All lawyers need to go through a certain amount of educational training before they’re even eligible to pass the examination that would officially allow them to practice law in their given state. Even the most intelligent pupils sometimes don’t make the best lawyers because they lack some of the qualities needed to be successful in the fields. Without these attributes people will start asking you – are you an attorney in need of a career change.
To become a good lawyer, you need to have a mix of qualities you may simply be born with and a solid foundation of knowledge and experience. Some of the greatest lawyers in each state have been identified through a group called lawyers of distinction. These lawyers have been nominated and then accepted into the group that helps them stand out among the rest.
If you want to achieve this level of distinction as a lawyer, here are some of the qualities you’re going to need to supplement your education and knowledge in the field.
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Analytical skills
When you’re presented with a case you’re going to be given an overflow of information. In order to use that information you’re going to have to break it down into something more manageable. Analyzing the situation and finding the best solution by then analyzing the possible outcomes of the solutions, is a big part of successfully representing your clients.
As a good lawyer, it’s imperative that you have a sound research backing your case. CCH Pinpoint can help in this by providing only the relevant and in-depth legal research that will help you succeed.
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Judgment calls
Even though lawyers are dealing with the law, written rules and regulations, things aren’t always black and white. In fact, you’re going to have to come up with conclusions through the given information and consider the strengths and the weaknesses within the case. You may be called to deal with something as simple as a Louisiana traffic ticket or a crime of much greater magnitude.
A huge part of this is being decisive. If you can’t make a decision in good time with the proper background information, this isn’t the field for you.
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Communication skills
Not only will lawyers have to write (a lot) but they’ll also have to make their case in front of many people. It’s imperative that lawyers learn to make their arguments clear, concise, and organized so that everyone listening can understand it. Good communication skills are also important in the realm of making your client feel comfortable with you. You can’t forget to keep him or her in the loop.
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People skills
Once you’re licensed to practice, your GPA and where you went to school doesn’t carry as much merit. You need to get people to like you and feel comfortable with you. This doesn’t only apply to obtaining clients, but also convincing the jury that you’re correct just by your body language and they way you present yourself. You should be personable, believable, and able to read others well.
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Creativity
When practicing law, you need to be consistently looking for loopholes, weaknesses, and strengths in order to either strengthen your argument or bring down your opponents argument. In order to do this effectively, you need to be extremely creative. Thinking outside the box is a huge part of being a great lawyer. Sometimes the solution to your problem hasn’t been done before and it might not even be one of the options on the table at this point. Brainstorming and critical thinking will take our performance to the next level.
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Understanding
As hard as it might be some time, you need to keep your motives in prospective. The main goal is to abide by U.S and state laws as well as protect the rights of your client. You have to keep in mind that while your reputation may be on the line when it comes to big cases, your client’s freedom or money may be on the line. If you choose to represent someone, you have to be in fully. You have to be able to put yourself in your clients shoes and understand what they’re going through and thinking, all the while maintaining your professionalism.
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