7 SKILLS FOR A SUCCESSFUL LAW CAREER

1. Commercial awareness:

Commercial awareness, also known as commercial acumen, is one of the most significant aspects for a successful law career.  Recruiters expect a graduate lawyer to be aware of recent developments in the realm of business which may affect the interest of the firm. A student can enhance one’s commercial awareness by being a part of any university club, organizing events, working as an intern with a law firm, listening to business-specific podcasts, reading business publications and reading a national daily. 

2. Eye for detail:

A single mistake, be it grammatical or factual in a contract, affidavit, rejoinder etc. can hamper the business of the firm. Therefore, one needs to pay maximum attention to details for a successful law career. A law firm will hire a candidate they can trust with the work. Make sure you proofreadyour cover letter and resume for any errors.

3. Time management:

One of the most essential attributes for any job is the skill of time management. It not only makes one an efficient employee but also develops professionalism which is important for meeting the demands of the clients. Furthermore, It will also make one a competent multi-tasker with the capability of juggling and prioritizing work. Your active participation in extracurricular activities will improve your time management skills.

4. Effective Communication:

Without strong written and oral communication skills, one shall find it difficult to work as a lawyer or solicitor efficiently. To establish trust, develop long- term relationship with clients and negotiate settlements in and out of court, one needs to be an effective listener and a persuasive speaker. Effective writing skills are equally important to draft legal documents and letters.

5. Academic Potential:

To stand out from the crowd and make a mark in the legal world, law aspirants should possess academic knowledge and have a flair for research. A candidate has to be intellectually capable to deal with the pressure by developing skills. These will help to enhance one’s academic achievements.

6. Legal research and analysis:

Whether you choose to work for a law firm or practice as a barrister, you need to read a lot on current developments, get well-versed with facts and figures, conduct deep analysis and process it into something useful. What matters is how you create something relevant out of complex information and can explain the same to the client. 

7. Organization:

Researching points of law, drafting legal documents and contracts, managing case files, meeting clients, attending court and networking with legal professionals- it’s fair to say that the life of a solicitor or barrister is one big juggling act. The ability to prioritise  and remain focused among competing priorties is essential and that’s why organizational skills are so important.

You will get plenty of opportunity to hone these skill throughout your training and work experience. To demonstrate it to employers you could mention how you held down a part time job or the membership of a society while studying. Or perhaps you organized an event.