BRUSH UP YOUR SKILLS
KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A SUCCESSFUL LAWYER
Impressed by a lawyer’s oratory and analytical skills in court? There’s much more than what meets the eye. Close observation will reveal unique traits and a personality that a lawyer may or may not possess but must eventually develop. The long and often abstruse route begins well before law school; a challenging career with indefinite working hours forces one to develop a critical eye and a sceptical attitude that can question the opponent’s moves. Know what it takes to be a successful lawyer even if you’re still in school.
Effective communication and listening skills
A lawyer should not only be articulate but also possess good written communication skills that will allow him to write clearly, persuasively and concisely. To communicate effectively, one must be a good listener, which will help in scrutinising situations.
Independent attitude
As a young associate, much of your time will go in research with little or no assistance at all. If you are the kind who is always looking for support, change yourself, as you will be expected to fend for yourself most of the times.
Ability to take sound decisions
The ability to draw reasonable, and logical conclusions from limited information is another essential trait of a lawyer. Before pointing out flaws in the opponent’s argument, one must be ready with a counter argument. Identifying potential areas of weakness beforehand is a plus point. A skilled lawyer is expected to be decisive; one often has to take important judgement calls with little time to ponder.
Research and Analytical skills
Lawyers need to absorb large quantities of information and this makes analytical skills extremely important, particularly in situations when there is more than one reasonable conclusion, or more than one precedent applicable to resolving a situation. Ability to research quickly and adequately is essential to understand the client’s needs and to prepare legal strategies.
People skills
Lawyers work with people, on behalf of people, and the decisions also affect peoples’ lives. This makes excellent people skills crucial for aspiring lawyers. These comprise a pleasant personality, and ability to be persuasive. It allows lawyers to gauge the juror’s reactions and the honesty of witnesses.
Power of perseverance
A budding lawyer is expected to be diligent even before preparing for a legal career. Perseverance is required not only to study to become a lawyer and complete the undergraduate programme but also to obtain a training contract before qualifying.
Good with deadlines
A lawyer who practices in the realm of litigation, filing and processing law suits, must take deadlines seriously as courts adhere to time frames.
An emotionally strong personality
The legal sector is an emotionally charged industry. One faces pressure from clients, employers, and opponents and should therefore be strong as unreasonable conflicts with opposing counsel, emotional imbalances of clients, and billing demands of employers can take a toll on sensitive individuals.
Don’t stop after developing these traits; one needs more than the obvious law-based qualities to succeed in the field.
THE ABILITY TO DRAW REASONABLE AND LOGICAL CONCLUSIONS FROM LIMITED INFORMATION IS AN ESSENTIAL TRAIT OF A GOOD LAWYER