Kent students Jessica Edwards and Eugene O’Sullivan have won a place at the national final of the Client Interviewing Competition for England & Wales.
They will be competing for a chance to represent both Kent, and the UK, in the International Client Consultation Competition being held at the University of Nebraska in April.
Jessica and Eugene, both final year law students, will be competing against 12 other teams in the national final to be held at the University of Sussex on 7 March. The final 12 teams have been whittled down from 36 who entered the 2015 competition. Regional finals, hosted by Irwin Mitchell solicitors, were held in London, Sheffield and Birmingham.
Jessica and Eugene secured their place at the regional finals in London after winning a competition at Kent Law School as part of their studies in the extra-curricular Client Interviewing module.
The competition tests law students on their interviewing and counselling skills and centres on a simulated law office interview. Law students work in teams of two to interview and advise a “client”. Their management of the interview is judged according to the judging criteria e.g. establishing a good working relationship with the client, recognising and handling the legal problems, ethical and personal issues, including costs, and finally offering appropriate advice.
The competition requires students not merely to know the law relating to a particular subject matter, but also to employ effective interviewing techniques and be aware of a variety of considerations which they might not otherwise appreciate as law students. A post-interview reflection is an integral part of the competition which allows the students to explain their techniques, discuss the law and their projected strategies and provides an opportunity for self-criticism.
If Jessica and Eugene win in March, they will receive prizes from the Law Society of England & Wales that will assist them in attending the international competition.