The Initial Client Interview

• Pages: 23-33

The Initial Client

Interview

Chapter 6

23

Your client may be a longtime friend or acquaintance, or someone

who just walked through your door for the first time. The world of

foreclosure defense may be completely new to both of you. How

do you begin to solve the problem that has already cost millions of

Americans their homes? You conversation might begin with a ques-

tion attorneys may ask their clients in any number of settings: What

do you want to achieve? The answer from your client will be essen-

tial to the strategy you develop (a sample client intake form is in-

cluded on the form CD in the back of the book). The strategy for a

foreclosure case may be less obvious than in other fields of law.In

a personal injury suit, the plaintiff generally wants to recover the

maximum amount of damages possible. In a criminal defense ac-

tion, the defendant wants to expel or minimize the charges and pos-

sible penalties. But in a foreclosure situation, whether actual or

potential, your strategy will be determined by your client’s goals

for the property.

What Are Your Client’s Goals?

Your client has just realized he will not be able to afford the mort-

gage payments. Maybe he has just lost his job, or there has been

another financial emergency. He may be current now but knows he

is on the brink of a late or missed payment. Many clients will come