Lex Communique – 2019

Client Counselling

▪ STRUCTURE OF COMPETITION

▪ There will be 2 rounds: preliminary round and final round.

▪ COMPOSITION OF TEAMS

▪ The team composition, for the competition, shall comprise of TWO participants.

▪ LANGUAGE

▪ The official language for Client Counselling shall be English.

▪ RULES OF COMPETITION:

▪ Preliminary Round shall be of 15 minutes each followed by Question & Answer session by the  judges, if any; not exceeding 10 minutes.

▪ The participating team with the highest scores in each Courtroom shall qualify for the Final  Round. Round shall be of 20 minutes each followed by Question & Answer session by the  judges, if any; not exceeding 10 minutes.

▪ Participants must take best endeavors to obtain information from Client for offering suitable  advice.

▪ Participants must take best efforts to offer a professional environment. For the same, usage of  office props can be brought by the Participants.

▪ Participants must provide options/ alternatives of their advice and explain the entire process  step wise as per the requirement of the Act.

▪ Participants must quote the chargeable fees to their client at the end of the counselling. (This  aspect shall be asked by our client on the spot to the participant)

▪ Usage of electronic gadgets shall not be allowed. Only books/ notes shall be permissible.

▪ Participants can discuss about the issue amongst themselves prior to offering any consultation  to the client.

▪ PARAMETERS OF EVALUATION:

▪ Clarity on concept and procedures

▪ Adherence to time

▪ Team coordination

▪ Professional etiquette, approach and environment offered to the client

▪ CLIENT BRIEFING AND ORIENTATION

▪ An orientation on basic information and Competition Rules for the clients shall be given in  advance of the date of Competition. But each client will be supplied with a packet containing the  consultation situation and a detailed confidential memorandum concerning the client's  background and concerns, only on the date of the Competition. There will be no direct  consultation between the Judges and the Clients at any point of time.

▪ Brief about the client’s case along with the suitable provisions shall be provided to the judges  in advance.

▪ TIE BREAKER

▪ Same case will be put across both the teams. Each team shall be offered consultation for 20 mins.  After the consultation, the participant shall explain about its thought process and method of  approach to the judges. During this process, the client shall not be present.

▪ This round shall most likely involve a case of moral and ethical dilemma like defending the  client who has committed rape or cold-blooded murder.

▪ Only one counsel can speak/address queries of the judge

▪ SUBJECT- MATTER OF CLIENT COUNSELLING:

Acts to be referred:

1. Companies Act

2. Negotiable Instrument Act

3. Transfer of Property Act

4. Indian Penal Code

5. Law of Torts

6. Family Laws

