Conference Skills

Bar Vocational CourseLisa Down

(Subject Tutor)l.down@unn.ac.uk

Room 311Ext.3817

Conference Team

• Andrew Hutchinson

• Ross Fletcher

• Kevin Crawley

• Lisa Down

Reading?

• A Practical Guide to Lawyering Skills

• Published by: Cavendish

Authors:

Fiona Boyle

Deveral Capps

Philip Plowden

Clare Sandford

What is a conference?

A conference is a meeting between you and your lay client.

Important TerminologyLay Client

This is the member of the public you are representing

Professional Client

This is the person who instructed you – the solicitor?

Who will be present at a conference?

In reality there should always be :~

You, the barrister

The lay client

The professional client

Conference Skills

At Northumbria conferences will take place between: ~

You, the barrister; and

The lay client (played by a BPTC student)

Imaginary professional client

Where can conferences occur?

A conference can occur anywhere!

They might occur :~

In Chambers

In Prison

In Court

What is the purpose of a conference?

A conference is an opportunity for you as a barrister to :~

meet your client

hear your client’s version of events

advise your client

take instructions

Will you always have a conference with a client?

The simple answer is no.

You may deal with a client only on paper

Your solicitor may answer any questions that you have.

How should a conference be structured?

When you are in practice, you will adopt your own style of conferences.

However, at Northumbria we will show you a standard method of conducting a conference.

How should a conference be structured?

A conference can be broken up into various separate parts.

This is just like any law essay.

Conference Structure

You should have therefore :~

1. An introduction;

2. A main body; and

3. A conclusion

Introduction (Preliminaries)

-Name / Role

-Confidentiality

-Purpose of Conference

-Agenda

-Questions at end

-10mins to get through everything

Agenda/ Timetable for Conference

Q. Why have an agenda?

A. 1. Professionalism

2. So that the client knows what is going to happen and when.

Your agenda should include :~

• Purpose of the conference• Question and answer section about the

case• Advice for the client• Answer session for any queries that the

client might have.• Taking instructions• Next steps

The Main body

What do you do in the main body?

• The facts of the problem at hand.

• Overview of the case

ConclusionWhat would you do in the conclusion?

Give advice

• Check understanding

• Take instructions

• Confirm instructions

Farewell

• Advise on next steps

• Put the client at ease

• Tell the client that they can contact you through the solicitor should they wish to

• Say goodbye

Teaching Structure?INITIALLY no group divisions. All students will have the same papers. First session split into 2 groups-remain in

same group for subsequent sessions. In each session you will be given some questions to put to the barrister when playing the client.

THEREAFTER-You will be divided into X students and Y students. (Pink / yellow- Variation of client details/ questions).

This is so that when one person is playing the role of the barrister (X) the other person (Y) will play the role of the client.

SPSs

Start next week- SUITS

4 x SPSs and 1 x Mock

You will receive feedback on all performances.

You will receive detailed feedback on 3 complete performances- DVD

SELF ASSESSMENT

• Self Assessment forms

• Feedback sheets

• Peer Review forms

• ELP

Assessment

• You will get one conference assessment

• This is worth 7.5% of you final mark

• This is a seen assessment

• For the purposes of the assessment your client will be played by an actor/actress

Assessment Criteria

ELP

Very important

Skills assessed using this criteria

Conference skills Assessment Criteria

1. Preparation

2. Conduct

3. Interpersonal skills

4. Questioning

5. Advice

6. Knowledge and comprehension

7. Professional conduct

In order to be graded competent or above you must show your ability to:

1. Preparation (10%). In order to satisfy this criterion you should: Show an understanding of the objectives of the conference.

Illustrate your knowledge of the facts of the case. (case analysis)

Illustrate your knowledge of the legal issues that are relevant to the case. (legal research)

Your plan will be used to determine the extent that you have fulfilled this criterion

Plans

Very important- Will be looked at in your assessment

No longer than 4 sides of A4 (rest discarded)

Possible score of 10 before even enter conference!

What is a plan?

No standard layout

Personal style – Start now

Not a script!!

Your plan should include

Introduction -Preliminaries

Main Body-Dealing with the matter Research of offence / sentence / procedure

Conclusion – Conclude conference and advise on next steps. Any procedural issues?

Why do a plan?

Nerves

Do not finish

Demonstrate knowledge / research

QUERIES

• Any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me or;

• Conference Tutor

• I look forward to meeting some of you next week and hope that you enjoy the conference course.