to experienced judges, faculty coaches and past competitors.