Clinical Course I (Moot Court)
Assignments -IV (Client Counselling)
Client Problem
Rajesh Sharma aged 28 years residing near IFHE University, Dontanpally Road, Hyderabad
(Telangana). He is an Clerk in Axis Bank and lives with his parents and younger sister Sheetal.
Rajesh got married to Jenifer D’Souza, on 04 April 2022 under the Special Marriage act, who
is a well known dentist and a year later, on 16th March 2024 they were blessed with a daughter
named Varsha. Jenifer was an extra vagant person in nature. She believes in leading a good
lifestyle. On the other hand her husband did not like this nature of his wife. Due to inflation in
the economy Rajesh lost his job on April 2025 and soon they ran out of money which led to
financial crisis in their house. But Jenifer didn’t change her way of living and she tried every
little efforts to maintain her standard of living. Rajesh tried to convince his wife but Jenifer did
not change her nature and eventually this created a dispute between them. Due to these
arguments on daily basis Jenifer became mentally disturbed and decided to leave her
matrimonial house alone without any cash or jewellery.
Next day Jenifer came to her matrimonial house with some police officers. After which Rajesh
got to know that Jenifer have lodged a False FIR against him & his parents on 31 December
1999 under section 498 A, 406 & 323 of IPC & charges of Domestic violence. She even showed
her false bruises and injury marks on her body about which Rajesh had no idea. Eventually
police arrested Rajesh and his Parents Immediately.
Now Rajesh’s younger brother wants his parents and elder brother out of the jail as it caused
humiliation to their family in the society.
Client Instructions:
This is your basic story; you are free to fill in any gaps in the facts or in your personal history
in any way that seems appropriate. You may not change any of the facts in this account, or say
anything directly contradictory to these facts. You may adopt any attitude you like with your
lawyer, as long as it is consistent with the story.
Format of the Assignment –
Each team shall consist of Three student participants and would be allotted 10 Minutes time
for the interview and counselling. Here, the two student participants will present themselves as
advocates in a lawyer's chamber and third student will be client. The two participants are
required to elicit all relevant information from the client by interviewing or questioning the
client and then counselling the client.
1) Establishing the working atmosphere.
The lawyers established the beginning of an effective professional relationship and working
atmosphere and at an appropriate point oriented the client to the special nature of the
relationship (confidentiality, duration and plan of interview, methods of contact, explanation
of fees and responding to client's concerns, mutual obligations and rights, after hours
availability, complaints procedure etc.) in a courteous, sensitive and professional manner.
2) Description of the problem.
The lawyers learned how the client viewed his or her situation, using a combination of listening
and questioning, drawing out both information and feelings, as appropriate, to develop a
reasonably complete and reliable description of the problem and reflecting this understanding
to the client. In this regard relevant information voluntarily said by the client could be elicited
by asking relevant specific questions.
3) Client's goals, expectations and needs.
The lawyers learned the client's goals and initial expectations and modified or developed them
as necessary, giving attention in doing so to all aspects of the problem, including the emotional
ones.
4) Problems Analysis.
The lawyers analyzed the client's problem with creativity and from both legal and non-legal
perspectives, resulting in a clear and useful formulation of the problem by asking relevant
specific questions.
5) Legal analysis, alternative courses of action and the giving of advice.
Legal analysis and the consequent legal advice given should be both accurate and appropriate
to the situation and its context. Consistent with the analysis of the client's problem develops a
set of potential and feasible alternatives, if any, both legal and non-legal.
6) Client's informed choice.
The lawyers, having developed a set of potentially effective and feasible courses of action
consistent with the analysis of the client's problem, assist the client in his or her understanding
of the problems and solutions and in making an informed choice. Potential legal, economic,
social and psychological consequences should be taken into account.
7) Effective conclusion.
The lawyers concluded the interview skillfully, and left the client with feeling of reasonable
confidence and understanding, with appropriate reassurance, and with a clear sense of specific
expectations and mutual obligations to follow.
8) Team work.
The lawyers as collaborating counsellors, worked together as a team, with flexibility and an
appropriate balance of participation.
9) Continued an ethical and professional relationship throughout the interview.
The lawyers recognized, clarified and responded to any moral or ethical issues which may have
arisen, without being prejudicial in judgments. The lawyers developed an appropriate balance
in dealing with the legal and emotional needs of the client.
10) Debriefing (Post interview Reflection).
The lawyers, during the post consultation time, gave evidence of having recognized their own
and the client's feelings; the strengths and limitations of their interviewing skills; their handling
of the substantive aspects of the client's problems (both legal and non-legal); the quality and
appropriateness of their Advice and provided for an effective follow-up. Judges should expect
to see evidence of students learning through making this reflection on the experience of the
interview.
11) Discuss about lawyers’ fees.
At last lawyers should also discuss regarding their fees to their client.