{"id":349,"date":"2015-02-17T16:48:22","date_gmt":"2015-02-17T16:48:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/law-news\/?p=349"},"modified":"2020-03-20T23:13:59","modified_gmt":"2020-03-20T23:13:59","slug":"kent-students-win-place-in-national-client-interviewing-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/law-news\/kent-students-win-place-in-national-client-interviewing-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"Kent students win place in national client interviewing competition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kent students Jessica Edwards and Eugene O\u2019Sullivan have won a place at the national final of the Client Interviewing Competition for England & Wales<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They will be competing for a chance to represent both Kent, and the UK, in the International Client Consultation Competition<\/a> being held at the University of Nebraska in April.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> module.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cclient\u201d. 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n