C LINEME- 1.

0
[C LIENT C OUNSELLING R ULES AND FORMAT]

2015

LEGAL AID C OMMITTEE

R.M.L.N.L.U

Clineme 1.0

Client counselling
[RULES AND FORMAT]

LEGAL AID COMMITTEE

DR. RAM MANOHAR LOHIYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

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LEGAL AID C OMMITTEE

I.

R.M.L.N.L.U

CLIENT COUNSELLING [RULES AND FORMAT]

RULE 1: ELIGIBILITY
1.1 The participants must be students pursuing B.A.LL.B (Hons.) at Dr. Ram Manohar
Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow (U.P.)
1.2 The students who had duly intimated their intention to participate in CLINEME 1.0
by registering themselves with the Legal Aid Committee before 12th of September, 2015.
1.3 There shall be a team of two students for participating in the Client Counselling
Competition.

RULE 2: LANGUAGE
The official language of the Competition is English.

RULE 3: FORMAT
3.1 Competition shall consist of Preliminary rounds, Octa-Final rounds, and Final rounds
that will take place on 14th, 15th and 20th of September 2015.
3.2 Each team shall participate in only one session during the Preliminary rounds. After
Preliminary rounds 8 teams shall qualify for the Octa-Final rounds. Only three teams will
participate in the Finals.

RULE 4: PROBLEM
The Problem for each Session shall be made available to the Clients 30 minutes before
the start of each Client Counselling session and shall include facts and the confidential

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information. The contents of the problem will not be disclosed to the participating teams
by the Organising Committee.

RULE 5: TIMING
5.1 Each Client Counselling Session for Preliminary rounds will last for 25 minutes
during the Preliminary rounds. The 25 minutes will consist of 20 minutes of consultation
period with the Client and 5 minutes of post-consolation period.
5.2 Each Client Counselling Session for Octa-Final Rounds will last for 35 minutes
during the Preliminary rounds. The 35 minutes will consist of 25 minutes of consultation
period with the Client and 10 minutes of post-consolation period.
5.3 Each Client Counselling Session for Final Rounds will last for 40 minutes during the
Preliminary rounds. The 40 minutes will consist of 30 minutes of consultation period with
the Client and 10 minutes of post-consolation period.

RULE 6: EXHIBITS AND PROPS

During the Client Counselling Sessions Teams can bring their own notes and can, if need
be, make their own notes on separate sheets of paper. No electronic device will be
allowed within the Counselling Room.

RULE 7: CONSULTATION PERIOD

7.1 The consultation period shall be as per Rule 5.

7.2 The time period will start from the moment the client enters the chamber.
7.3 The time period is meant to be used for consultation with the client during which
participants are expected to elicit the relevant information, outline the problem, find the
clients expectations and propose a solution or other means of resolving the problem.
7.4 During the consultation and post-consultation, the team may use books, notes and
other materials. The team may also use office props (Dictaphones, Files, desktop,

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furnishings, bookshelves etc.) and any other material to furnish their consultation desk or
for other relevant purposes.
7.5 The aforementioned time period is to be strictly adhered to. At the end of consultation
period the client would leave the room and the post consultation period would begin.
7.6 Judges may, in their discretion, penalize teams that allow the interview session to run
longer than the stipulated time period.

RULE 8: POST-CONSULTATION PERIOD

8.1 The post-consultation period shall be as per Rule 5.

8.2 The time period will start from the moment the client leaves the chamber.
8.3 In the post-consultation period the participants have to talk to each other loudly so as
to be audible to the judges or may indirectly address them in any other manner.
8.4 Participants may summarise the interview, indicate the scope of the legal work to be
undertaken, and state the legal issues that should be researched.
8.5 If the participants feel that some documents are appropriate, like a letter to the client
confirming their retention as attorneys, the fee arrangement etc, or a letter to opposing
counsel or to the party with whom the client is having their legal problems etc., they may
dictate such a document at the post consultation stage.
8.6 After the completion of the Consultation period the judges may question the
participants on matters deliberated upon or mentioned by the participants or the client
during the consultation of post-consultation period.
8.7 The judges may ask any question which they consider material and questions meant to
test the participants understanding of the facts and/or law applicable or applied by the
participants in the case.
8.8 At the completion of the Post-Consultation period the judges shall ask the participants
to leave the counselling room.

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RULE 9: SCOUNTING

9.1 Team members shall not be allowed to observe the Client Counselling Session of
other teams. Scouting is strictly prohibited and any violation of this rule entails loss of
points or immediate disqualification.
9.2 Disqualification of Teams under this rule is at the sole discretion of the Organising
Committee.

RULE 10: CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

10.1 Judges and Clients must not reveal the contents of the Confidential Information to
the teams in any way. Further the Judges and Clients shall not divulge the contents of
Confidential Information directly or indirectly to any other person.
10.2 Client may disclose their Confidential Information in the course of the Consultation
Session.

RULE 11: INTERPRETATION OF PROBLEMS

Every effort will be made to ensure that the Problems are clear. While Teams shall not
invent material new facts, the facts of the Problems are subject to reasonable
interpretation. Whether a Teams interpretation is reasonable is a matter entirely within
the discretion of the Judges. Teams may draw reasonable inferences from the facts
provided.

RULE 13: PENALTY

Any violation of these rules shall lead to immediate disqualification of the team from the
Competition. For any variation in this regard or in case of ambiguity, the decision of the
Organizing Committee shall be final. The Organizing Committee is empowered to take
such other measures as are required for the orderly conduct of the Competition.

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SCHEDULE 1
Date:
Room No.:
Round:
Team Code:
Scoring Scale:

S. No.

Team
Code

[Bad: 1-3]

Ability
to
convince
(10)

[ Average: 4-6]

[Good: 6-8]

Body
Time
Language/
Management
Mannerisms (10)
(10)

[Outstanding: 8-10]

Application
of Law
(10)

Problem
Solving
Ability
(10)

Interpretation
of Facts (10)

Remarks

Speaker 1

Speaker 2

Client Name

Communication
Skills(10)

Judged By:
Sign:

Body
Language(10)

Correctness of
Information(10)

Secrecy of
Confidential
Information(10)

Overall
enactment
(10)

Remarks