Word of warning: Orals / Interviews
I sat in January and just wanted to remind everyone that in the interviews the client is an actor and has no legal know how whatsoever.
My actors responded differently so I couldn’t really prepare for that but I found some common themes amongst other candidates sitting this sitting.
My first actor was not helpful at all and made it insanely difficult to give me any information whatsoever and it was like pulling teeth throughout the whole interview. I had to push on and find ways to ask the same question just in a different way to get the right answer. You’ll have to find ways for dealing with a difficult client because from what I’ve learned on this sub it’s extremely common for an actor to be difficult. You must prepare for this. I reckon some actors are told to do this because mine was set on making mine as difficult as possible despite the interview being in my practice area where I have several years experience!
My second actor was more helpful but showed a more human side. He forgot what he had told me in the interview and muddled the interview. It was wills, so he wasn’t clear on the family structure which would have fundamentally changed my answer and I shat myself really bad and had to have a little think after the assessment about what I had advised. So, my advice, is get crystal clear information and make sure to clarify as the actor is human and can muddle information or not understand it’s importance of being as clear as possible as I don’t think they get the littlest information can change your advice in big ways.
I essentially just wanted to say you need to brace yourselves for the actors and be prepared for some difficult moments.