Introduction. The Role of the Interview in Civil Practice

• Author: John Hollander
• Pages: 1-4

the role of the interview in civil practice

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introduction

The Role of the Interview in

Civil Practice

  , a middle-aged accountant came

to my oce with his wife. He had been swindled by a

fast-talking salesperson and asked me whether he could

recover his money. I gave my opinion, at which point

his wife asked me sincerely, “Mr. Hollander, you appear

to be quite young. Is this your rst case?” It was. ere

was something about the way that I had conducted the

interview that caused her to question my experience and,

implicitly, my expertise. I had relied upon my law degree

and membership of the bar to commend my skills to any-

one approaching my desk.

at was foolhardy in , and is still foolhardy as I

write this in .

In many cases, people who become lawyers do so be-

cause they like to analyze and argue. As all practising law-

yers know, one can only argue once the facts are known,

assumed, or fabricated. What they teach in law school is

what to do with the facts that are already established; what

they do not teach in law school is how to dig out the facts.

Lawyers go about their business by asking questions

of clients and witnesses, and by reading, observing, and