8th Virtual National Client Consultation Competition By School of Law, The NorthCap University [Register By 10th November 2022]

Vidit Singh

ABOUT SCHOOL OF LAW, THE NORTHCAP UNIVERSITY

The NorthCap University is a 25-year-old educational institution committed to impart quality education to the youth of this country in the field of Engineering, Management, Law and Liberal Arts. The University is known for its academic ambiance, lush green surroundings, state-of-the-art infrastructure, cleanliness, outreach programs, international tie-ups and a vibrant academic culture. We believe in Education, enlightenment employment leading towards the empowerment of an individual. It has been consistently ranked as one of the top private universities by various government and private agencies.

The NorthCap University nurtures young minds, inculcates the right values and morals in our new generation and produces talented engineers, technologists, thought leaders, visionaries, lawyers who become responsible citizens for this country.

The university is committed to its goal towards following environment friendly practices such as grid-fed solar power installations, rainwater harvesting, garbage segregation, plastic free and a zero-discharge campus. The University has set up a Social Entrepreneurship, Swachhta & Rural Engagement Cell (SES REC) and has successfully improved facilities in the campus and the adopted villages in the areas of sanitation and hygiene, waste management, water management, energy conservation and greening of surroundings.

Over a period of time the NorthCap has received many awards and recognition for environment friendly practices which has further reinforced our resolve to reduce the carbon footprint of our country and make this planet a greener and better place to live.

While celebrating 25 years of excellence, The NorthCap University has embarked on a new journey after its agreement with Arizona State University, USA to impart world class education with digitally enhanced courses, global signature courses, collaborative research and accelerated masters’ programs.

The University is adapting to the innovative learning models and new teaching pedagogies to prepare global citizens sensitive to their local surroundings. We have witnessed a glorious past and we are geared up to scale new heights and achieve new landmarks in future as well.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The vision of School of Law is to be ranked amongst the best law schools of India and the most preferred private university destination for law aspirants. School of Law at The NorthCap University provides the highest quality of professional legal education to equip the students for a transnational practice and to face the challenges posed by the internationalization of the legal profession. The school has continually strived to achieve excellence in legal education through interactive teaching-learning process, clinical opportunities, exposures to the legal profession through internships and externships, industry ready curricula and innumerable opportunities to interact with the stalwarts in the legal profession.

This 8th Edition of The National Client Consultation Competition is being organized under aegis of The NorthCap University, School of Law on 18th – 19th November, 2022. 

The Competition is aimed at promoting greater knowledge and practical skills among student advocates in the preventive law and counselling functions of law practice. It will encourage students in developing interviewing, planning, and analytical skills in the lawyer-client relationship in the law office. Interviewing and advising are a significant part of most lawyers’ work. The Competition provides an opportunity for a valuable educational interchange between students, law teachers and legal practitioners. The Competition simulates a law office consultation in which two law students, acting as lawyers (attorneys/solicitors/legal practitioners), are presented with a client matter. The students conduct an interview with a person playing the role of the client. Students are expected to elicit the relevant information from the client, explore with the client his or her preferred outcome, outline the nature of the problem, and present the client with a means (or range of alternatives, if appropriate) for resolving the problem. The interview with the client is then followed by a postconsultation period during which the students, in the absence of the client, analyze the interview and discuss the legal and other work to be undertaken. The interview and post consultation period last a total of 30 minutes. The students are evaluated by a panel of judges. The students are evaluated against specific criteria that emphasize the use of listening, questioning, planning, and analytical skills in a lawyer/client interview. Once the judges have completed their evaluation of the interview, the students are to be called back in and the judges will provide a brief critique of the team’s handling of the consultation and post-consultation periods.

ABOUT THE PREVIOUS EDITIONS

With the success of the 1st NCU National Client Consultation Competition, it climbed another ladder by organizing the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th edition of its National Client Consultation Competition.

The Seventh Edition of the National Client Consultation Competition was organised by the School of Law of the NorthCap University, powered by Arizona State University. The event was conducted on the online platform of Microsoft Teams and took place in a span of two days, i.e, 29th October, 2021 and 30th October, 2021. There was a total of 30 teams from all over the Nation that participated in the competition. The competition commenced with the inaugural ceremony which was held on the 29th October, 2021 on the platform of Microsoft Teams. The Inauguration ceremony was graced by the presence of Hon’ble Chief Guest, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mukul Mudgal, Former Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana, High Court. The winners Mr. Shaunak Choudhury and Ms. Aishwarya Bhattacharya were from SVKM’s NMIMS Kirit P. Mehta ,School of Law. The winners were awarded with Cash Prize up to Rs 5,000 and Certificates along with Two (2) one-year complimentary subscription to SCC Online Web Edition. The runners up, Ms. Tulika Bhattacharya and Ms. Nishi Kaur, were from Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law. The runners up were awarded with Cash Prize up to Rs. 2,000 and Certificates along with Two (2) half yearly complimentary subscription to SCC Online Web Edition. The participants also received a Certificate of Participation in the event as a token of encouragement.

COMPOSITION OF TEAMS

Only bonafide students pursuing LL.B. Three Year/Five Year Degree programmes in aforementioned institutions, during the current academic year are eligible to participate.

There can be a maximum 3 Teams from one university/college.

Each team shall consist of only two participants.

REGISTRATION

Last Date for registration along with fees payment: 10th November, 2022

Link for registration is as follows: https://forms.gle/nrB6YuTZgJeXRDn29

ELIGIBILITY

Registration is on a first come first serve basis and it’s open to first 30 teams.

Teams/Participants are required to duly fill the Registration Google Form (link given above) along with the Registration Fees of Rs.1500/- via online payment on or before the last date of registration i.e, 10th November, 2022.

The NEFT transaction detail are as follows:

Name of the Institution: The NorthCap University

Name of the Bank: Canara Bank

Branch: NCU, Sector 23-A, Gurgaon

Account No.: 82472010013980

IFSC: CNRB0018247

AWARDS

Winner – Cash Prize up to Rs 5,000 and Certificates Runner up – Cash Prize up to Rs. 2,500 and Certificates Participants – Participation Certificates.

INAUGRAL CEREMONY

The inaugural will be held on 18th November, 2022. The Mode of Competition will be via Microsoft Teams along with the Inaugural session. Participants will be briefed about the details of the event, wherein they are welcome to seek clarifications.

CODE OF CONDUCT

  • The competition will be conducted on the online platform of Microsoft Teams.
  • All the participants must be dressed in a dignified manner befitting the legal profession for the competition.
  • Friendly and healthy interaction among the participating teams and with the students of the host college are encouraged and expected.
  • Use of Mobile phones is strictly prohibited during the competition.
  • Participants shall not reveal the identity of his/her college/university at any point of time during the competition.
  • Participants shall not interact with the clients before the allotted time.
  • The organizers at any point of time will not be responsible for any internet network/ connectivity issues during the competition.
  • Scouting or any other unethical/unprofessional conduct is strictly prohibited, and may lead to disqualification.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

  • The event will be conducted in four Rounds namely, Preliminary Round, Quarter Finals, Semi Final Round and Final Round.
  • Preliminary Round will be conducted in two slots; each team will get only one chance to appear in the round.
  • Top 15 teams will go to quarter finals; top 4 teams will go to the semi-final round and top 2 teams will go to Finals.
  • In case of a tie for the 4th place, all the tied teams will be eligible to go to semi-finals.
  • Top two teams from the semi-final rounds will go to the final round on the basis of team scores.
  • The problems for the competition will be set from the area of Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Civil Law, Cyber Law, Corporate Law, Family Law and Contemporary Issues of Law.
  • The organizers will select the clients to play the role as required by the problems.

COMPETITION PROCEDURE

The teams will have a maximum of 30 minutes of which first 5 minutes will be allotted for settling the rooms for the clients, Teams can make use of all kinds of material befitting the legal profession for the competition while doing the same. 15 minutes will be for client interviewing and counselling. The remaining 10 minutes shall be for discussion between the participants and the judge.

During the post interview period of 10 minutes when the client will not be there, the students will have to summarize the interview, analyze the problem and indicate the course of action to be undertaken to the judge. During this time the judges may also seek clarifications from the teams regarding their approach and analysis of the issues. During this period of 25 minutes, if necessary, the competing students can consult any books or laptop, which they may bring with them.

Teams shall not exceed the allotted time but Judges can extend the same for another 2 minutes only after which there will be an automatic negative marking and 1 mark will be deducted for each extra minute. In the interviewing and Counselling stage as well as post interviewing and counselling stage, one member of the team will take the lead role and the other a supplementary role.

There should be good coordination between the two team members throughout the 30 minutes period.

JUDGING CRITERIA

The competition shall be judged on the basis of the following criteria:

  • Establishing the working atmosphere and professional approach.
  • Eliciting the problem of the client and the tools used in so doing.
  • Clients’ goals, expectations and needs.
  • Analysis and formulation of the problem with precision.
  • Suggesting alternatives.
  • Allowing the client to make informed choices.
  • Effective conclusion of the counselling session.
  • Teamwork.
  • Management of ethical and professional relation with the client – dealing with emotional and legal needs of the client.
  • Post interview session interaction with the judges/among themselves.

CONTACT DETAILS

 Student Communication Heads:

  1. Tanu Mehta (Mobile: 9971791974)
  2. Nandini Verma (Mobile: 8587978442) 

Email ID- nccc@ncuindia.edu

PATRON

Dr. Archana Sarma

HOD, School of Law

FACULTY CONVENORS

Dr. Pallavi Bajpai                                      Ms. Deborisha Dutta                                        Mr. Himangshu Rathee

Asst. Professor (Sel. Grade)      Asst. Professor (Law)                  Asst. Professor (Law) pallavibajpai@ncuindia.edu          deborishadutta@ncuindia.edu                              himangshurathee@ncuindia.edu