Becoming a lawyer takes far more than an education and a smart mind. Working in the legal sector involves a high level of responsibility, and with that comes the necessity for certain personality traits. If you aspire to become a lawyer or simply want to be more successful as one, then here are the seven key skills you need to possess.
1. Motivation
Motivation is needed for most careers, but especially those in law. Not every day is simple; in fact, some days will be straight up pull-your-hair-out stressful, and you must be able to deal with that. What keeps lawyers going is unwavering motivation. If becoming a lawyer is a second career choice, and you're not one-hundred percent about it, then it's probably not for you. You need to wake up each morning and be proud of going to work and willing to put in all the effort it takes to ensure your clients and co-workers are satisfied.
2. Communication
Due to the nature of the role, you must be an excellent communicator. You will spend your days speaking with clients and co-workers both in real life and on the phone, so you must be able to convey information accurately.
It's also necessary that you are persuasive with your words, especially when you are presenting cases. This skill can be learned, but it needs to come from a background of great communication skills.
3. Knowing Personal Strengths
Understanding where you shine and where you don't is a crucial part of being a lawyer. Many times, lawyers find they need outside help, so you must be willing to accept when you cannot do everything. Many lawyers will find themselves seeking the help of family law experts in certain cases to ensure their client receives the best work.
4. Organization
Organization is a key ingredient of law. With such a busy schedule, time management is essential. Everything is important, so you must stay up to date with all your cases and any appointments you have.
5. Confidence
You should be confident in every move you make. There will be times when everything seems against you, but you must stand your ground. When presenting your case, this is especially crucial, as your client's outcome is in your hands.
6. Research Skills
As a lawyer, your learning doesn't end once you leave law school. Lawyers don't just fight cases based on their knowledge over the years; they must also do plenty of research to back themselves up. New findings come out in the world of law, so don't expect to ever be done with education. Due to this, excellent research skills are necessary, which is why they are taught extensively in law school.
7. Control of Emotions
As a lawyer, you will deal with a variety of cases, some of which may deal with sensitive happenings. Due to this, you must have control over your emotions. You cannot work as a lawyer if you are easily affected by unfortunate circumstances, as you will find it far too stressful, which will impact both your performance and your mental health.
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