Here are just a few reasons why showing up unannounced , in-person is the best way to conduct an interview :
People Actually Talk : We aren ’ t real to someone on the other end of the phone — it ’ s nearly impossible to build rapport that way . How many times have you hung up on a salesperson ? But in person , most people are unlikely to slam the door on us if we can build rapport in the first 20 seconds . We can offer reassurances about our intentions ; they can put a name to the face and we can share a human moment . I ’ ve gotten interviews others thought were impossible just by showing up on their doorstep . It ’ s a very different interaction compared with a phone call .
Unscripted Stories : Unlike phone calls , spontaneous face-to-face interviews capture genuine , unprepared responses . People speak more honestly when they haven ’ t had time to rehearse . They also don ’ t have time to sanitize their lives , and you often get a less inhibited version of them and how they live .
More Thorough Interviews : People talk much longer and give more details in person than on the phone . We can show them photos or have them sketch out diagrams or maps relevant to our questions . It blows my mind how much more detail I get in face-to-face interviews . There are less awkward lulls ; you can make small talk about their pet or photos of their grandchildren and learn more about their lives that way . It makes them feel more connected to you and more comfortable opening up about something that might be hard for them to discuss . Time seems to pass quicker in person than on the phone , so people often stay engaged in the interview longer , which can lead to them sharing much more information than even they anticipated .
Non-Verbal Cues : Meeting in person lets us read body language . It ’ s amazing what a shrug or a glance can tell you .
A good investigator will note in a memorandum what a witness was talking about when they teared up . They also observe when a witness starts to shut down , allowing them to give the witness a pause or to shift the conversation to a different topic to maintain the flow of the interview . Furthermore , they have the opportunity to get information about mental illness or addiction issues based on physical behaviors , appearance , and environmental clues .
Contextual Understanding : Being there in person gives us a peek into the witness ’ s world . This helps us better understand the person , their relationships , and their story . Maybe they are at the scene , which you need to see anyway . You might also notice that the witness has a heavy eyeglass prescription that might have prevented them from seeing what they claimed to have seen . Or perhaps they have some medication bottles sitting around the house you notice to be an antipsychotic . Clues that are critical but you ’ d never know if you didn ’ t see them in person .
Checking Facts On The Spot : We can confirm who the witnesses are . This cannot be overstated . If you ’ re on the phone and aren ’ t looking at someone , you don ’ t know for sure if you have the right person . You also don ’ t know if the witness is alone and able to speak freely . In person , we can get the facts straight — then and there . For example , if they are Facebook friends with a “ person of interest ” in the case you haven ’ t been able to find , they can show you their profile immediately . Or if they have relevant photos on their phone , they show you in real-time . Witnesses sometimes promise to send information to a team but don ’ t always follow through . It ’ s great when we can get evidence from witnesses during the interview .
Get Other Perspectives : Interviewing in person may open you up to new witnesses not already on your radar . This has happened to me many times : a witness has a family member or roommate who knows even more than the witness I ’ m there to see . They come out of their bedroom and I get another incredible interview that I hadn ’ t even planned for . They might even walk me down the street to meet another witness .
When It ’ s Complicated
Calling a witness on the phone and leaving a message puts the ball in their court . That ’ s not a position you want to be in . You can only call a few times before it becomes inappropriate , so it ’ s easy for them to blow you off . You can call them and set up a meeting ; then , they ’ ll have time to rehearse their version of events and / or talk to other witnesses to coordinate stories . Even worse , they could just not show up for the meeting at all .
Attempting in-person interviews isn ’ t always easy , but it ’ s always worth it in the end . The reality is that , sometimes , trying to get an in-person interview won ’ t go the way you planned .
For example , if the witness isn ’ t home and someone else answers the door , they might have questions about who you are . It ’ s best in many situations to not give them too much information and leave quickly . Or , it could be just as bad as calling your witness on the phone .
Another time , I attempted an interview at an apartment complex with a keyfob entry only . It wasn ’ t obvious from my Google searches that this was the only way to access the apartment . Higher security buildings make it more complicated . So does a vicious dog on the front porch of a house .
So , all that is to say that there are rare occasions when you have to use the phone . And for some of those folks , texting may be better than calling as many people won ’ t even pick up the phone if they don ’ t recognize the number ( me included sometimes ). There ’ s also an art of what to say in the text or voicemail so that you ’ re clear about who you are , but give them motivation and ease about returning your call .
The Trial Lawyer x 19