CONFIDENTIAL

DO NOT DISCLOSE

CLIENT INTERVIEW SHEET

Interviewer ___________________

Today's Date _____________________________________________

Client Name as Charged

___________________________________________________________________
Charge(s)

First
Middle
Last
(1) ____________________________________________________________________________
(2) _____________________________________________________________________________
(3) _____________________________________________________________________________
(4) _____________________________________________________________________________

Date of Offense
_______________________________________________________________________________
Preliminary Hearing (TX: Examining Trial) _______________________________________________
Indictment/Information ____________________________________________________________________
Court Number
________________________________________________________________________________
Judge or Courtroom _________________________________________________________________________
Client's Present Location ___________________________________________________________________
TELL JAILED CLIENT: (1) Don't discuss your case with anyone except your lawyer or the
student-attorney, (2) sign nothing and waive no rights, (3) decline to participate in any lineup
without your lawyer being present - but if the police persist in conducting the lineup, you
should cooperate fully with them and not do anything in the lineup to call attention to
yourself, (4) try to present as good an appearance as possible in future court appearances.
Approximate Date
Employment Began _______________________________
____________________________

Referred to
Office By:

FACTS OF CASE - Client's Version

Client's Description of Facts:
_________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
PRIOR ATTORNEYS
Prior Attorneys in Present Case
_________________________________________________________________

Prior Attorneys in Previous Cases

_______________________________________________________________
CURRENT BAIL/CUSTODY
[]

Currently confined

[ ] Currently on bond

Location _________________________________
____________________________
Date placed in custody _____________________
______________________________
Date released _____________________________
Bondsman _______________________________________
________________________________

Type/Cost
Date

Amount

Bond Posted by
_________________________________________________________________________________
PERSONAL DATA - CLIENT
True Name__________________________________________________________________________________
Aliases (AKA--known by any other names )______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
_
Age ______________ Birthplace ________________________________ Birthdate ___________________
Sex:

[ ] Male

Height:

______ Ft.

Weight:

______ Lbs.

Race:

[ ] White

[ ] Female
______ In.

[ ] Black

[ ] Hispanic

[ ] Asian

[ ] Other

Driver's License Number

_______________________________________________________________________
Social Security Number
_________________________________________________________________________
Home Address
___________________________________________________________________________________
Home Phone
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Lived There Since
_______________________________________________________________________________
Alternate Address or Method of Contact ______________________________________________________
Alternate Phone
_________________________________________________________________________________

EMPLOYMENT
Occupation __________________________________________________________________________________
Present
Employer ____________________
Contact

Employer
Address ________________________________ [ ] Don't

Work Phone _______________________ How long employed?

_______________________________________
Supervisor's Name and Phone
___________________________________________________________________
Present Take Home Salary _______________________Month _________ Week ________ Hour
_________
List all Prior Employers
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
________
Ability and Willingness to Make Restitution
___________________________________________________
Belong to Organizations or Clubs
________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
________
Skills
______________________________________________________________________________________________
_
______________________________________________________________________________________________
________
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY TIES
Marital Status:

[ ] Married

SPOUSE (if living)

[ ] Single

[ ] Divorced

[ ] Separated

[ ] Widowed

CHILDREN

Name __________________________________ Names

____________________________________________
Address ________________________________ Ages ______________________________________________
Phone _________________________________ Do you pay child/spousal support?
______________________
(If yes, how much for whom?) __________________________________
FATHER (if living)

MOTHER (if living)

Name ______________________________
____________________________________

Name

Address ____________________________
__________________________________

Address

City ________________________________
_____________________________________

City

Nationality __________________________
________________________________

Nationality

Age ______ Illness ___________________

_________________________

Age ______ Illness

Occupation _________________________
_______________________________

Occupation

Home Phone ________________________

Home Phone _____________________________

Work Phone _________________________

Work Phone _____________________________

Current

Current

Employer ___________________________
________________________________

Employer

How long? ___________________________

_______________________________

How long?

Who raised you?

_____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Were your parents separated during your childhood?
________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
BROTHERS/SISTERS
Name
Age
Address & Phone
Occupation
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

EDUCATION
High School (GED)____________________________________________________________________________
(Where and When)
Last grade completed ___________
_______________

Graduated ____________

Years
Technical School or College Name _______________
_______

Completed _____

GED

Degree

Special Training ______________________________________________________________________________

Favorite
Teachers____________________________________________________________________________
(Name, Course Taught, Grade Received)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND
Clergyman's
Church _____________________________ Name
__________________________________________________
(Priest, Rabbi, Minister)
Currently Active _____________________ Previously Active
__________________________________________
MILITARY SERVICE
_________________

Yes _____

No _____

Former ________________

Current

If Yes, What branch? _______________________ Service Number

_____________________________________
Time in Service ________ Type of Discharge: Honorable ________ Other
______________________________
Honors/Medals_______________________________________________________________________________
_
Combat Duty ____________________________ Time and Place
Overseas______________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
POSSIBLE CHARACTER WITNESSES, e.g., close friends/relatives/landlord/
employer/probation officer. Include the names of four people who will be willing to come to
court and testify that you are a good and honest person.
Name ______________________________

Name ____________________________

Address ____________________________

Address __________________________

City ________________ Ph ____________

City ______________ Ph _____________

Occupation _________________________
_________________________

Occupation

Age ________________________________
How known? ________________________
________________________

Age ______________________________
How known?

PRIOR CRIMINAL RECORD (Arrests, convictions, probation, parole). Explain to the client
that the prosecution will have access to FBI and DPS records and that if we are surprised, it
may have a bad effect on the outcome of the case.
Charge

Date

Convicted

Court Sentence

Location

Prior Violence_______________________________________________________________________________
Ever the Victim of a Violent Crime?
______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
PROBATION/PAROLE: Are you presently on probation or parole?

Yes____ No____

If yes, where _______________________________________________________________________________

Probation/Parole Officer
_______________________________________________________________________
Conditions of Probation
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
OUTSTANDING WARRANTS (Traffic or other)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
MEDICAL BACKGROUND
Are you taking any medication under prescription?
___________________________________________________
If yes, name of doctor, what type and frequency?
____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Present and Permanent Injuries/Disabilities. (Look for bruises on portions of body that might
confirm allegations of police mistreatment.)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Present Physical
Illnesses_______________________________________________________________________
Current Medical
Care___________________________________________________________________________
Doctor's
Name________________________________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________
_________________________

Phone

Ever been unconscious (when, where, how, who treated you)?

_________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Serious Physical Injuries (and all head injuries):
Type _________________
__________________

Type ____________________

Type

Cause ________________
_________________

Cause___________________

Cause

Date ________________
_________________

Date __________________

Date

If you were hospitalized for injuries, give hospital name, address, city and dates of
hospitalization.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Vision ___________________________
________________________________________

Doctor

(corrective lenses)

(Optometrist)

Do you use other drugs or pills? (Look for needle tracks or other signs.)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Type ________________________________________________________________________________________
Present Frequency of Use
______________________________________________________________________
Volume
Do you use alcohol? Yes _______ No ________ of
Use_____________________________________________
If heavy drinker, since
(date)_____________________________________________________________________

Are you currently in a treatment program?

__________________________________________________________
Type ______________________________ Where __________________________________________________
Have you ever been in a mental hospital or institution. (Give hospital or institution name and
address, also give date(s) of stay(s)?)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Have you ever undergone psychiatric counseling or treatment? (Give name and address of
psychiatrist as well as date (s) of treatment.)
Have you ever undergone psychiatric or psychological evaluation? (Give circumstances,
dates, names and addresses of evaluators.)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
BAIL INFORMATION
Bond you could make
_________________________________________________________________________
Bond amount others could make (list name, phone, amount)
__________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
WITNESSES
Witnesses to the events on which the charge is based (including the complainant and persons
who may be prosecution witnesses; for each get name, correct spelling, aliases, nicknames.)
(Please indicate if immediate contact is advised for any reason.)
Name _________________________________________________
____________________________

Phone

Address _______________________________________ City_____________________________

State________
Other information that will help in locating witness, i.e., where he works, hangs out, if on
relief, where he picks up check
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
What witness knows
___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Name _________________________________________________
____________________________

Phone

Address _______________________________________ City _______________________

___________

State

Other information that will help in locating witness, i.e., where he works, hangs out, if on
relief, where he picks up check
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

What witness knows

___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Name _________________________________________________
___________________________

Phone

Address _______________________________________ City ______________________ State

______________
Other information that will help in locating witness, i.e., where he works, hangs out, if on
relief, where he picks up check
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
What witness knows
___________________________________________________________________________
CO-DEFENDANTS
Are there any co-defendants?
____________________________________________________________________
Name______________________________________________________ Phone
__________________________
Address __________________________________________________
_____
Name ____________________________________________________
__________________________
Address __________________________________________________
_____

City __________________ State

Phone
City __________________ State

Do the co-defendants have attorneys?

_____________________________________________________________
Name _______________________________________________________ Phone
__________________________
Address __________________________________________________
_____

City __________________ State

Name________________________________________________________ Phone _________________________

Address___________________________________________________
State_____

City __________________

ARREST
Date and Time of Arrest
________________________________________________________________________
Exact Location of Arrest
________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Who was with client when he was arrested? Were companions arrested? Get information as
for witnesses, supra.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Was client drunk at time of arrest or had he taken alcohol recently?
____________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Was client under the influence of narcotics, or had he taken narcotics recently?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Was client roughly handled or struck during arrest or thereafter? (Describe injuries.)
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Names of Arresting Officers
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Did they have an arrest warrant?
__________________________________________________________________
What did they say the charge was?
________________________________________________________________
What questions did they ask the client?
____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
What did the client tell them?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Did police at the time of the arrest or any other time, take property from the client's person,
home, place of work, automobile, place where the client was, home or place of any other
person?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Kind of Property, e.g., clothing, weapon, drugs, writing, etc.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Did police have a search warrant?
_________________________________________________________________
Describe circumstances under which property was taken.
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
For all persons present at place of arrest, get information as for witnesses, supra
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
AFTER ARREST
Give every location to which client was taken by police
._______________________________________________
Exact time of confinement in each place.
___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Officers present in each place: names, ranks, descriptions of each officer significantly
involved in the investigation
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
INTERROGATION
Where did it take place?
_________________________________________________________________________
When and how long?
____________________________________________________________________________
Interrogating Officers
____________________________________________________________________________
Other Persons Present
__________________________________________________________________________
Was a lie detector test administered?
______________________________________________________________
What specific questions did the officers ask (this is often a good means of learning something
about the prosecution's case)?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Did the police confront the client with any evidence against him?
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Did the police tell the client that any person had incriminated him, or that any co-defendant
had confessed?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Did any co-defendant confess or incriminate the defendant in his presence?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Did client tell the police anything?
_________________________________________________________________

What, in detail?
________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Did client make a written statement?
_______________________________________________________________
Was his oral statement taken down?
_______________________________________________________________
Did client sign anything?
_________________________________________________________________________
Were there any recording devices present?
__________________________________________________________
Other circumstances occurring at the time of the client's statement, in detail
______________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Was the client previously warned:
_________________________________________________________________
That he had the right to remain silent:
______________________________________________________________
That anything he said could be used against him
_____________________________________________________
That client had a right to a lawyer before making a statement
___________________________________________
That if he could not afford a lawyer, one would be appointed him before making any
statement
______________________________________________________________________________________________
What did client say to these warnings?
_____________________________________________________________
EXAMINATIONS, TESTS, INSPECTIONS
Was client given any physical examination?
_________________________________________________________
Was a blood or urine sample taken?
_______________________________________________________________
Was hair taken or combed?
______________________________________________________________________
Was a narcotics or alcohol test administered, or body inspection of any sort made?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Was the client examined by a doctor or psychiatrist?
__________________________________________________

Where?____________________________________________
______________________________

When?

Describe the Examination, Test or inspection

________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Persons Present
_______________________________________________________________________________
Did anyone say anything about the examination, test or inspection results?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Was permission asked of the client to make the examination, test or inspection?
__________________________
Was he told he had the right to refuse or to have an attorney present?
___________________________________
EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION
Was the client exhibited in a lineup or brought before any person under any circumstances
for identification?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Where? ______________________________________________
___________________________

When?

Describe the situation.

__________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
All persons present (including police, number of identifying witnesses, number of other
persons in lineup, and their age, sex, race, dress, co-defendants, etc.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
What did the police say to the identifying witness?
____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
What did the identifying witness say?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Was the client asked to say anything?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Was the client expressly asked for permission to place him in the lineup and/or to be
exhibited for identification purposes?
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Was he told that he had a right to refuse or to have an attorney present?

_________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Was he asked to do anything (move, walk around, speak)?
_____________________________________________
Was he told he had a right not to do these things?
____________________________________________________
What did he say or do?
__________________________________________________________________________
Was the client asked to re-enact anything (same sub-questions as for lineup)?
_____________________________
PRIOR JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS
Has client appeared in Court? _______________ When?
_____________________________________________
What Court?
__________________________________________________________________________________
Nature of Proceedings
__________________________________________________________________________
Who was present (names or descriptions of Judge, prosecutor, police)?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Were charges read or shown to the client?
__________________________________________________________
Was the defendant asked to plead?
________________________________________________________________
Who testified?
_________________________________________________________________________________
What did they testify?
___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Did the client testify?
____________________________________________________________________________
What did he testify?
_____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Was he represented by a lawyer? (Include name or description of lawyer, and circumstances
of representation.)
______________________________________________________________________________________________

What else happened?

___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
MEMO TO FILE:
This client has promised to send us the following information:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
The following things need to be done in connection with this file:
___ Appearance letter needed to
__________________________________________________________________
___ Photographs of
_____________________________________________________________________________
___Statements from the following witnesses:

Name

Address

Phone

Facts Needed

______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
IMMIGRATION STATUS (See Sidebar)
U.S. Citizen

Resident Alien

Non-resident Alien

OTHER INFORMATION NEEDED

______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________

FACTS ABOUT COMPLAINANT

Name of complainant ________________________________________________ Age
______________________
Address ___________________________________________________________ Phone
____________________
Accused's relationship with complainant
____________________________________________________________
Information concerning complainant's background
______________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
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(THE END)