es, on the most fundamental level, the goals or objectives that the attorney must have in mind in the initial interview."3
The initial interview is the most important interview an attorney will have with a client. The client, especially those involved in a criminal matter, should be instructed to bring all pertinent papers or documents concerning the case. If the client brings the paperwork to the first meeting it will be safe with the attorney in case of a search warrant, loss or misplacement. The attorney can always choose not to look at the documents until employment is confirmed. (However, some believe that no papers should be brought or shown to the attorney at the first interview. The theory behind this being the less seen the better).4
The initial interview should set the stage for a future relationship of mutual trust and confidence between the client and attorney and should do a variety of things: shape the client's judgment of the attorney, influence their relationship, and establish a solid attorney-client relationship that includes trust, confidence and respect.
Interviewing involves four parts: (1) focusing the problem; (2) determining the types of information relevant to the problem; (3) formulating specific questions to be asked in order to obtain relevant information; and (4) deciding upon the strategy, techniques and tactics to be used in obtaining answers to the questions.5
The basic tasks of the interviewer include: accurately communicating the question to the client; maximizing the client's ability and willingness to answer the question; listening actively to determine what is relevant; and probing to increase the validity, clarity and completeness of the responses.6 The attorney, as the interviewer, must proceed in a way that will maximize the flow of relevant information while maintaining optimum interpersonal relations with the respondent.
Trust is an integral part of any attorney-clie...