Initial Intake and Case Overview

初步接待与案情概述

A new client meets with a legal assistant or junior lawyer to provide an initial summary of their legal issue, presenting relevant documents and outlining their concerns.

新客户与法律助理或初级律师会面，对他们的法律问题进行初步概述，提供相关文件并阐明他们的顾虑。

对话

聆听并跟进对话

Legal Assistant (Female)

Good morning, Mr. Chen. Thank you for coming in. I'm Ava, a legal assistant here. Attorney Davis will be joining us shortly, but first, could you please give me a brief overview of the situation you're seeking advice on?

早上好，陈先生。感谢您的到来。我是艾娃，这里的一名法律助理。戴维斯律师很快就会过来，但首先，您能否向我简要概述一下您寻求法律建议的情况？

Client (Male)

Good morning, Ava. Certainly. I'm here regarding a commercial dispute with a former business partner. We had an agreement for a joint venture, but it fell apart, and I believe they've breached several clauses of our contract.

早上好，艾娃。好的。我来这里是为了解决与一名前商业伙伴之间的商业纠纷。我们曾有一项合资协议，但它破裂了，我 M 认为他们违反了我们合同中的几项条款。

Legal Assistant (Female)

I see. And do you have any documentation that outlines this agreement, such as a written contract or emails? It would be very helpful to see those.

我明白了。您是否有任何文件来阐明这项协议，例如书面合同或电子邮件？看到这些会非常有帮助。

Client (Male)

Yes, I have a copy of the partnership agreement here, along with some correspondence that details the issues that arose. I've highlighted the specific clauses I believe were violated.

是的，我这里有合伙协议的副本，以及一些详细说明出现问题的往来信件。我已经标出了我认为被违反的具体条款。

Legal Assistant (Female)

Excellent, thank you. That will give us a good starting point. Could you also briefly explain the main concerns or outcome you're hoping to achieve through legal action?

太好了，谢谢您。这将给我们一个很好的开端。您能否也简要解释一下您希望通过法律行动实现的主要关注点或结果？

Client (Male)

My primary concern is recovering the investment I made, and potentially seeking damages for lost profits. I also want to prevent them from using any intellectual property we developed together.

我主要关心的是追回我的投资，并可能寻求损失利润的赔偿。我还想阻止他们使用我们共同开发的任何知识产权。

Legal Assistant (Female)

Understood. Recovering investment and protecting intellectual property. That's clear. We'll certainly look into all avenues. Is there anything else you think is important for us to know at this initial stage?

明白了。追回投资并保护知识产权。这很清楚。我们肯定会 H 寻求所有途径。在初期阶段，您认为还有什么重要的事情需要我们知道吗？

Client (Male)

Well, they've recently started a competing business, which feels like a direct violation of our non-compete clause. I have some marketing materials from their new venture here as well.

嗯，他们最近开了一家竞争性企业，这感觉直接违反了我们的竞业禁止条款。我这里也有他们新企业的营销材料。

Legal Assistant (Female)

Thank you, Mr. Chen. This information is very helpful in forming a preliminary understanding. Attorney Davis should be here any moment, and we can go through these details with him. He'll be able to provide a more in-depth assessment.

谢谢您，陈先生。这些信息对于形成初步了解非常有帮助。戴维斯律师应该随时会到，我们可以和他一起 P 详细讨论这些细节。他将能够提供更深入的评估。

词汇

对话中的必备词汇和短语

overview

A brief summary or general description of something. Use it when you want to give a quick summary of a situation, like in meetings or consultations.

某事物的简要总结或一般描述。当您想快速总结情况时使用，例如在会议或咨询中。

dispute

A disagreement or argument between people or groups, often in business or legal contexts. It's useful for describing conflicts, such as 'a commercial dispute'.

人与人或群体之间的分歧或争论，通常在商业或法律语境中。它有助于描述冲突，例如“商业争端”。

breached

Past tense of 'breach', meaning to break or violate a rule or agreement. Common in legal English, like 'breached the contract'.

'breach' 的过去式，意思是打破或违反规则或协议。在法律英语中常见，如 'breached the contract'。

clauses

Specific sections or parts of a contract or legal document. Use this word when referring to parts of agreements, e.g., 'several clauses'.

合同或法律文件的特定部分或条款。在提及协议的部分时使用此词，例如“几个条款”。

documentation

Official papers or documents that prove or support something. In legal situations, it means things like contracts or emails to show evidence.

证明或支持某事的官方文件或文档。在法律情况下，它意味着像合同或电子邮件这样的东西来显示证据。

intellectual property

Ideas, inventions, or creative works that are protected by law, like trademarks or copyrights. Important in business for protecting shared ideas.

受法律保护的想法、发明或创意作品，如商标或版权。在商业中保护共享想法很重要。

non-compete clause

A part of a contract that prevents someone from starting a competing business for a certain time. Useful in business agreements to avoid competition.

合同的一部分，防止某人在一定时间内开始竞争性业务。在商业协议中用于避免竞争很有用。

preliminary

Initial or early stage, before full details. Use it for first steps, like 'preliminary understanding' in consultations.

初始或早期阶段，在完整细节之前。用于第一步，比如咨询中的“初步理解”。

关键句型

需要记住和练习的重要短语

Could you please give me a brief overview of the situation you're seeking advice on?

This is a polite request for a summary. Use it in professional settings to ask for key details. The structure 'Could you please + verb' makes it courteous and formal for consultations.

这是一个礼貌地请求摘要的表达。在专业场合使用它来询问关键细节。'Could you please + 动词' 的结构使其在咨询中礼貌且正式。

I'm here regarding a commercial dispute with a former business partner.

This introduces the purpose of a visit. 'Regarding' means 'about', useful for stating reasons in meetings. It's a clear way to explain your issue at the start.

这引入了访问的目的。'Regarding' 意思是 '关于'，在会议中陈述原因时很有用。它是开始时解释您的问题的清晰方式。

I believe they've breached several clauses of our contract.

Expresses an opinion about a violation. 'I believe' softens the statement, good for legal talks. The past tense 'breached' shows completed action; use this to describe contract problems.

表达了对违规的意见。'I believe'软化了陈述，适合法律讨论。过去时'breached'显示已完成的行动；用这个来描述合同问题。

Do you have any documentation that outlines this agreement?

Asks for supporting documents. 'Outlines' means describes clearly. This sentence is practical for gathering evidence; the question form 'Do you have...?' is direct yet polite.

要求提供支持文件。“Outlines”意为清晰描述。此句用于收集证据很实用；问题形式“Do you have...?”直接却礼貌。

My primary concern is recovering the investment I made.

States the main worry or goal. 'Primary concern' highlights importance; use this structure to explain priorities in advice-seeking, like in legal or business discussions.

陈述主要担忧或目标。「Primary concern」突出重要性；使用此结构来解释寻求建议时的优先事项，例如在法律或商业讨论中。

We'll certainly look into all avenues.

Promises to investigate options. 'Look into' means examine; 'all avenues' means all possible ways. Useful for reassuring clients; it's professional and positive.

承诺调查选项。「Look into」意为调查；「all avenues」意为所有可能的途径。有助于安抚客户；专业且积极。

This information is very helpful in forming a preliminary understanding.

Thanks and explains value. 'Forming a preliminary understanding' means building an initial view. Use this to acknowledge input in initial meetings; gerund 'forming' shows ongoing action.

谢谢，并解释价值。“形成初步理解”意味着建立初始观点。在初始会议中用此来认可输入；动名词“forming”显示正在进行的行动。

He'll be able to provide a more in-depth assessment.

Refers to future expert help. 'In-depth' means detailed; future 'will be able to' shows capability. Good for transitioning in consultations, explaining next steps.

指未来的专家帮助。'In-depth' 意为详细；未来的 'will be able to' 显示能力。在咨询中用于过渡，解释下一步骤很好。