All lawyers have the qualifications and knowledge needed to handle the types of cases they deal with. But besides that, lawyers need to have certain attributes if they are to continually do their jobs well. Lawyers near you might already have the qualities you’re looking for and you just have to ensure you’re making the right choice.
Here is a look at some of the key qualities of a good lawyer.
Excellent Communication Skills
A big part of any lawyer’s job is communicating, which means every lawyer must have excellent communication skills.
Lawyers communicate with the court, their clients, and many others every day.
They also know how to communicate in different ways, such as formal legal writing, friendly client phone calls, informative emails, legal discussions, and confidential conversations.
Great Listening Skills
A key part of communication is listening. Good lawyers must have excellent listening skills to ensure effective two-way communication.
Lawyers who actively and willingly listen, to their clients, their colleagues, the opposing counsel, and others, are more informed and therefore gain an advantage when it comes to winning cases.
The best law firms, like the personal injury law firm Wagoner Desai, know how to listen, analyze information, and create plans of action for their clients.
Strong Writing Skills
While verbal communication and listening skills are vital, a good lawyer also needs to have strong writing skills.
Lawyers who can write compellingly and weave together all of the relevant facts and arguments of a case are sure to be successful in their careers.
They know how to prepare clear, well-reasoned, and effective written legal documents. In turn, they are well-positioned to win their cases.
On the other hand, a single word that is out of place or misspelt can change the meaning of a contract or clause, so when lawyers do not have strong writing skills and do not pay attention to detail, it can result in disaster.
High Organization
Lawyers spend their time drafting legal documents, researching points of law, managing case files, networking with legal professionals, meeting clients, and attending court, so they have much to juggle every day.
That means that good lawyers must be able to keep organised so that they can stay focused and solve issues in the order of importance in a timely manner.
Lawyers who are not highly organized will soon struggle and are much more likely to be unsuccessful in their careers.
Good Judgment
While clients are ultimately responsible for making key choices, good lawyers ensure their clients know and understand all of the relevant information regarding their cases so that they can make informed decisions.
To give clients sound advice, lawyers must have good judgment.
For example, a lawyer needs to be able to judge whether a case is worth pursuing. He or she also needs to be able to make good judgments when it comes to settlement negotiations.
The Ability to Work Well Under Pressure
Lawyers can be under pressure every single day. They often have heavy workloads and tight deadlines. Therefore, good lawyers are always able to work well under pressure.
That ability helps their clients to win cases. It also allows lawyers to be more successful in their careers.
Lawyers who get easily stressed and let the pressure get to them will soon leave the profession.
Having Genuine Compassion for Clients
Ultimately, lawyers exist to fight injustice. Therefore, top lawyers need to have genuine compassion for their clients.
Whether the case is a personal injury claim or a serious criminal matter, each client needs to be given time and attention from their lawyers.
Good attorneys are committed to representing and helping their clients. The more genuine compassion they have, the easier it will be to do that.
