Chris Andrews Memorial Client Interviewing Competition 2022

EVENTS

Chris Andrews Memorial Client Interviewing Competition 2022

After a brief hiatus due to the pandemic, SLS was thrilled to sponsor and support the Chris Andrews Memorial Client Interviewing Competition, which took place at the University of Law, Guildford, on 26th February.

The Chris Andrews Memorial Client Interviewing Competition started in 2005; it is a three-way competition between the University of Surrey, the University of Law (Guildford Campus) and Royal Holloway, University of London, with each institution taking it in turns to host the competition.

Teams from each institution take part in the competition, with each team comprising of two students. They are interviewed for up to 30 minutes on a particular scenario and up to two different fact patterns. The interviews are judged by legal practitioners who are also members of the Surrey Law Society.

Each team is judged according to the National Client Interviewing Competition criteria, including ten components, namely establishing an effective professional relationship, obtaining information, learning the client’s expectations and needs, problem analysis, legal analysis and giving advice, developing reasoned courses of action, assisting the client to make an informed choice, effectively concluding the interview, teamwork, and ethical behaviour. At the end of the interviews the judges provide valuable feedback to each team on their performances and deliberate as a panel to decide upon the winners.

Following deliberation, President of Surrey Law Society, Mumtaz Hussain, announced the winners of the competition and awarded prizes. The first prize was won by Izabela Toma and Khola Shah from the University of Law; the second prize was won by Sarah Morgan and Ryanne A El-Gheriani from the University of Surrey; and the third prize was won by Lidia Ballocchi and Lauren Andrews from the Royal Holloway. ■

SLS President, Mumtaz Hussain and Winning Team: Izabela Toma and Khola Shah