Today, we’ll discuss our assessment during the initial interview with the client to determine if we are willing to accept a particular case. Naturally, every professional has their method and style.
The process we described is an idea for colleagues who are just starting. In time, you’ll be able to and should modify to adapt and grow.
A suggestion: if your new employee has an assistant or secretary and assistant, it is beneficial to fill the form briefly for you, including names, numbers, and addresses, along with an email address and a short outline of what the client would like to know. It can be done after the prospective client makes the initial phone call to schedule the consultation or after you meet him in your office before you start helping the client.
Alright, let’s get started.
Step 1: Begin by asking, “What is your situation?” or “What could I do to help the case of Mr./Ms?”. The answer is typically a story about an incident that occurred to the person, but not always in the most efficient arrangement, and often brimming with emotions, opinions, and other things.
It is best not to interrupt the narrative in order not to impede the memory of an important event. It also helps to understand the client, and it’s even possible to predict the way he will behave when he is preparing a personal statement to a judge when he can articulate his interpretation of the events clearly, when he can communicate clearly, and if he can control his emotions when discussing the incident.
Step 2: Ask specific questions to help clarify the situation’s specifics. How did this happen? Take place. How could this happen? If someone else who isn’t mentioned played a role in the events, more importantly, inquire from the client how he will demonstrate the truth of what he just told you. Don’t forget speaking and not proving the facts is the same thing as not saying anything.
Step 3: Go over the whole story that the customer has told. The second time, do it from the viewpoint of the opposing party. Be aware of any flaws and differences between the original and current versions. Ask the client questions if there are any contradictions until the issues are addressed.
Step 4: Typically, at this point, you have a good understanding of the situation and are aware of whether it is worthwhile or not. However, it could be that the situation isn’t as straightforward. It may require a complex understanding of medicine, engineering, economics, or other subjects which isn’t yours. Perhaps your client is carrying only a few folders with 2000 pages of papers. In such cases, you should not be afraid to make another appointment to provide your client with an explanation and allow him to take a step back and examine the documents and other aspects of the situation.
Be aware that we’re discussing evaluating the case ahead of hiring. So, you need to determine the exact amount this initial study will cost. It’s possible that the costs typically offered for a consultation may not be sufficient, considering the complexity of the matter and the amount of time you must devote to this study.
The setting of specific fees to cover this initial stage can be a way to determine what the client’s views are regarding the matter and the lawyer’s job. If the client doesn’t realize the expense of segregating the time he spends to study documents and consider the case, it could suggest that he will not be a suitable candidate for the lawyers. It’s not a simple and quick rule. The coworker will need to consider the particular scenario.
If, on the initial day or at a later date, the lawyer decides that the matter isn’t worthwhile for you, Tell the client this straight away, explain the reason, and ask him to take action. Get a second opinion from a different lawyer if he wishes to feel more secure.
Step 5: Most customers aren’t aware of the significance of a lawsuit in terms of time, effort, and money, as well as headaches, etc. Make a detailed explanation of each step, starting with the filing and ending at the end of the process, using only technical terms.
In each step, explain the meaning of time and personal commitment and then ask your client questions to find out whether he’s in the right mental, financial, time, and economic circumstances to facilitate the execution of the procedure.
It is essential to be clear, particularly for new customers who are new to the market, that they will be unable to recover the total cost of the process even if it succeeds in it. Five steps will suffice and provide excellent guidance to new colleagues in conducting the first consultation with customers.
With time and practice, you can change, adapt and refine the process we described.
All the best to everyone, and till the next time!