A team of two first-year Juris Doctor (JD) students from Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU’s) College of Law showcased their legal interviewing skills during Amity University’s International Counseling Competition (AUICC), which was held online on December 11-12. Team members Ayesha Bashir and Tasniem Ahmed Elyass Hussain, who were coached by College of Law Professor Hilary Bell, finished second overall in the second edition of the competition run by the Dubai-based university.

The competition involved 13 teams from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The teams conducted a mock client interview and were graded on their ability to discern relevant legal issues, provide advice on the issues to their client, and build a rapport with the client. The College of Law team participated in three rounds, which covered tort law, criminal law, and contract law.

Bashir said: “The competition provided us with a tremendous opportunity to gain hands-on experience in client counseling and constructively apply our legal knowledge. The judges’ feedback was invaluable, as was my entire experience.”

Hussain echoed those sentiments, saying: “The AUICC was a rich learning experience that simulated the different challenges involved in meeting client expectations, and showed us what a privilege and responsibility being a lawyer is.”

Both students expressed their appreciation to coach Professor Bell. Professor Bell said: “Our amazing students’ outstanding attitudes were the key to their success. Despite only having completed one semester of law school, they threw themselves into preparing for the competition. In return they enjoyed a valuable learning experience and represented the College of Law with aplomb, getting all the way to the final round of the competition.”