Example of Interview Questions

EXAMPLE OF AN INTERVIEW
Following is an example of prepared questions for an interview.  In this case, the interview was
done with a bare minimum of information heading into the interview. Basically, all that was
known prior to the interview was that the client had been charged with assault on his wife, and
that the alleged assault occurred at the couple’s home around 11:00 P.M. after attending a party.
 
Introduction
“Hello!  My name is Dan Barber and I’m a paralegal.  Joe Lawyer asked me to meet with you to
get some information about your situation.  Why don’t you come to my office?”  
 
“Would you like something to drink before we start?”
 
“OK.  I want to explain a couple of things.  I’m going to be asking a set of prepared questions.
 You may not understand the purpose of some of the questions, but please be patient.  They are
being asked for a reason.  However, feel free to ask me about the reason for any of the questions
I ask.  I’d like to tape record this interview. Is this all right with you?”
 
“I will get you a copy of the transcript so you can change any of your answers if you want.
 When I start the tape, I will ask you to identify yourself, and acknowledge that you know this
interview is being recorded.  In fact, anytime the tape is stopped and started, I will ask you the
same introductory questions.  Do you have any questions?  OK, let’s get started.”  
 
Background Information
      Use form provided by firm.
 
Pre-Event Questions
“This is Dan Barber.  I am a paralegal working for Joe Lawyer, the date is August 7, 2004, it is
10:00 A.M., and today I am interviewing Robert Neeley.  Robert, are you aware that this
interview is being tape recorded?  Do I have your permission?  Thank-you.  This interview is
regarding an arrest for assault on the evening of July 20th, 2004.”
 
1. What did you do the night before the event in question?
2. What time did you go to bed that night?
3. What did your wife do the night before?
4. What time did she go to bed that night?
5. Did you sleep well?
6. Did your wife sleep well, to your knowledge?
7. How do you know whether she slept well or not?
8. Do you use medication to help you sleep?
9. Does your wife use medication to help her sleep?
10. What time did you get up the morning of the event in question?
11. What time did your wife get up the morning of the event in question?
12. Did you eat breakfast? If yes, what?
13. Did your wife eat breakfast? If yes, what and how do you know?
14. Did you work the day of the event?
15. If yes, what time did you leave for work and arrive at work?
16. If yes, how did work go?
17. If no, why not?
18. If no, what did you do?
19. Did your wife work the day of the event?
20. If yes, what time did she leave for work, and how do you know?
21. If no, why not?
22. If no, what did she do, and how do you know?
23. Did you have any conflicts with someone other than your wife on the day in
question?
24. Did your wife have any conflicts with someone other than you on the day in
question?  If yes, how do you know?
25. What time did you have lunch?
26. Do you know what time your wife had lunch?  If yes, how do you know?
27. What did you have for lunch?
28. What did your wife have for lunch?
29. Did you consume any alcohol at lunch?
30. Did your wife consume any alcohol at lunch?
31. What time did lunch end for you?
32. What time did lunch end for your wife, if you know?
33. What did you do in the afternoon?
34. What did your wife do in the afternoon?  How do you know?
35. Did you take any medication during the day or evening of the event?
36. If yes, was this a regular occurrence?
37. Did your wife take any medication during the day or evening in question?  If yes,
how do you know?
38. If yes, was this a regular occurrence?
39. Did anything unusual happen in the afternoon?
40. Did you have dinner?
41. If yes, where and with whom?
42. What did you have for dinner?
43. Did your wife have dinner?
44. Did you drink alcohol at dinner?
45. Did your wife drink alcohol at dinner?  If yes, how do you know?
46. If yes, where and with whom, and how do you know?
47. What did she have for dinner?
48. What time did your dinner end?
49. What time did your wife’s dinner end?
 50. What did you do immediately after dinner?
51. What did your wife do immediately after dinner?
52. When did you first know you and your wife would be attending a party that night?
53. Where was the party?
54. What time did the party start?
55. What exactly did you do between dinner and the party?
56. What exactly, to the best of your knowledge, did your wife do between dinner and
the party?
57. How did you get to the party?
58. How did your wife get to the party?
59. What time did you leave for the party?
60. What time did your wife leave for the party?
61. Did you stop anywhere on the way to the party?
62. Did your wife stop anywhere on the way to the party?
63. Did you consume alcohol or drugs on the way to the party? If yes, what and how
much?
64. Did your wife consume alcohol or drugs on the way to the party? If yes, what, how
much, and how do you know?
65. What time did you get to the party?
66. What time did your wife get to the party?
67. Describe the party, in general terms.
68. Did you consume alcohol or drugs at the party?
69. If yes, what specifically?
70. Did your wife consume alcohol or drugs at the party?
71. If yes, what specifically, and how do you know?
72. Did you or your wife have any conflicts with other people at the party?
73. Did you have a conflict with your wife at the party?
74. Did you spend most of the time at the party together or apart?
75. What time did you leave the party?
76. Did you and your wife leave together or separately?
77. What did you do when you left the party?
78. Did you or your wife consume alcohol or drugs when you left the party?
79. If yes, what and how much?
80. How much time elapsed between the end of the party and the time you got home?
 
Event Questions
 
1. In your own words, describe what happened after you got home to the time you were
arrested.
2. What time did you get home?
3. What time did your wife get home?
4. What was the general attitude between you and your wife when you got home?
5. If the general attitude was negative, when and why did it become negative?
 6. If the general attitude was positive, when and why did it become negative?
7. What did you do when you got home?
8. What did your wife do when you got home?
9. Did you talk when you got home?
10. If yes, what did you talk about?
11. At what point did you first have an indication that there would be a confrontation
with your wife?
12. How did you react?
13. How did she react?
14. What provoked the confrontation?
15. What in your mind could have prevented the confrontation?
16. Was there physical contact between you and your spouse?
17. If yes, who initiated it?
18. How did the other spouse react?
19. What is the last thing said before there was physical contact?
20. Describe the physical contact.
21. What was the very first thing that happened after the physical contact?
22. What was the very first thing said after the physical contact?
23. What happened the first five minutes after the physical contact?
24. What happened the next five minutes? (10 min.)
25. What happened the next five minutes? (15 min.)
26. What did your wife do immediately after the physical contact?
27. What did she say?
28. How did she react?
29. At what point, if any, did you first become aware that the police had been called?
30. At what time did the police arrive?
31. What is the first thing said to the police?
32. Did you say anything to the police? If yes, what?
33. Did your wife say anything to the police?
34. If yes, what?
35. What is the first thing you remember the police saying?
36. Did the police ask any questions of you? If yes, what?
37. Did the police ask any questions of your wife?
38. What did the police do?
39. How long were the police at the house?
40. Did the police tell you why you were arrested?
41. Did the police arrest your wife?
42. How did your wife react to your arrest?
43. Did the police read you your rights?
44. Did the police ask you any questions after reading you your rights?
45. How did you respond to the police questions?
46. Where did the police take you?
 
Post Event Questions
 
1. Did the police ask you any questions at the station?
2. If yes, did you answer any questions or say anything?
3. Were you asked to sign anything?  If yes, what?
4. Did you sign anything?  If yes, what?
5. How long were you at the station?
6. Why were you released?
7. Did you post bail? If yes, what was the amount?
8. What time did you get out?
9. Were you given any instructions by the police? If yes, what?
10. Have you talked to your wife since the event?
11. If yes, who initiated the contact and what was said?
12. Where have you been living since the event?
13. Where has your wife been living?
14. Is there anything else you would like to tell me?
 
Wrap Up
“I want to thank you for your help.  I will get a copy of the transcript to you as soon as possible.
 If you think of anything after you leave, feel free to call me.  Here is my card with my number
on it.  You can call me anytime with any questions or concerns you might have.  It will usually
be easier to get hold of me than the attorney.  I will get this information to the attorney and I’m
sure he will be in touch soon.  Do you have any questions? OK, have a nice day.  Good-bye.”