5 Qualities of a Great Lawyer

Thousands of people graduate from law school each year equipped with a diploma and a head full of good intentions, but few of them carry the tools necessary to build a successful practice. Law school teaches many things but not the intangible qualities necessary for true success in the industry, including how to develop new client relationships and still get other work done. 

Legal Services Link provides a forum for connecting great lawyers with potential clients in a cost-effective manner.  A free profile with Legal Services Link is a no-risk, all-reward investment in any legal practice, especially for those who may be new to the profession.  In addition to developing a simple business-development strategy using Legal Services Link, every attorney should take a moment to consider these five traits of successful lawyers.

Analytical Skills

Every case begins with a thorough analysis of the issues and possible outcomes, so strong analytical skills are building blocks for all successful attorneys. When a client approaches a lawyer with a question, the lawyer must first dissect the issues and apply the rule of law before advising the client on the best course of action. First-year law students understand it best - they use the IRAC method for breaking down hypotheticals. IRAC stands for issue, rule, analysis and conclusion. The first step is always to identify the issue or the question being presented by the current set of facts. Next is to have a thorough understanding of the relevant rule of law and apply it to the specific facts of the case to analyze the possible outcomes. Then the lawyer can draw conclusions about the potential outcome and advise the client accordingly. Learning to think like a lawyer can be one of the biggest hurdles law students face, and learning to think like a business owner can be one of the biggest challenges attorneys face. Working with an online network like Legal Services Link is a simple solution.

Interpersonal Skills

Lawyers are widely thought to be confrontational people because so many proceedings are adversarial. However, interpersonal skills are highly relevant in all areas of practice. Every type of attorney will be faced with a negotiation at some point, whether it's a settlement negotiation or a real estate contract. In order to strike a deal that's beneficial to the client, a skilled attorney must know how to engage the other party appropriately. This also means knowing how to set boundaries when making demands of another party, like calling off the negotiation and proceeding to court when the time is right.

Public Speaking

Public speaking is a skill that can be mastered in a courtroom and add value to a legal practice in unique ways. Many lawyers seek out ways to supplement their practice at some point, often by teaching. An adjunct professor position is a perfect addition to a legal career for those with superior public speaking skills. In-house attorneys for corporations may also find themselves managing a team of people or providing training to staff members. These management-level positions often require lots of meetings, which entail speaking to a room full of people. For those who are interested in holding public office, public speaking is also a must.

Qualities of a lawyer: Public Speaking (Courtesy Penn State Law, Flickr CC)

Posted - 05/21/2015