Editing Lawyer (section)

===Client intake and counseling===
In some fused common law jurisdictions, the client-lawyer relationship begins with an [[intake interview]] where the lawyer gets to know the client personally, following which the lawyer discovers the facts of the client's case, clarifies what the client wants to accomplish, and shapes the client's expectations as to what actually can be accomplished. The second to last step begins to develop various claims or defenses for the client. Lastly, the lawyer explains her or his fees to the client.<ref>Paul J. Zwier & Anthony J. Bocchini, ''Fact Investigation: A Practical Guide to Interviewing, Counseling, and Case Theory Development'' (Louisville, CO: National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 2000), 13–44.</ref><ref>John H. Freeman, ''Client Management for Solicitors'' (London: Cavendish Publishing Ltd., 1997), 266–274.</ref>

In England, only solicitors were traditionally in direct contact with the client,<ref>Abel, ''England and Wales'', 1 and 141.</ref>{{Needs update|date=December 2023}} but barristers nowadays may apply for rights to liaise with clients directly. The solicitor retained a barrister if one was necessary and acted as an intermediary between the barrister and the client.<ref>J. R. Spencer and [[R. M. Jackson|Richard M. Jackson]], ''Jackson's Machinery of Justice'', 8th ed. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989), 336.</ref> In most cases barristers were obliged, under what is known as the "cab rank rule", to accept instructions for a case in an area in which they held themselves out as practicing, at a court at which they normally appeared and at their usual rates.<ref>R.E. Megarry, ''Lawyer and Litigant in England'' (London: Stevens and Sons, 1962), 32.</ref><ref>Maureen Paton, "Cab-rank exits", ''[[The Times]]'', 9 October 2001, 1. This brief article explains the uneasy tension between solicitors and barristers, and the loopholes that have developed. For example, a barrister need not accept a case if the fee is too low or the barrister is just too busy.</ref>