Conference
Skills
Bar Vocational Course
Lisa Down
(Subject Tutor)
l.down@unn.ac.uk
Room 311
Ext.3817
Conference Team
• Andrew Hutchinson
• Ross Fletcher
• Kevin Crawley
• Lisa Down
Reading?
• A Practical Guide to Lawyering
Skills
•
Published by: Cavendish
Authors:
Fiona Boyle
Deveral Capps
Philip Plowden
Clare Sandford
What is a conference?
A conference is a meeting between
you and your lay client.
Important Terminology
Lay Client
Professional
Client
This is the
member of the
public you are
representing
This is the
person who
instructed you
– the solicitor?
Who will be present at a
conference?
In reality there should always be :~
You, the barrister
The lay client
The professional client
Conference Skills
At Northumbria conferences will
take place between: ~
You, the barrister; and
The lay client (played by a BPTC
student)
Imaginary professional client
Where can conferences occur?
A conference can occur anywhere!
They might occur :~
In Chambers
In Prison
In Court
What is the purpose of a
conference?
A conference is an opportunity for you
as a barrister to :~
meet your client
hear your client’s version of events
advise your client
take instructions
Will you always have a
conference with a client?
The simple answer is no.
You may deal with a client only on paper
Your solicitor may answer any questions
that you have.
How should a conference
be structured?
When you are in practice, you will adopt
your own style of conferences.
However, at Northumbria we will show
you a standard method of conducting a
conference.
How should a conference
be structured?
A conference can be broken up into
various separate parts.
This is just like any law essay.
Conference Structure
You should have therefore :~
1.
2.
3.
An introduction;
A main body; and
A conclusion
Introduction (Preliminaries)
-Name / Role
-Confidentiality
-Purpose of Conference
-Agenda
-Questions at end
-10mins to get through everything
Agenda/ Timetable for
Conference
Q. Why have an agenda?
A.
1. Professionalism
2. So that the client knows what
is going to happen and when.
Your agenda should include :~
• Purpose of the conference
• Question and answer section about the
case
• Advice for the client
• Answer session for any queries that the
client might have.
• Taking instructions
• Next steps
The Main body
What do you do in the main body?
• The facts of the problem at hand.
• Overview of the case
Conclusion
What would you do in the conclusion?
Give advice
• Check understanding
• Take instructions
• Confirm instructions
Farewell
• Advise on next steps
• Put the client at ease
• Tell the client that they can contact
you through the solicitor should
they wish to
• Say goodbye
Teaching Structure?
INITIALLY no group divisions. All students will
have the same papers. First session split into 2 groupsremain in same group for subsequent sessions. In each
session you will be given some questions to put to the
barrister when playing the client.
THEREAFTER-You will be divided into X students and Y
students. (Pink / yellow- Variation of client details/
questions).
This is so that when one person is playing the role of the
barrister (X) the other person (Y) will play the role of the
client.
SPSs
Start next week- SUITS
4 x SPSs and 1 x Mock
You will receive feedback on all
performances.
You will receive detailed feedback on 3
complete performances- DVD
SELF ASSESSMENT
• Self Assessment forms
• Feedback sheets
• Peer Review forms
• ELP
Assessment
• You will get one conference
assessment
• This is worth 7.5% of you final mark
• This is a seen assessment
• For the purposes of the assessment
your client will be played by an
actor/actress
Assessment Criteria
ELP
Very important
Skills assessed using this criteria
Conference skills Assessment
Criteria
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Preparation
Conduct
Interpersonal skills
Questioning
Advice
Knowledge and comprehension
Professional conduct
In order to be graded competent or
above you must show your ability to:
1. Preparation (10%). In order to satisfy this criterion you should:
Show an understanding of the objectives of the conference.
Illustrate your knowledge of the facts of the case. (case analysis)
Illustrate your knowledge of the legal issues that are relevant to the
case. (legal research)
Your plan will be used to determine the extent that you have fulfilled
this criterion
Plans
Very important- Will be looked at in your
assessment
No longer than 4 sides of A4 (rest
discarded)
Possible score of 10 before even enter
conference!
What is a plan?
No standard layout
Personal style – Start now
Not a script!!
Your plan should include
Introduction -Preliminaries
Main Body-Dealing with the matter
Research of offence / sentence /
procedure
Conclusion – Conclude conference and
advise on next steps. Any procedural
issues?
Why do a plan?
Nerves
Do not finish
Demonstrate knowledge / research
QUERIES
• Any queries, please don’t hesitate to
contact me or;
• Conference Tutor
• I look forward to meeting some of you
next week and hope that you enjoy the
conference course.