Was it Good for You Too? - Conversation Analysis of Two Interviews

70 Pages Posted: 25 Aug 2007 Last revised: 8 Jul 2010

See all articles by Linda F. Smith

Linda F. Smith

University of Utah - S.J. Quinney College of Law

Date Written: August 20, 2007

Abstract

Because an attorney-client interview is a conversation between two people, conversation analysis can be useful in assessing the effectiveness of an interview. Clients as well as lawyers have intentions and goals regarding that meeting which, together with their conversational styles, help shape the interview and contribute to its success (or failure). The lawyer is not solely in charge. This article analyzes two interviews by two attorneys, each of an extemporaneous actor playing the same client role. The substantial transcript excerpts are analyzed to illustrate some of what we know about good interviewing and to call into question other lessons we teach.

Keywords: interview, counsel, conversation, linguistic, skills, lawyering, sociology, social science, discourse

Suggested Citation

Smith, Linda F., Was it Good for You Too? - Conversation Analysis of Two Interviews (August 20, 2007). 96 KENTUCKY L. REV. 579 (2007-2008) U of Utah Legal Studies Paper No. 07-02, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1008384 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1008384

Linda F. Smith (Contact Author)

University of Utah - S.J. Quinney College of Law ( email )

383 S. University Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0730
United States

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