Skills You Need to Be a Lawyer

Lawyers need analytical skills.

A career as a lawyer requires a law degree and a license, but you also need specific skills to make you a successful lawyer. The fast-paced environment that includes the use of laws, past cases and information specific to the current case requires a sharp individual who thinks quickly. While lawyers can improve the necessary skills, others are more difficult to hone if the candidate lacks the skills naturally.

Communication

Lawyers communicate on a daily basis to a variety of audiences, including clients, colleagues, witnesses and judges. Communication takes place both verbally and in written form. A lawyer needs to communicate her thoughts and ideas clearly so others are able to understand her. Listening is also a key element to the communication process. A lawyer who fails to listen to others is likely to miss key elements for her case. The way a lawyer communicates affects how she is perceived and even the outcome of her case in some situations. Poor communication skills lead to misunderstanding and can cause a breakdown in the lawyer's case.

Interpersonal Interactions

Communication is only one aspect of interacting with clients and colleagues. Interpersonal skills allow a lawyer to handle his clients and colleagues appropriately. These skills enable the lawyer to gain clients' trust so he can represent them effectively. He understands what his clients need and how to work with them to achieve a desirable outcome to the case. This allows him to advocate for his clients while representing them. He also counsels his clients to help them make legal decisions.

Analytical

Lawyers spend time analyzing and interpreting information relevant to a particular case or inquiry from a client. The lawyer pulls from her law knowledge to determine what type of case is possible and how to approach the situation. She reads and analyzes laws and previous court cases to evaluate relevance to the client's case. She compiles all of the details to create the case. In the courtroom, a lawyer analyzes testimony and evidence introduced to determine how it affects the case. She uses this information to dispute testimony that goes against her case.

Negotiation

Cases often include negotiation at some point in the process, whether they go to trial or not. In civil cases, the lawyers negotiate an agreement between the parties when possible. In a criminal case, lawyers may try to negotiate a plea bargain to resolve the case. Negotiation requires the lawyer to consider how each possible outcome will affect his client.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Lawyers
• Law School Admission Council: Being a Lawyer