COMMERCIAL CLIENTS

Between March and May 2001 representatives from the legal departments of five large commercial organisations were contacted. An alphabetical letter identifies each client. Client A is engaged in the retail industry; Client B operates in the financial sector; Client C manages a telecommunications company; Client D runs several transport businesses, and Client D produces pharmaceutical supplies.

Interviews, lasting approximately one hour, were conducted face-to-face with the head of the legal department in each company. A letter outlining the key findings from my empirical study of law firms was sent to the participants beforehand. This formed the basis for much of the discussion during the inter­view, with clients identifying any areas of particular concern to them.

BARRISTERS

Three barristers were interviewed in July 1999. Each was identified through per­sonal contacts. One barrister was a senior practitioner, one had several years’ experience, and the other had recently qualified. An alphabetical letter identifies each barrister.

Two interviews were conducted face-to-face and the third over the telephone. These interviews lasted approximately one hour. Certain topics were identified beforehand, but no set format was adopted, with participants being allowed to raise issues of particular concern to them.

The information obtained in these interviews was used for comparative pur­poses only. The objective was simply to gain some insight into how barristers view and ‘manage’ conflicts.