IMPORTANT SKILLS FOR LAWYERS

“Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through” -Jonathan Swift 

 Inquisitive

 A good lawyer will possess an inquisitive nature. Curiosity drives a person to probe and ask revealing questions. The inquisitive attorney will peel back the layers of a case, going deeper, asking for more information.

This skill is important because it's often the small, unnoticed details that can make or break a case.  A good lawyer asks questions because they aren't satisfied with accepting surface information.

They know there may be more facts underneath the evidence presented.  Their inquisitive nature will push them to uncover that information.

 Listening skills

The first rule of listening is to be present. You allow the other person to share. You pay attention. You get the big picture. You don’t allow distractions. You show some compassion. Know yourself. Be aware of your own listening style.

Listen to what they say and what they don’t say. Sometimes what is not said is much more important than what is said. Is the other person upset? Angry? Hurt? What is the emotion behind the words? Is she ashamed to tell you something? What details is she leaving out? Is he embarrassed to tell part of the story? Does the other person feel betrayed? What is the commitment behind the betrayal? Has some standard been violated?

              Learn to listen to your own intuition. Create the environment for listening.

Problem Solving Abilities

 Being a problem solver is one of the root skills of any attorney. People hire lawyers because they either have a problem or are trying to avoid one. Possessing excellent problem-solving skills allows the lawyer to find solutions even when none are immediately apparent.

Not all problems are the same. Problem-solving goes beyond good ideas that have worked in the past; it is a skill that allows an attorney to sometimes think creatively, finding solutions that are tailored to meet a client's particular needs.

Symptomatic Reading

Advocates will have to read a great deal of material when they take on a client. It may be court documents, witness testimony, contracts, case law, or a myriad of other text. It is easy for anyone to skim over the information and take it at face value. Unfortunately, this can prove detrimental to a client.

It takes the time to read critically with a deal of skepticism. It is this skill that allows the attorney to read case material symptomatically (critically). It safeguards the client from the repercussions from the text that may have been written with things slanted with bias, implied statements, or hidden agendas. 

Negotiating

One of the lawyer’s primary roles is reconciling divergent interests and opinions. When the parties to a proposed transaction disagree, the lawyer, acting as a facilitator, may be able to help them negotiate to a common ground.

Although the client’s interests are a lawyer’s first priority, often those interests are served best after compromise and conciliation have paved the way to an equitable settlement. Because lawyers are trained to see the implications of alternative courses of action, they are often able to break an impasse.

Writing Skills

Having the ability to write well lays a solid foundation for all the documents a lawyer must write such as arguments, contracts, and legal letters.
Written communication is a primary way that information is distributed and recorded.

Clear, concise writing removes ambiguity, making intentions known. The legal system requires most communication to be in writing and has very strict guidelines for accuracy. If an attorney is unable to communicate well in writing, it may result in misunderstandings at the least, and damage to the client at the worst.

Conversation/ Articulation Abilities

 Just as writing skills are important, so too are verbal skills. An attorney will find it necessary to shift gears in their verbal communication style. One day they may need to speak in an authoritative manner with persuasive speech during an important trial.

The next day a lawyer may need to meet with a grieving widow requiring sympathetic conversation in reassuring tones. Conversation skills are more than just the ability to say the right words. The words also need to be said in the right manner.

General Investigation/Research Skills

Advocates have to spend hours investigating and researching information for clients. Attorneys must be able to know how to perform research with speed and accuracy, and confidence in the authority of the source.

If they don't know where to look for the right kind of information, their research may be flawed and inaccurate. If an attorney can't investigate quickly, they may get bogged down and unnecessarily waste a lot of time.

They also must be able to investigate and interview witnesses or other principals in a case. Research may require the ability to get past gatekeepers and gaining access to important sources of information.

“A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers”. -H. L. Mencken