Monash Law
Students' Society
Client Interview &
Witness Examination
Client Interview
A team of two solicitors interview a client who has approached you with an issue. However, as in practice, clients won’t always tell you the full story straight away. You must ask questions and tease out as many facts as you can to understand what happened, before giving advice to the client about what they should do next.
Solicitors develop their attention to detail, as well as their teamwork and people skills. Additionally, as many job positions involve interviewing clients, the skills learnt here are directly transferable to work.
This competition requires no specific legal experience, and doesn’t require you to have had previous experience in interviewing clients.
Witness Examination
Unleash your inner Ace Attorney as you tear down witnesses in cross-examination and make objections to convince the jury of your side.
Competitors act as either counsel for the defence or prosecution, and are given the statement of facts of both their own witness as well as the opposing side’s witness. You must work out how you want to present your case, and write questions that best allow you to do so. Are there inconsistencies in what the opposing witness has said? Anything that doesn’t make sense? As both sides have access to the same facts, this competition is all about spinning the narrative in a way that is best for your side.
You’re also able to object to questions asked by opposing Counsel, as well as make an opening and closing statement.
This competition helps improve students’ oral presentation and problem solving skills, and is a great introduction to what witness examination can be like in practice.
While much of this competition touches on Evidence Law, completing Evidence Law is not a prerequisite to competing.
The witness examination workshop can also be viewed here.