Background

The competition is the outcome of a pioneering initiative in the 1960's by Los Angeles lawyer Louis M Brown to address the failure of legal education to include the apparently assumed skills of interviewing and advising. (The one "I" in counseling, and the use of the term, recall the origin and professional language of the competition rather than spell-check dominance.)

The guiding philosophy of the competition, with its emphasis on understanding the needs of clients, informing them of all available options and especially non-litigious solutions, has stood the test of time to be increasingly relevant. The topic for 2007 will be Family Law.

The format simulates a law office where two lawyers interview a client for 35 minutes and then, when the client leaves, reflect on the process and outcomes of the interview. This occurs before a panel of three judges, typically a practising and an academic lawyer and a member of a counselling profession. Interviews are evaluated on several specified criteria. All involved can vouch for the intense learning experience for everybody and for the potency of the message to education and practice.

Each participating country sends one team, usually the winner of its national competition. Eighteen teams contested the 2006 Competition in Cardiff. The diversity and richness of the gathering is reflected in the competing countries: Azerbaijan, Australia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Eire, England, Finland, India, Malaysia, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Ukraine, United States, Wales and the finalists. The New Zealand team had a narrow victory over Hong Kong and Nigeria in a fascinating three-way final.