Brendan Xu

3/21/16
COMM107
Interview Outline
Interviewer: Brendan Xu
Interviewee: Ms. Katherine Dolan (Attorney At Law, Kennedy & Dolan)
Interviewee Contact Information:
Cell: (301) 213-4535
Work: (301) 608-3000
Email: jfkdc@aol.com
Purpose of Interview: I want to learn about the field of law and the importance of
communication when handling various clients and performing during trial.
Opening: Begin with standard greeting (handshake included) and thank her for
agreeing to meet with me despite her busy schedule. Introduce the purpose of the
interview and inform her of my goals of learning about the field of law and the ways
communication can have an impact on the field.
Body:
Introduction: Ask about prior education and inspirations for becoming a lawyer.
A. What were your motivations to become a lawyer?
i.

What was your major in your undergraduate years? Why did you decide on
this particular major?

ii.

At what point did you decide to enter law school? What were some of the
motivations behind this decision?

iii.

What sorts of activities did you participate in that had an influence on your
decision to become a lawyer?

iv.

Did you have any internships or other prior experiences that shaped your
decision to pursue a law degree?

Focus on the career itself: begin with inquiring about the day to day
processes and tasks involved in the career, move to benefits and challenges.
B. What are the demands for the job and how do you deal with the consequences of
your actions?
i.

What is a typical day of work for you?

ii.

What do you perceive as the best and the worst aspects of your job?

iii.

Do you have any advice for students contemplating the legal profession?

iv.

How do you find yourself the ability to cope with defending someone who
you knew did the crime, knowing full well that you are fighting for your client
by the strictest interpretation of the law to try and find a legal technicality so
that the person does not have to suffer the consequences of their actions? How
can you cope further when you see the traumatic effects it may have on the
victim?

Change the subject towards communication and its effects on clients and
during trial.
C. What are some communication benefits or issues you face with clients and in
court?
i.

What pleasantries or difficulties do you encounter when communicating with

a client, especially when touching on personal topics or hard details of the
crime?

ii.

To what extent is communication important during trial? How careful must

you be while using rhetoric and verbiage during such a high pressure event as
a trial?
Conclusion: Thank you for your time. Its been a pleasure speaking with
you!