The prestigious Brown-Mosten International Client Consultation Competition returns to the Law School at Blackhall Place from 3-6 April and the organisers are looking for volunteer practitioners to judge some competition rounds. 

The competition is open to the winners of national competitions.

It simulates an initial consultation with a new client in which two law students are presented with a client matter and are required to elicit the relevant information from the client, explore the client’s preferred outcomes, outline the nature of the problem and present the client with a means (or range of alternatives, if appropriate) for resolving the problem.

The role of client is played by an actor.

Theme

A panel of judges – comprised of both lawyers and non-lawyers – oversees the consultation. The theme for 2019 is theft.

The competition provides an exciting opportunity for law students to learn and practice the planning, analytical, interviewing and advising skills so vital in developing sound solicitor-client relationships.

The competition also provides a wonderful opportunity for valuable educational and cultural interchanges between students, law teachers and legal practitioners. 

It is anticipated that up to 30 national teams from all corners of the world – Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australasia – will travel to Dublin to participate.

Briefing

Before the competition starts, all volunteer judges will be provided with instructions for judging and the criteria against which they must assign marks. 

Prior to each round, the judges will be briefed on the scenario involved.  There will be ample opportunity to ask questions.

Over the three days of the competition there are three preliminary rounds, a semi-final and final.  Each round has three individual sessions so three teams will perform.

There are three main parts to each round:

1. Consultation with the client:  Each team must conduct a client consultation where they find out the relevant information, outline the problem and propose a solution.
2. Post-consultation:  When the client leaves the room, the students conduct a post-consultation discussion amongst themselves.  They may speak loudly so the judges can hear or may speak quietly together and make a presentation to the judges at the end.  The judges’ role is to observe and take notes, not to ask questions at this time.
   (The students have 45 minutes in total for parts one and two.)
3. Making a decision and consulting with the client:  The judges must give feedback to the teams regarding their strengths and weaknesses and provide reasons for the remarks.  Clients may also participate in this session.  It should last no more than 15 minutes.   After seeing all three teams perform, judges rank the teams.

Invitation

Lunch will be provided each day and the Law School is extending an invitation to all our volunteers to attend our external evening events which include a welcome evening in the Law Society, a Ceilí in Croke Park and our finals awards dinner at the Guinness Storehouse. 

CPD points

There are four management and professional development CPD points available for judging a round.

If what you’ve read is of interest, the Law School would be delighted if you would volunteer your time to judge a round or two. 

Please click here to register.