Students should be able to identify the client's goals, gather information to identify means of realising those goals and assist the client to reach decisions as to the appropriate means of implementing those goals.

Students should be able to:-

1) prepare for the interview;

2) deal with appropriate client care and professional conduct issues during and after the interview;

3) allow the client to explain his or her concerns;

4) identify the client?s goals;

5) help the client reach priorities among those goals;

6) elicit relevant information and distinguish between relevant and irrelevant
information;

7) use appropriate listening and questioning techniques;

8) determine what further information is required;

9) identify possible courses of action and the legal and non-legal consequences of selecting a particular course of action;

10) assist the client to make a decision regarding the best course of action, including the costs, benefits and risks of that course of action;

11) agree the action to be taken by both parties subsequent to the interview and an appropriate timeframe for such action;

12) accurately record the interview, confirm instructions and confirm the action that needs to be undertaken;

13) establish a professional relationship with the client and deal with any client care or professional conduct issues that may arise when advising the client.