Client Counselling Report
Advocate: Kabuto (Senior Associate, XYZ Legal)
Client: Josef Biri
Issue: Dispute over rental deposit and lack of written agreement
1: Initial Consultation.
Advocate: Namaste, good morning. I’m Kabuto, senior associate at XYZ Legal. Thank you
for coming in today. Before we begin, could you please tell me your full name and how
you’d prefer to be addressed?
Client: My name is Josef Biri. You can call me Biri.
Advocate: Wonderful, Biri. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Is this your first time visiting a law
office?
Client: Yes, it is.
Advocate: No problem at all. I’ll make sure everything is clear and comfortable for you. Let
me quickly explain how today’s session will go, so we’re on the same page.
First, everything you share with me is completely confidential. As your legal advisor,
I’m bound by law and professional ethics to protect your privacy. Nothing you say
here will be shared with anyone without your permission.
Second, there’s no fee for today’s consultation. This is just an initial meeting to
understand your situation and offer some guidance. If you choose to proceed with us,
we’ll prepare a formal agreement that clearly outlines our fees and services—no
surprises.
Third, I’d request you to be open and honest with me. Even small details that may
seem unimportant to you could be crucial from a legal point of view. The more clearly
you explain your situation, the better I can help you.
Does that sound alright to you? Any doubts or questions before we begin?
Client: No, that’s all clear. I’m ready.
Advocate: Great. So, Biri, please go ahead and tell me what brings you here today.
2: Understanding the Client’s Issue.
Client: A couple of months ago, I was looking for a flat in Malviya Nagar. I found one that
seemed perfect and met the owner, Mr. Verma. We had a verbal understanding—₹25,000
monthly rent, ₹25,000 as security deposit, and a six-month lock-in period. He also mentioned
that if I left before six months, the deposit wouldn’t be refunded. At the time, it sounded fair,
so I agreed.
Advocate: Alright. Did you make the payment?
Client: Yes, he asked me to transfer ₹50,000 to his bank account—rent plus deposit. I did
that immediately and have the transaction record. I moved in the following week.
Advocate: That bank record is very important. What happened after you shifted?
Client: Things were fine initially. But once I settled in, I asked him for a proper rent
agreement—just the usual paperwork. He flatly refused. Said there would be no written
agreement. I was shocked. It made me really uncomfortable.
Advocate: That’s completely understandable. Without a written agreement, your legal
position becomes weaker. What did you do next?
Client: I didn’t feel safe continuing in that setup. So I informed him that I’d be vacating and
requested my ₹25,000 deposit back.
Advocate: And how did he respond?
Client: He refused. Said I had agreed to the six-month lock-in and since I was leaving early,
he had every right to keep the deposit.
3:Clarifying Questions.
Advocate: Thank you for sharing all that, Biri. Just to confirm—you mentioned that you had
a verbal understanding with Mr. Verma about a six-month lock-in period, and that if you
moved out early, the security deposit wouldn’t be refunded. Is that right?
Client: Yes, that’s correct. We spoke about it during our first meeting, and I agreed to those
terms. But I was expecting a proper rent agreement to make everything official. When he
refused to give one, I started feeling uneasy.
Advocate: Hmm, I understand. That’s a valid concern. Did you have any chats with him—
maybe on WhatsApp, email, or even SMS—where you asked for the rent agreement and he
refused?
Client: Yes, I messaged him on WhatsApp a couple of times asking for the agreement. He
replied saying there won’t be any written agreement. I still have those messages saved.
Advocate: That’s good. Those messages will really help us build your case. Now, did he ever
give you any kind of rent receipt? Even a handwritten one?
Client: No, nothing like that. He just said the bank transfer was enough proof.
Advocate: Alright. And when you moved in, did you happen to take any photos or videos of
the flat—just to document its condition?
Client: Yes, I did. I took a few pictures when I shifted in, just to be safe in case anything
came up later.
Advocate: Smart move, Biri. That kind of record can be very useful. One more thing—when
you decided to move out, did you send him any formal notice? Maybe an email or a letter?
Client: No, I just sent him a WhatsApp message informing him. Nothing formal in writing.
Advocate: That’s okay. We can work with that. Last question—was anyone else present
when you had that initial conversation with Mr. Verma about the rent, deposit, and lock-in
terms? Or was it just the two of you?
Client: It was just the two of us.
Advocate: Got it. Thanks for clarifying all that. These details will help us understand the
situation better and figure out the best way forward.
4: Legal Advice and Strategy.
Advocate: Thanks for walking me through everything, Biri. You’ve handled the situation
quite sensibly so far, and I can see you’ve kept good records—that’s going to help us a lot.
Now, let me explain what we can do from here.
First, we’ll start with a legal notice. It’s a formal letter from our side to Mr. Verma, asking
him to return your ₹25,000 security deposit. It’s not aggressive—it’s just a way of saying,
“Look, we’re serious, and we’re prepared to take legal steps if needed.” Many times, people
respond once they see a lawyer’s name on the letterhead.
Client: Okay, that sounds reasonable.
Advocate: If he still refuses, we have two main options. One is to file a civil suit to recover
your money. It’s straightforward—you’ve got proof of payment, proof of possession, and
even messages showing he refused to give you a rent agreement. That strengthens your case.
Client: And the second option?
Advocate: We can also approach the Consumer Forum. Since this is a service-related issue
—renting a flat—it qualifies as a consumer dispute. It’s usually faster and less expensive than
going through regular courts.
Client: I didn’t know that was possible.
Advocate: Most people don’t, but it’s a good route in cases like yours. Now, if things get
ugly—say he starts threatening you or misusing the situation—we can also explore filing a
police complaint. But that’s only if things escalate. For now, we’ll keep it civil.
Client: I just want my money back. I’m not looking for a fight.
Advocate: Absolutely. We’ll keep it professional and focused. Let’s begin with the legal
notice and give him a chance to respond. If he doesn’t cooperate, we’ll take the next step.
And just as a tip for the future—always insist on a written agreement, even if it’s a simple
one. It saves a lot of trouble later.
Client: Lesson learned. Thank you, Kabuto. I feel a lot more confident now.
Advocate: You’re most welcome, Biri. I’ll draft the notice and share it with you for review.
We’ll take it from there.
4:Conclusion of Client Counselling.
Advocate: Alright, Biri, I think we’ve covered everything important today. You’ve explained
your situation really clearly, and I appreciate how well you’ve kept your records—it’ll make
our job much easier.
Based on what you’ve told me, we’ll start with a legal notice to Mr. Verma and see how he
responds. If he still refuses to return your deposit, we’ve got options—either through a civil
suit or the consumer forum. Don’t worry, we’ll take it step by step and I’ll guide you through
the process.
Also, just a small tip going forward—always try to get things in writing, especially when
money is involved. It saves a lot of trouble later.
You’ve done the right thing by coming to us early. Let’s stay in touch, and I’ll send you a
draft of the notice soon. If you have any questions or feel unsure about anything, just drop me
a message or give me a call. We’re here to help.
Client: Thank you so much. I feel a lot more confident now.
Advocate: You’re most welcome, Biri. Take care, and we’ll be in touch soon.
