CLIENT INTERVIEWING
The Events and Activities Officers also arrange Client Interviewing, a competition in which you must work as a pair to communicate with and advise a client on a legal matter in a simulated law office environment.
It begins as an internal competition between the UPLS members involved. For this stage local practitioners take the time out of their busy schedule to judge the competition and provide you with feedback. The winners then advance to the regional competition, representing the University of Plymouth. If successful, they will then compete in the national Client Interviewing competition for England and Wales.
This competition allows you to gain a real insight into the practice of law while developing strong interpersonal skills. This is the ideal competition for any aspiring solicitor to be a part of! Do not worry if you do not have a partner to sign up with, the Officers will pair you up with someone that you can enter with so that you can still compete. As a competition that is highly regarded by all prospective employers it is definitely worth giving it a go!
It begins as an internal competition between the UPLS members involved. For this stage local practitioners take the time out of their busy schedule to judge the competition and provide you with feedback. The winners then advance to the regional competition, representing the University of Plymouth. If successful, they will then compete in the national Client Interviewing competition for England and Wales.
This competition allows you to gain a real insight into the practice of law while developing strong interpersonal skills. This is the ideal competition for any aspiring solicitor to be a part of! Do not worry if you do not have a partner to sign up with, the Officers will pair you up with someone that you can enter with so that you can still compete. As a competition that is highly regarded by all prospective employers it is definitely worth giving it a go!
2022/2023 Client Interview winners Jasmine Tottel-Clarke and Olivia Wyatt competing in the External Finals
|
Skills you will develop :
|
Members' Experience
"I really enjoyed competing in the client interviewing competition. It allowed me to gain practical skills such as public speaking, problem analysis, communication and establishing professional relationships. These are all skills i may not have otherwise learned or been able to develop upon in lectures alone. I was able to work on my teamwork skills whilst also competing in something that i found challenging but fun. One of the benefits of the competition is that you don't have to do any prep work like you do with other competitions. This meant i was able to focus on my studies whilst still being able to learn and develop my new practical skills"
- Olivia Wyatt, 2nd Year, LLB Law Student
"I signed up to participate in the Client Interviewing competition. As a first-year student and given the competition was online due to covid I was unsure of what to expect but I can honestly say that the competition helped improve my confidence in problem solving, communication and quick thinking. The fact that this event was hosted online did not pose as a limitation for my fellow competitors, nor the Events and Activities Officers. The Officers alongside judges Ella and Sophi provided helpful feedback at the end of each round, of what myself and my partner were doing well but also areas which we could work upon, allowing me to improve throughout the competition. I also found the variety of subject areas which the scenarios touched upon, especially useful as it gave me an insight into different areas of law that I had not given much consideration before this. Finally, I would like to add that this competition is a great way to meet other students. Whilst the option is available for you to sign up and compete alongside someone you already know, please do not feel put off entering this competition if you do not have a partner, as speaking from my personal experience, I found that being paired with someone I did not know improved my ability to work as part of a team."
- Mollie Pellowe, 3rd Year, LLB Law Student.
"Taking part in the UPLS Client Interviewing competition helped me build on important skills that are required for my future post graduate studies and career. The competition gave me the opportunity to improve on my emotional intelligence when speaking to a client who is seeking advice, especially when the advice is regarding a delicate matter such as domestic abuse. A useful skill that you do not have the opportunity to improve during the LLB Law course. The diverse skillset acquired throughout the competition allows you to understand the intricacies found within a successful client interview. Lecturers and local professionals who pose as judges offer valuable feedback after each round that allow you and your partner to understand your strengths and areas that may need improving to further expand your client interviewing skills. Whilst the option is there to compete with someone you know, I was paired with someone I did not know which was a great way to further my connections within the course and improve my ability to work within a team."
-Daniel Parkinson, 3rd Year, LLB Law Student
"I really enjoyed competing in the client interviewing competition. It allowed me to gain practical skills such as public speaking, problem analysis, communication and establishing professional relationships. These are all skills i may not have otherwise learned or been able to develop upon in lectures alone. I was able to work on my teamwork skills whilst also competing in something that i found challenging but fun. One of the benefits of the competition is that you don't have to do any prep work like you do with other competitions. This meant i was able to focus on my studies whilst still being able to learn and develop my new practical skills"
- Olivia Wyatt, 2nd Year, LLB Law Student
"I signed up to participate in the Client Interviewing competition. As a first-year student and given the competition was online due to covid I was unsure of what to expect but I can honestly say that the competition helped improve my confidence in problem solving, communication and quick thinking. The fact that this event was hosted online did not pose as a limitation for my fellow competitors, nor the Events and Activities Officers. The Officers alongside judges Ella and Sophi provided helpful feedback at the end of each round, of what myself and my partner were doing well but also areas which we could work upon, allowing me to improve throughout the competition. I also found the variety of subject areas which the scenarios touched upon, especially useful as it gave me an insight into different areas of law that I had not given much consideration before this. Finally, I would like to add that this competition is a great way to meet other students. Whilst the option is available for you to sign up and compete alongside someone you already know, please do not feel put off entering this competition if you do not have a partner, as speaking from my personal experience, I found that being paired with someone I did not know improved my ability to work as part of a team."
- Mollie Pellowe, 3rd Year, LLB Law Student.
"Taking part in the UPLS Client Interviewing competition helped me build on important skills that are required for my future post graduate studies and career. The competition gave me the opportunity to improve on my emotional intelligence when speaking to a client who is seeking advice, especially when the advice is regarding a delicate matter such as domestic abuse. A useful skill that you do not have the opportunity to improve during the LLB Law course. The diverse skillset acquired throughout the competition allows you to understand the intricacies found within a successful client interview. Lecturers and local professionals who pose as judges offer valuable feedback after each round that allow you and your partner to understand your strengths and areas that may need improving to further expand your client interviewing skills. Whilst the option is there to compete with someone you know, I was paired with someone I did not know which was a great way to further my connections within the course and improve my ability to work within a team."
-Daniel Parkinson, 3rd Year, LLB Law Student