Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. Interviewing – basic purpose is to gather facts and establish a rapport with the client.
i. establish rapport and contract for services.
a. Empathy – see the world through the client’s eyes. Seeks to learn what the client is experiencing
(events, encounters, reactions and feelings) Shares the client’s values or feelings; understands them.
◊ to respond empathetically, the lawyer must communicate the understanding back to the client by
articulating the client’s feelings.
◊ pacing, good pace throughout the interview
2. Counseling – to identify the client’s alternatives and priorities and then help the client select the most
constructive opinion.
i. research and investigation. Gather facts
◊ giving opinions, not telling (don’t tell person to plead either guilty or not guilty).
◊ use of interviewing skills +
a. Creativity – think of multiple alternatives for client so they have options
b. Foresight – think ahead of possible solutions or problems which may, or may not, occur.
d. Explanation – explain options to client in dictum on their level. No use for elevated jargon if not
appropriate.
e. cooperation – make client part of the process – get a copy of driving record, get witness
information, etc.
f. advice – if in need of psychiatrist, rehab. Don’t be judgmental.
3. Negotiation – (never get here unless ready for trial) to implement the goals set during counseling.
◊ Achieve client goals.
◊ Resolve issues without litigation. Must use all of pervious skills +
a. strategy
b. persuasion – present in a way that may possibly read a client to better position without telling.
c. conciliation –
Creativity
Analysis and Explanation and
and
advice cooperation
foresight Counseling -
genuinenes
empathy listening probing - Interviewing
s
c. The professional Mask – there is an overlap between private self (morals) and
professional roles and responsibility. Must separate between legal and personal life.
i. the job of the lawyer IS NOT to approve, or disapprove, of the character of his or
her client, the cause for what the client seeks the lawyer’s assistance, or, avenue by
the law to achieve what the client wants to accomplish.
ii. The lawyer’s task is to provide that competence which the client lacks and the
lawyer possesses
iii. Legalism – the ethical attitude that holds moral conduct to be a matter of rule
following. Not necessarily a good thing. EX – Lawyers once argued the separate
but equal doctrine was constitutional without addressing the morality.
c. The pleasure principle – people’s overriding drive is to seek pleasure and to avoid pain
or unpleasantness. A person’s actions and thoughts reflect a conscious effort towards
pleasure.
d. “ego” mediates between competing internal forces and the external world. The ego
employs a number of defenses to bar unpleasant experiences or defuse there impact on
the consciousness.
i. repression – individual entirely blocks out a painful experience
ii. rationalization – (most common) describes a post hoc placed by the ego onan
unpleasant event to make it appear for the best.
iii. Projection
iv. Regression
v. Compensation
vi. Intellectualization
vii. Denial
3. Steps in psychoanalysis
i. initial phase – identify the problem and determine of psychoanalysis is appropriate
ii. transference – taking on in the patient’s unconscious the persona of a figure from the
repressed past or from fantasies. Helps patient to understand unconscious manipulates
present perceptions
iii. termination of treatment.
iv. Prepare patient for life after analysis
v. Watch for counter-transference – attributing an identity from his or her past to the
patient.
4. Utility for lawyers and limitations – can not perform psychotherapy but can recognize
problems and refer them to specialist/use therapy for benefit in case.
i. defenses from ego or super ego can prevent information flow from patient.
◊ Behaviorism – focus on clients actions and behavioral patterns rather than their feelings
and thoughts.
- based on premise that all behavior is a function of preceding events. A response to certain
stimuli.
- when clients want to change the behavioral patterns, the therapist begins to identify the
stimuli that produce the undesirable behavior, then attempts to alter or extinguish the
response through reinforcement or occasionally punishment to shape a more desired pattern
of behavior.
- more directive than the others, yet they view it as a collaborative approach.
◊ Transactional Analysis –
“people are born princes and princesses until their parents turn them into frogs.”
A. People function through 3 active personality states. Different from Freud because are evolving, conscious,
and segregated entities within the personality.
B. Legal Problems clients are unaware or do not articulate. Part of being a lawyer is to evaluate issues. Not all
issues are given.
C. Non legal problems affecting the legal issue
(1) Preparing for the law – a good questionnaire given to the client allows the lawyer to research relevant law and
will make it more difficult to miss important, legally relevant questions during the interview.
◊ don’t spend too much time, those hours are un billable. However review a hornbook or a quick review of
something.
(2) Preparing for the facts – often difficult to do because you are not provided sufficient information before you
meet them.
(3) Preparing for the relationship – consider appearances and timing. Anticipating client’s attitude and adjusting own
demeanor.
Ice Breaking – has both client centered and lawyer centered goals.
Client centered – making the client feel more comfortable
Lawyer centered – expanding the lawyer’s information base.
◊ after arranging furniture in an appropriate way, eliminated interruptions, cleaned area, offer soda, water, tea, when
the client is seated. It is ok to continue ice breaking once the client is seated.
◊ to determine if I should go right to business or continue ice breaking – use the client as a barometer.
- is the client eager to get started with business or is more time to get acquainted more appropriate.
- reaching for a briefcase or shuffling through papers are signs the client is ready to get started.
◊ open ended questions – how can I help you today? Or if you have an overview of the problem, “I understand you
have questions about… why don’t you start from the beginning and tell me about the problems you are having and
how you’d like to see those problems resolved.
Identify issues or topics in clients response to open ended answers and place them in order they are to be pursued.
Work
chair
TABLE
My Interviewee
Intervie chair
w chair
Paralinguistics – vocal phenomena (pace, pitch, tone, and volume) other than the actual content of speech)
6 things that point to immediacy derived from the language within the language
face to face interviews
must be aware of impressions you are giving to client.
Then either the lawyer or client uses temporal spatial awareness. The person is setting themselves apart from a
person or situation. When a person uses such language – probe someone. Find out what they mean.
(2) spatio-temporal indicators give evidence of attitude toward subject Can get feelings of a client from inclusion or
exclusion of other’s and/or places.
◊ the use of person pronouns. I (close) it (distant). “those people”
(4) selective emphasis of verbal variant. – when the speaker focus on specific objects out of a group of objects. Can
focus by sequencing, omitting, highlighting, or isolating,
(5) – the speaker’s agent-action-object relationships can be significant. – the person initiating the action is the agent,
the recipient of the action is the object. John hit Sally, Sally hit John, they hit each other, implies different fault. The
use of passive and active voice also effects it. I drove the car rather than the car was driven by me.
(6) the usage of automatic phrases.- out of habit, instead out of need to necessitate anything. (“uh, oh, um, ok,”) ◊
can show negative feelings in client. If lawyer ask clear question and client says “huh” implies negative effect. Also,
words, like just, you know, right.
Developing objectives and planning the interview – 1st and subsequent interviews
(1) why are you doing interview
(2) what do you hope to derive
(3) what do you hope the interviewee derives.
Appropriate breadth of questions and how much topic control to exercise or surrender turns on:
(1) the objectives of the interview – if gathering facts and learning about client – open ended questions are
best.
(2) subject of interview and type of information sought - the more experience a lawyer has – the more the
lawyer will dictate with close ended questions. More experience takes charge more.
(3) type of motivation sought – open ended questions sometimes gains trust, closed ended help when not
getting relevant information.
(4) the identity of the interviewee – age, intelligence, education effects ability to handle topic control.
(5) competing time demands – if limited time may have to assert informational priorities on interview
Type of motivation sought – what is motivating the client to come to see you.
Nature of harassment
Touching
Remarks
Bosses Inaction
Client’s complaint’s
Bosses’
Responses
Nature of
workplac
e
Inhibitors of Communication
(1) ego threat – when the subject of discussion threatens the interviewee’s self esteem. EX – an accident
witness resists discussing the interview if it occurred as he emerged from a peep show. Counter by assuring
about confidentiality.
(2) Case Threat – when client’s perceive that disclosure of certain information will harm their case.
(3) Conformance to social norms – some people expect the lawyer to dominate. Also, men and women are
reluctant to discuss sexual matters in public. Counter by using empathy and explanation. Acknowledge the
sensitivity of the subject and the differences between yourself and the interviewee.
(4) Bias – racial or sexist stereotypes. Takes time, exposing them, and proving their premises inapplicable or
wrong.
(5) Competing time demands
(6) Environment – see spatial awareness above.
(7) Perceived Irrelevance and Greater Need – when clients are unable to see the connection between their case
and your questions or clients may become impatient when the client feels there is a greater need than what
you are focusing on.
(8) Trauma - break up of romance, death, accident. Must use patience and understanding, and seek professional
help.
(9) Memory Failure – the one effects ability to communicate, not willingness.
(10) Unconscious Behavior – (1) custom or habit, (2) reactions to many subliminal, nonverbal cues,
reactions under distress.
(2) Recognition – esteem as distinct from affection. The opposite of the ego threat inhibitor. Recognition
means more than acceptance, it also means approval. Can be shown on two levels:
i. specific statements of praise or appreciation “your description of the accident was very good.”
ii. Nonverbal expressions and general statements of sincere regard.
◊ make recognition to the merits of claim and not the issues of the case.
(3) extrinsic rewards – that which brought the client to your interview.
(4) Catharsis – the process by which one person obtains a release from unpleasant emotional tensions by
talking about the source of these tensions and expressing his feelings. “a person feels better when he gets
something off his chest.”
(5) Fulfilling expectations – interviewees respond positively when you articulate their expectations. Brief
clients on three levels:
i. clearly explain at the outset of the relationship that the client should work with you as a partner.
ii. What agenda and expectations you have set for the day
iii. Assert explanations as you and the client discuss facts and issues reflecting confidence that
expectations will be met.
(6) altruistic appeals – appeal to sense of right.
(7) Environment and conformance to social norms. environment is important.
(1) Interview Witnesses Pursuant to a theory of the case and a fact-finding gathering plan. The plan requires
consideration of:
(i) facts establishing the existence or nonexistence of the substantive elements entitling the plaintiff to
relief
(ii) facts corroborating the client’s version of the case.
(iii) Facts constituting the adversary’s version of the case
(iv) Facts contradicting the adversary’s version of the case.
B. Indifferent Witnesses – neutral 3rd parties with no stake in the case and no ax
to grind.
◊ factors:
a. location and time – should be convenient and private to allow for thorough and candid discussions.
i. Allocate enough time for an unrushed and careful exchange.
ii. Generally travel to neutral/indifferent witnesses
b. Opening – keep small talk short if anticipate or feel time is an issue, also, talk about a subject the client is
familiar with.
c. Probing – use the open ended questions and the use of funneling sequence
d. Dealing with Inhibitors - probe about what the problem is. Try to comfort or compel if necessary.
◊ consider relative significance of probing topics. Important questions should be asked early.
◊ organizational clarity
Friendly witnesses – may be too friendly and reconstruct facts – warn of consequences.
Counseling
Chapter 10 – interviewing gather facts and build a rapport, in counseling you gather facts, build rapport, and help the
client reach a decision and select action steps.
◊ a follow up interview to make sure you have ALL the information. Continue to gather information, facts and
rapport.
Skills needed:
(1) Analytical skills
(2) verbal skills
(3) Personal skills – maintain objective skills while client is emotionally changed.
Need to determine:
(4) Client’s priorities
(5) Other informational sources
(6) ?
(7) Potential alternatives to achieve client’s objectives
Lawyer must have:
§ in counseling, you convey and clarify information (through substitution of lay terminology with legal),
exercise judgment, give guidance, provide emotional support, and steer the client to enhanced understanding.
Be careful in client self disclosure – when the lawyer describe feelings or experiences they have that are
analogous to the clients.
◊ don’t want to become lawyer centered, instead of client centered. Don’t disclose what you have done in a
similar case.
(1) content –how ell you accurately analogize to a significant issue. Need to have
correctly identified empathy to find correct analogy.
(2) Timing – if done to early, the lawyer will seem egotistical and pre-occupied
with himself
(3) frequency – same effects as above.
(4) Duration – only as long as it takes to make the analogy, express understanding,
and suggest discussion points for analyzing the client’s problems or alternatives.
Advanced Empathy –
Confrontation – means the consoler’s presentation to the client of some apparent or implied conflict.
◊ also used in advanced empathy when inconsistent in the client’s facts or priorities. Must confront to get correct
empathy.
(2) spur action – that gives effect to the insights, values, or goals.
(3) ensure accuracy – to choose appropriate action
Content –
(1) appropriately confront clients when you detect discrepancies between apparent reality and your client’s
expressions or feelings. Self worth is low or too high.
(2) Be sensitive to discrepancies between client’s articulated values and client’s behavior. –
(3) Confront client’s when they rationalize – avoid a situation (consistent tardiness for work)
(4) Methods and Limitations –
(i) if not used for clarification of factual issues, should not be used in early stages of lawyer-client
relationships
(ii) use advanced empathy language
(iii) use nonverbal accompaniment to confrontation must be consistent with caring, empathetic, respectful,
and genuine counseling. (paralinguistic effects)
(5) Attacking (rare situations)
(i) has resisted all lesser measures to force a decision – any decision
◊ refer client to expert for therapy
make decision for client based on descriptions of his/her priorities and common sense
withdraw from representation
Conscious of inhibitors
Personality Traits
Facilitators of communications
Biggest problem in negotiations is that there is another competent person disguising weaknesses on the other
side and exposing your weaknesses. Mostly lawyers.
The differences – must modify the skills because the client on the others side is a person you are not developing
a relationship with the person.
Competitive
Cooperative model
Adversarial Model
How do you ever determine if you are a successful negotiator? It should never be about what the client thinks
you did. The lawyer sets the expectations in the interview and counseling. To determine if it was successful:
(1) make sure you engage client in counseling in client centered approach (be honest with client in
realistic way
(2) engage client in discussion what strategies and tactics. (client knows what options are and what is
available).
(3) Persistently test own feelings of the case.
(4) Whether or not you are intimidated by the other person’s lawyer (are you in awe of the other
person’s lawyer).
(5) Did you plan in detail for the negotiation process
(6) Objectively analyze your preparation.
(7) Make adjustments for next time.
• The precision of the game theory is the strength and weakness. Also, game theory only assumes two moves, in
reality, there are many moves.
Bargaining Theory – the theory is premised on the existence of imperfect information and strategic interaction
between or among the parties to the negotiation.
Planning
Adversarial negotiators – proceed linearly to develop their plans
Problem solver negotiators - focuses on identifying needs and brainstorming to develop solutions for mutual gains
• bring greater satisfaction to both parties
• easier to implement
• greater appreciation for the role of information in the process.
Disadvantages –
• can not be used solely with money
• Takes more time and thrust parties into uncomfortable relationships.
• Certain situations which make it to difficult to use technique. Too rich, powerful. 2 set in bargaining ways.
•
Aggressive vs. tactful – book runs across the grain but need trust worthiness and cooperative negotiator more than
aggressive. Cooperative moves psychologically toward opponent.
◊ Strengths and weaknesses from both models
◊ Williams is initially always cooperative and aggressive towards the end when he is not getting his way.
Selecting a style/strategy combination – just because you initially select a style strategy you don’t have to stay with
it. There is nothing wrong with changing style and strategy.
◊ should select style and strategy best situated for the situation. 6 factors on page 402.
◊ does it matter if you use the adversarial versus the problem-solving negotiators.
See page 406 (top) for detail.
Evaluate the style and substance of opposing party. Sentence in last line before C.
Planning to obtain needed information (repeat of interviewing) ◊ key skills – (listening and probing)
◊ make sure the sill of active listening during interviewing is carried over to the negotiation and counseling
- nonverbal cues and all that other shit.
Repeating what a negotiator said means you listened and understand that is the position they bargained for.
(1) have a duty not to disclose because negotiations will not work.
Books tools:
(1) answer a question w/ a question
(2) over/under answer a question
(3) answer another question
(4) rule the question out of bounds
(5) ignore the question and change the topic
◊ will only get to the exchange stage (cutting the pie) by:
(1) getting effective control of the information and
(2) plan how you will persuade the opponent.
2 components
(1) preparation before entering the room
(2) implementing it before entering the room.
Planning for exchange as an adversarial negotiator – maximizes client’s gain and minimizes the losses
The planning of adversarial bargainers must involve:
(1) itemize what the issues are
(2) calculate some mathematical way to value each issue
(3) creation of some means to measure the client’s gains and losses by issue
adversarial negotiator must plan for 4 categories of moves along the bargaining continuum:
(1) opening offer
(2) target point
(3) commitment or concession point
(4) resistance level
◊ the chart (pg. 477) should reflect not only your range but the anticipated range for opposing party.
◊ suggest you should do a chart for every issue. (turn everything into a fungible item [money] bottom of page 477
Planning ideas for the exchange stage for the planning party and opposing party
(1) inventory
(2) classify
i. essential needs of client and other party
ii. what is desirable
(3) compare the needs of the parties.
i. come up with shared interest and conflicting interest
(4) search for solutions
Legal Letters
Heading
♦ memorandum (written at the top) .
To:
From:
Re:
Date:
Components
(1a) introduction – use this opposed to a questions presented. (you have ask me to find….)
(1)Then you put question presented: use roman numerals to set out different questions
(2) short answer to the question presented
(2a) executive answer – similar to short answer
(3) statement of the facts
(4) discussion (analysis which consist of the law and the application of the facts to the law).
(5) the conclusion
(6) attach copies of key cases and statutes for reader to use.
Disadvantages –
(a) is impersonal and does not allow interpersonal emotional appeals
(b) if done sloppily, it may create false impressions, confusion, or misunderstandings that
may be difficult to erase later.
(c) Writing is time consuming, from a actual writing standpoint and the time of negotiation.
Settlement brochure – a document that sets out the legal and factual basis for a claimant’s claim
and details her damages,
♦ the brochure may be in the form of a letter or a more formal, bound document that contains
extensive exhibits.
♦ the brochure is often sent to the adjuster for the defendant’s liability insurance carrier before
any lawsuit is filed.
♦ the adjuster then responds to the claimants initial offer either over the phone or in writing.
♦ usually a settlement occurs, if not the brochure is used to structure a settlement agenda.
♦ effective brochures usually contain extensive documentary and illustrative exhibits to back up
assertions.
♦ broad disclosure is there because it is assumed most things would be revealed in discovery.
♦ don’t limit yourself to admissible evidence – as long as it is pertinent.
Structure
(1) introduction/cover letter – sets out limitations, and should include:
a. a statement that it is provided for settlement purposes
b. that the brochure is the property of the client, may not be copied, and returned on
demand. ( not necessary here because everything is discoverable).
c. date specified for reply, when the settlement offer may be withdrawn or expire
d. expression to settle the case reasonably
e. offer to meet further to meet for future negotiations
B. When to negotiate
a. initiate negotiations when the other party is in the weakest position or your client is in the
strongest position. Factors include:
i. time pressure
ii. deadlines
iii. delaying
iv. surprise
C. Where to negotiate –
a. seize the opportunity to choose the place –preferably your own office or own comfortable
place.
b. Choose the other’s office if you will use the walk out method.
c. If you cannot get your place, and do not want to be at the other’s office, chose a neutral
location.
d. Pay attention to the overall environment, seating arrangements, and otherwise
Protecting information
(1) ignore the question and change the topic
(2) answer the question by asking another question
(3) answer the question by answering another a question
(4) over answer or under answer the question
(5) rule the question out of bounds
Making offers
(a) who should make the first offer –
i. some make it first to get the ball rolling
ii. making the first offer may make you seem over eager and have a weak case.
iii. If you miscalculated the value of the case, you may be at a disadvantage.
♦ mediation has advantages – formal setting of bring parties together, can feel someone has fully
heard their side.
♦ can break down emotional barriers
♦ gives parties a greater sense of control.
♦ do not have to make up outlines and invoices. (just site to where you want them to look. They
know what it is).
♦ there is no right answer for an expiration date. (but, she wants to settle, so If there is an
expiration date, be careful of tone). Beware, the SoL for wrongful death is approaching.
♦ make sure it is for the proper purpose and tone is correct.
♦ facts – put the facts that goes to liability. Don’t lecture him about the facts because the other
person investigated. The quotes from the people need to be there. Information about the medical
treatment goes here, but its short because it will be illustrated further in the damages section.
♦ liability section – to the point short and sweet, can use memo as a guide, but don’t cut and
paste.
♦ remember, you are writing to a lawyer. Don’t teach him.
♦ ex because they had actual and constructive notice, they will be liable. Constructive notice is
when…..
Medical treatment – not more than a paragraph for each one (Mrs. Potter and Peter). Not the
same as what’s in the facts section. Narrative form.
Distinguish from facts is itemization. Here, you itemize. Don’t have to have receipts. Just say see
attached… see blah.
♦ don’t talk about medical treatment in the facts in this case. Use it for the narrative.
♦ pain and suffering – damages for Mrs. Potter – narrative she stopped taking meds, looking for
depression damages
♦ damages summary and demand – separate them out – pain and suffering, total, medial, total,
and add punitives if you decide to put them in.