The National Client Interviewing and Counseling Skills Competition (NCCC) is an annual competition that aims to promote greater knowledge and interest among law students to develop interviewing, planning, analytical and preventive (ADR) skills in the lawyer-client relationship in the office. Too often, it is assumed that lawyers have the listening and questioning skills needed to conduct an effective interview. Regrettably, not all lawyers possess these skills. The competition also provides a valuable educational and cultural interchange among students, law teachers and legal practitioners.

The competition simulates a law office scene in which law students, acting as lawyers, are presented with a client matter. They conduct an interview with a person playing the role of a client and then explain how they would help resolve the clients matter. To give effective advice and counsel to clients, lawyers need to appreciate the client as a person with a legal problem. Therefore they need to be able to:

• Establish good professional working relationships with clients
• Understand how clients view their problems
• Appreciate the client’s needs and objectives
• Explore available options and consider the consequences
• Develop strategies to help clients resolve their problems
• Recognize and deal with ethical and moral issues

The students’ performance is assessed by a panel of judges drawn from legal and other professions. The National Competition is affiliated to Louis M. Brown and Forrest S. Mosten International Client Consultation and students are evaluated according to the International competition rules, guidelines, and assessment criteria. Winners of the national event represent Nigeria at the international competition.