• evidence of understanding of scope of own responsibility and others involved in the matter • evidence of understanding of the pre-trial litigation process – (including the purpose composition of pleading documents, discovery interrogatory questions, the pre-trial conference and the Certificate of Readiness) • instructing legal practitioner and own diary is kept up to date and reminders are issued pending critical dates • instructing legal practitioner is kept up-to-date with all actions, activities and outcomes • instructing legal practitioner’s instructions are followed • any irregularities, uncertainties or difficulties are referred immediately to instructing legal practitioner for resolution concepts such as subpoena and Client-Solicitor Legal Privilege are understood • issues pertaining to confidentiality, security and discretion are comprehended and attended to • clients are kept up to date • where instructing other, instructions are clear with adequate explanation to allow the task/s to be completed • where instructing others, supervision is provided throughout the task in relation to: - providing advice and assistance with resolving problems - ensuring that work is completed within deadlines - ensuring that staff work at a high standard - ensuring that documents are collated and corrected correctly - checking that list and table of contents are correct - ensuring that filing requirements are fulfilled and that a copy/ies of report/correspondence is stored appropriately - ensuring that confidentiality and security of information is maintained • interactions with opposing party are conducted efficiently and courteously • evidence of what is and is not disclosable in general and related to the case in particular • non-disclosable information is not communicated and where any doubt exists as to the information’s status it is not disclosed • non-disclosable information may include: - dates - addresses - names - a firm’s other clients - fees - content of non-discoverable documents • all activities, actions and outcomes are documented on file notes and time is recorded • all activities and outcomes may include: - exchange of information - financial transaction - consulting experts - verbal communication with external parties - non-response - documents which cannot be located despite efforts to retrieve them - contact with representative from opposing party - contact with client - dates - dates on which own/opposing party’s documents were inspected • file/matter number is attached to relevant documentation and such documentation is filed appropriately • record of time is processed for client invoicing purposes • all work is conducted within accepted codes of conduct including those relating to: maintaining confidentiality, use of company property, duty of care, ethical behaviours, privacy, non-discriminatory practice, conflict of interests and compliance with reasonable direction |