Standardized Definitions For Variable Names

The point of this list is to allow you to use interview questions someone else wrote and design shareable interviews that require the minimum of adaptation. If you choose the names and object types listed below, your interview should be maximally compatible.

Actors: variable names for various parties or people who might be named in an interview

Some common actors might be both singular or plural. Your template (and interview) should handle both situations with an if/else statement.

• client: Individual
• clients: DAList of Individuals
• spouse: Individual
• household: DAListof Individuals
• children: DAListof Individuals
• adverse_party: Person
• adverse_parties: DAListof Persons
• advocate: Individual
• judge: Individual
• hearing_officer: Individual

Attributes: information that you might gather about an actor

These attributes would commonly be attached to an actor. e.g., client.jobs, etc.

• incomes: IncomeList
• jobs: JobList
• vehicles: VehicleList
• real_estate: IncomeList
• assets: IncomeList
• expenses: IncomeList

Entities: non-person entities that might be named in an interview

• court: Court

Elements: legal elements that might be referenced in a template or interview

• claims
• defenses
• affirmative_defenses
• counterclaims