1.Draft a letter for your firm's perspective clients, the Cashes, explaining to them what information should they bring to a first meeting with your supervising attorney to discuss their financial affairs.
2.Put a list of the first ten questions that you would ask the Cashes if you were conducting their initial client interview.
D. INITIAL INTERVIEW Owen scheduled an initial interview with your firm and he was set up with the intake department who compiled some initial information. Next, sitting down with an attorney, Owen and Robin were encouraged to summarize the main reasons for their visit. The following are a few selected snippets from this conversation: "Why are we here? Great question! Owen, I thought you took care of this before we left!" began Robin. "I did, it was. For some reason we got a notice in the mail saying our case was dismissed. I tried to reach the guy who helped me file the first time, but be doesn't answer," Owen replied. "After looking on the Internet, I think maybe I made a mis- take listening to Jimmy." "Well, we will need to talk about that first case, and I see that we have a copy of the documents that you filed here in our file, but first let's focus on the mainD. Initial Interview reasons you believe that you should file for bankruptcy," explains the interviewing attorney. "Where to start .. ., began Owen. "How about with what you told me?" inter- jected Robin. "I am swimming in credit card debt, student loans, and a condo that I can't afford. You said this would all go away by the time we got back from our trip." "I thought it would. I trusted Jimmy. I just need everyone to leave me alone so that I can focus. I need the power turned back on and I need to somehow save my dad's house. Well, my house now. Dad's in bad shape and be really can't handle bearing that we may lose the house. Plus, for some reason, I'm being audited by the IRS and like I told the intake person, I have several people suing me. I thought that bankruptcy stops everybody from harassing me and then I can make different payments or not pay them at all," Owen explained. "Your house? You mean our house, right? What lawsuits? What are you talking about? Why am I just now bearing about all of this?" said Robin, her voice rising with each sentence. "How about my condo? Can I just sign over my interest to my brother and be done with it?" asked Robin. "Your interest? I thought you said it was still in your dad's name," stressed Owen. . . . "Everything is crazy right now and I really need to focus on my dad. They are saying he might only have six months or it can be any day. I need to be with him." said Owen. "Let me ask you something. Will it matter if we're divorced before we file for bankruptcy, or can we do it during, or do I have to wait until it's over?" Robin asked. "What?!" yelped Owen. . . . "So can I just sign this petition thing now and have you fill in all of the other information later? I understand you said once we file, that stay thing starts. I need that now because I really need to pick up some supplies for my lawn care business but the vendors won't talk to me until my credit card balances are back down to zero," said Owen. Although it was a lengthy interview, it was clear by the end of the session that a follow-up meeting would need to be scheduled with the Cashes
