The purposes of the initial interview are as follows. Initial interview with a potential client how to build your. This chapter deals with the skills of interviewing and advising clients. Client interview sheet to assist the attorney in answering your questions and concerns, please supply the following information. Answer their questions, what are they really asking. At the end of the interview, the lawyer who will be handling the case may be able.
The purpose of this form is to gather the information needed by the attorney before. Please fill out the forms and bring them with you to your interview with the attorney. However, the interview also serves as an opportunity to develop a relationship of trust and open communication between the lawyer and client. Legal services nyc, immigration unit intake procedures. The attorney must develop relationships with clients as they establish legal needs, provide counsel, help them understand their legal options, and represent them in court and negotiations. It will also help you understand and appreciate the client and how he or she will likely be perceived by the fact finder. Initial client consultation interview form the purpose of an initial consultation is for the attorney to advise you, the prospective client what, if anything, may be done for you, and what the minimum fee for the work will be. Call 94990422 for a consultation at the law office of tracey d. Have your client read the instructions and fill out the forms in this package. Questions regarding whether the client has ever worked with an attorney, and the nature of the matter the client is seeking help with, can better help you prepare for the intake process. For clarity, please label continuation responses according to section and item numbers. Interview client o completed o na notice affirmative defenses o completed o na request records or document investigation from defense interview school records, hospital records, etc. Attorney s fees will be billed at the hourly rate as stated.
There are so many reasons one might interview a client throughout the life of a claim, such as the initial interview, ongoing interviews, witness interview, pre discovery interview, discipline interview, update interview, trial preparation interview and so on. Whether you are an attorney interviewing a potential client in need of legal help or a human services worker interviewing clients and their family members to assess their needs, the purpose of a client interview is to collect enough information to help solve the clients problem. We will contact you upon receipt to obtain your attorney bar number and. Nacdl envisions a society where all individuals receive fair, rational, and humane treatment within the criminal justice system. Client intake form 1 p a g e please fill out this questionnaire. Estate planning, family law, civil law and criminal defense in lenexa. Essential client interview skills columbia law school. Explain various documents you recommend a client complete as part of their estate plan and their.
They are free, easy to use, and double as order forms. These checklists are downloadable pdf forms you can fill in on screen, or print and fill in by hand while interviewing a client. The purpose of this form is to gather the information needed by the attorney before scheduling an initial consultation. The initial interview is the first meeting between the client and the attorney. It is important that you answer each question fully. As with all communications between you and the attorney the information you supply is absolutely confidential. However, the interview also serves as an opportunity to develop a relationship of trust and. The initial client interview introduction why is the initial client interview a critical professional skill. Open questions invite the client to say what they want, using their.
Advice for lawyers on initial client interviews university of. Client intake form personal injury 1 of 6 please print out and fill out the form below. A second purpose is to sell the attorneys services. During that time, the attorney will ask you many questions concerning the marriage and the property acquired during the marriage. Texas divorce worksheet and law summary for contested or. Family law client information sheet please fill out this questionnaire.
Social security numbers are collected by the law firm from the client and all clients provide such information to the firm in writing. Rather than practice area, conflicts of interest and problems related to poor client qualityissues that cut across all practice areas and geographic locations remain the major causes of lawyer liability. Worksheet with questions to ask a personal injury attorney to help determine if he or she will be a good fit for your case. Effective client interviewing and counseling papers in the ssrn. In many ways for lawyers the initial client interview is like a first date. Jun 26, 2015 this initial interview an attorney should act in a supportive counselor role and listen to the concerns that the potential client has while taking note of facts that will be important for the case. Call the lpm department at 4045278772 if you have any questions about downloading these forms and request for other practice management specific forms. Many malpractice claims result from attorney client. It is important that you answer each question fully because your attorney will use this information to prepare your case and your answers are. In order to convince the client to retain the attorney, it is necessary to gather as much information as possible about the issue presented by the potential client and. Determine the clients wishes if heshe becomes incapacitated before death.
Client intake and interview family law legal blogs posted. Advice for lawyers on initial client interviews marjorie corman aaron, 20. We ask our clients to reflect on pretty embarrassing times in their lives. The next step in the divorce process is the initial client interview.
Pdf overview the legal client interview is a learned skill crucial for most. To save time in our office you may print out the general intake form and all other forms that pertain to your case. This divorce worksheet and law summary for contested or uncontested cases is a package that contains the following. The client interview assessment is all about your facetoface customer service skills under the watchful gaze of the professional conduct rules.
The purpose of the client interview is to obtain as much information in respect to the situation presented by the client. A primary purpose of the initial client interview is to identify the client s problem and to gather enough facts to identify a range of appropriate ways to address the problem. How to perform solo and small law firm client intake findlaw. File immediately rush file waiting on client to get us documentation i. Most billing systems allow billing numbers to be grouped by client name. Support pdf,doc,docx,txt,xls,wpd,htm,html fils up to 5mb. We help file for bankruptcy relief under the bankruptcy code. The client interview wisconsin state public defenders office. If the attorney s fees exceed the amount of the initial retainer, i may be required to make an additional deposit as the case proceeds.
A second purpose is to sell the attorney s services. If a specific matter number is not requested, the next number will be used. To give the client the opportunity to meet the attorney. 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. Tax information such as forms w2, 1099, 1098, 1095. Since your answer are being made to an attorney, you are assured of confidentiality and are protected by the attorney client privilege. Initial client interview form exercise extreme caution when using many of our free forms or any legal material. Law practice management forms state bar of georgia. Criminal file information sheet state bar of georgia. Client checklists for attorneys lawyers aid service. How to build trust continued answer their questions, what are. When properly used, a client interview questionnaire or intake form will help you obtain the information necessary to evaluate the clients case from both a liability and damage perspective.
To give the client some preliminary legal advice regarding his problem. The purpose of an initial consultation is for the attor ney to advise you, the prospective client what if anything, may be done for you, and what the minimum fee therefor will be. Acknowledgement of receipt of file form agreement to close law practice full form agreement to close law practice in the future agreement to consent to close law practice form short form authorization and consent to close law office authorization for transfer of client file form. Prescreening also allows you to determine whether the client s matter is the type you are interested in or capable of handling. Client intake form the purpose of this form is to gather the information needed by the attorney before scheduling an initial consultation. A primary purpose of the initial client interview is to identify the clients problem and to gather enough facts to identify a range of appropriate ways to address the problem. Picture id such as valid drivers license for you and your spouse.
Initial interview with a potential client how to build. A younger male lawyer in my office and his approach. Legal interviewing and counseling client interview exercise. Social security numbers are most often used to positively identify parties. Client information sheet san angelo divorce attorney. Social security cards or itin letters for all persons on your tax return. The purpose is not to render a definitive legal opinion. Conducting a successful client interview requires both tact and expertise.
The purpose of an initial consultation is for the attorney to advise you, the prospective client what if anything, may be done for you, and what the minimum fee therefor will be. Client interview sheet to assist the attorney in answering. Determine the clients wishes for the disposition of hisher property at death. The remaining balance of the attorney s fees and expenses will be due and payable. The following questions should give an idea of the type of questions that will be asked during the client interview and the information a divorce client needs to have on. Download free power of attorney forms in adobe pdf. Nacdls mission is to serve as a leader, alongside diverse coalitions, in identifying and reforming flaws and inequities in the criminal justice system, and redressing systemic racism, and ensuring that its members and others in the criminal defense. Attorney at law attorney at law criminal law client information sheet please fill in as completely as possible all information is needed to file and complete court documents date. Family health and social issues do you, your spouse, or your children have. For your convenience we have provided downloadable forms. Checklist of 30 items to help you prepare for making a personal injury or accident claim.