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What is the most important skill to be a good attorney?
I am a junior in high school and planning on becoming an attorney. I was curious about the skills that I should be focusing on throughout my education so I can be better prepared for this career.
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5 answers
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Kim’s Answer
Jason,
From what I've seen when I used to do support services for attorneys, I'd say that would be Time Management, Multi-tasking, and being able to shift gears at a moment's notice - flexibility. Everything in law revolves around the calendar. Miss a deadline, and your client pays the price.
In school, you see how this works - when is the term-paper due, when should you start working on it? If you procrastinate for no good reason, and something else comes up (your Mom is admitted to the hospital, for example) is your teacher going to give you additional time when you had known about it for six weeks? I truly hope not. If they do, they aren't helping to prepare you for the real world. Because a judge wouldn't extend such a deadline.
The more self-disciplined you can become at a young age, the more it will carry forward to your college studies, and beyond.
Best of luck!
Kim
From what I've seen when I used to do support services for attorneys, I'd say that would be Time Management, Multi-tasking, and being able to shift gears at a moment's notice - flexibility. Everything in law revolves around the calendar. Miss a deadline, and your client pays the price.
In school, you see how this works - when is the term-paper due, when should you start working on it? If you procrastinate for no good reason, and something else comes up (your Mom is admitted to the hospital, for example) is your teacher going to give you additional time when you had known about it for six weeks? I truly hope not. If they do, they aren't helping to prepare you for the real world. Because a judge wouldn't extend such a deadline.
The more self-disciplined you can become at a young age, the more it will carry forward to your college studies, and beyond.
Best of luck!
Kim
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hi Jason,
Aside from time and project management skills, I would say you'll need to have good people skills. No matter which area of the law you end up practicing in, you will likely have to interact with different people ranging from your clients, opposing counsels, witnesses, other stakeholders, and your own team. A good attorney, in my opinion, understands people as well as their needs and underlying interests, which may not always be apparent. You'll also need to develop your communication skills and know when to adjust your style based on who you're interacting with.
These skills are important even if you're not in a role that requires a whole lot of talking (think litigators). So I would encourage you to take classes in public speaking or interpersonal communication if you can. Good luck!
Aside from time and project management skills, I would say you'll need to have good people skills. No matter which area of the law you end up practicing in, you will likely have to interact with different people ranging from your clients, opposing counsels, witnesses, other stakeholders, and your own team. A good attorney, in my opinion, understands people as well as their needs and underlying interests, which may not always be apparent. You'll also need to develop your communication skills and know when to adjust your style based on who you're interacting with.
These skills are important even if you're not in a role that requires a whole lot of talking (think litigators). So I would encourage you to take classes in public speaking or interpersonal communication if you can. Good luck!
Updated
Evan’s Answer
Reading, writing, logical reasoning, and project management are the most important skills for a successful lawyer (especially in your early years). The reading and project management skills will most likely come natural as you progress through college, but writing and logical reasoning are crafts to develop.
In college, it would be a good idea to take courses that require essay writing. Legal writing is a lot different than other types of writing (e.g., creative writing/literature, narrative) and is taught in law school. However, you will be expected to know the basics of grammar, have a strong vocabulary, and understand paragraph structures. Your college courses should provide that education.
Also, the law school entrance exam is a test largely based on logical reasoning. Many colleges offer logic courses through the philosophy program and taking one will help you immensely on the LSAT.
Good luck!
In college, it would be a good idea to take courses that require essay writing. Legal writing is a lot different than other types of writing (e.g., creative writing/literature, narrative) and is taught in law school. However, you will be expected to know the basics of grammar, have a strong vocabulary, and understand paragraph structures. Your college courses should provide that education.
Also, the law school entrance exam is a test largely based on logical reasoning. Many colleges offer logic courses through the philosophy program and taking one will help you immensely on the LSAT.
Good luck!
Updated
Lexie’s Answer
Hi Jason,
I think good writing skills are important as well. As an attorney, no matter you are doing transaction or litigation work, you will need to draft a lot of documents and so you will need to make sure you can write in a clear and concise way. I would encourage you to focus your attention on the writing assignments you have at the moment and try to take some classes that require the writing of a paper in college to polish your writing skills. Best of luck!
I think good writing skills are important as well. As an attorney, no matter you are doing transaction or litigation work, you will need to draft a lot of documents and so you will need to make sure you can write in a clear and concise way. I would encourage you to focus your attention on the writing assignments you have at the moment and try to take some classes that require the writing of a paper in college to polish your writing skills. Best of luck!
Updated
Milin’s Answer
Hi Jason,
Communication skills and time management are very important skills for lawyers. I'll focus on communication skills because time management can leverage tools / co-workers to stay on track.
In practice, many times, you need to be able to read/listen/understand what is going on in a particular scenario, create a plan, and communicate that plan to convince others of your position. I would concentrate on comprehension skills that help you get to the core of an issue and writing skills like Lexie points out.
Communication skills and time management are very important skills for lawyers. I'll focus on communication skills because time management can leverage tools / co-workers to stay on track.
In practice, many times, you need to be able to read/listen/understand what is going on in a particular scenario, create a plan, and communicate that plan to convince others of your position. I would concentrate on comprehension skills that help you get to the core of an issue and writing skills like Lexie points out.