Exam 2: The Initial Interview

On what two calculations are attorney's fees based?

A conflict-of-interest check on a potential client should include what two steps?

Doctors or others holding confidential information are authorized to give that information to a lawyer or paralegal through

Define substantive law and procedural law.

A good way to let potential clients know their cases have not been accepted is to have the secretary call them after a forty-five-day period.

What federal law governs a medical facility's release of a client's medical information to a paralegal?

How do you generate interview questions for specific cases?

How is the interview summary prepared?

Identify the special needs one should anticipate in planning an interview.

The body language of a person may best be assessed to determine

Procedural law includes the rules for filing a lawsuit.

The initial client interview can provide valuable information essential to forming the basis of a lawsuit or a defense thereto.

A good interview form

Elements of a cause of action can be found in jury instructions.

Pace and lead is a technique used to elicit information during the client interview.

List the interview tasks and the purposes of the tasks at the beginning of the interview section in your systems folder. Place a copy of the Interview Plan Checklist in your systems folder. Add to this section any forms, techniques, examples, or other material that you or your instructor deem useful.

Test your research skills and learn about your state law by researching the terms negligence, contributory negligence, and comparative negligence in your state's jury instruction book, statutes, or digest. For additional understanding of these concepts, look in a legal encyclopedia, Am Jur's Proof of Facts, or other national reference sources. Note what must be proved. research may be conducted electronically or through books.

What is a fee agreement and why do so many client v. attorney fee disputes occur? What is good practice regarding law office Web sites and fee agreements?

Which is the best interview question?

What is the doctrine of last clear chance? What is the assumption of risk? Give examples of each.