Lawyers As Counselors: A Client-Centered Approach

by David A. Binder, Paul Bergman, Susan C. Price

Part One examines problems clients usually bring and covers the necessity of a client–centered approach. Part Two presents the questioning and listening skills that attorneys need to gather information while encouraging active client participation. Part Three explains how to develop a story from the client’s perspective, then to probe it for evidence in light of individual factual propositions; it also focuses on transactional matters, identifying the type of data lawyers need to elicit in almost all business dealings. Part Four examines the counseling process and how to help clients make decisions, which reflect their legal objectives and values.

Genres: Nonfiction

469 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1990

Reviews

[Julia Katherine Byerly Witt]

too simple. these are complex issues but these tactics felt watered down.

[Ian]

Sure the dialogue is a bit hokey and the assumption about how a client responds in certain situations is unrealistic, but I'm not mad about these flaws. I got a decent set of techniques from this book with decent justifications for them. At least when I confront a client on my own for the first time, I will not be "winging it." I will have some purpose to what I ask and why. And even if the situation doesn't call for this book's "right way," at least I will have something to improvise off of.

I will likely refer to this book during my career. So good stuff.

[Erik]

I have some real concerns about this book, as it seems to assume neurotypicality of the reader trying to learn how to act as an interviewer in a legal setting. It just assumes interpretation of body language and emotion as a natural skill.