how to make a good lawyer

by Dr. King Fay Jr. 8 min read

8 Qualities To Become An Excellent Lawyer.

  • 1. Enjoy Discussions With Good Arguments. For you to be a successful lawyer enjoying a well-argued discussion with people is a good one, because this ...
  • 2. A Persuasive Skill.
  • 3. Good Negotiation Skills.
  • 4. Great Emotional Balance.
  • 5. Being Organized.

Full Answer

How do I know if I have a good lawyer?

8 Qualities To Become An Excellent Lawyer 1. Enjoy Discussions With Good Arguments. For you to be a successful lawyer enjoying a well-argued discussion with... 2. A Persuasive Skill. Persuasion is another skill a good lawyer must possess. Being able to develop this skill can make... 3. Good ...

What qualities do you need to become a lawyer?

Top 5 Qualities of a Good Lawyer 1. Listening Skills – In order to properly understand the case, all lawyers must listen to their clients. Without... 2. Speaking Skills – All lawyers must be able to speak clearly and concisely. A lot of lawyers are comfortable in front... 3. Research and ...

What does it mean to be a good lawyer?

Nov 23, 2020 · Aspiring lawyers should take classes that involve extensive reading and writing so that they can become better readers and writers, since …

What skills are required to become a lawyer?

Dec 29, 2019 · Listen to your adversaries, your colleagues and the judges. As lawyers, we must take in much information, analyze and synthesize it, and exercise good judgment to provide advice to our clients. It starts with listening. 3. Assertiveness, Not Aggressiveness. I often hear people say, “She’s not aggressive enough to be an effective lawyer.”

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1. Enjoy Discussions With Good Arguments

For you to be a successful lawyer enjoying a well-argued discussion with people is a good one, because this shows you are on the right track.

2. A Persuasive Skill

Persuasion is another skill a good lawyer must possess. Being able to develop this skill can make a difference not only when presenting the case, but also to “convince” the court about your client’s position So, if you are considering to be a good lawyer, you’d better start training your persuasiveness.

3. Good Negotiation Skills

Negotiating is a key success factor that must not depart from the mouth of any good lawyer. In almost any case reaching agreements between the parties involved are essential in the profession. It is important to have a bargaining skill that will allow you to reach good deals before falling into more cumbersome procedures.

4. Great Emotional Balance

Due to the verse nature of the profession, lawyers are exposed to many arguments, which could affect their moods and even possible threats; so, not having a good emotional armor will be difficult to bear. Becoming a good lawyer, you must be ready to balance your emotions irrespective of the case before you.

5. Being Organized

With life being organized shows how serious you are as an individual, and this could speak a lot about your achievement. Becoming a good lawyer also depends on your level of good organization of both time and your job, knowing this secret shows you are one step closer to being a good lawyer.

6. Persistence is a Virtue

Persistence is synonymous to this profession and is another great virtue of a good lawyer; as a lawyer is never allowed to surrender. A successful lawyer must be willing to fight to the end to achieve your goals. As we know, all know failure is inevitable, but you will have to be prepared to stand up as many times you fall.

7. Patience

Another success factor of a good lawyer will always depend on his/her patience because the profession requires much waiting for the courts and other actors in the legal system. This could even last longer than expected. You must cultivate the character to learn to wait for hours, weeks and even months to resolve a case.

Step 1: Learn About Legal Jobs and Careers

Someone contemplating a career as a lawyer should conduct research on the legal field to gauge whether he or she would enjoy life as a lawyer, attorneys suggest.

Step 2: Cultivate Communication and Reasoning Skills and Develop a Strong Work Ethic

Once a person has determined that the legal profession is a good fit, he or she should start seeking out academic and extracurricular experiences that will prepare him or her to be a great lawyer.

Step 3: Decide if You'll Attend Law School or Read the Law as a Legal Apprentice

Though most U.S. states require licensed attorneys to have a law degree, there are states such as California and Vermont where it is possible to become a lawyer without attending law school if the person spends several years working and training under the supervision of a practicing attorney.

Step 4: Choose a College Major You Enjoy and Excel in College

Because law schools do not require specific undergraduate coursework, potential attorneys have the flexibility to take the college courses that interest them most.

Step 5: Study Hard for Either the LSAT or GRE and Achieve a Solid Score

What Law School Applicants Should Know About the Many Types of Lawyers. ]

Step 6: Get Into a Good Law School and Earn a Law Degree

Some law schools are highly selective, so applicants to those schools should keep that in mind when preparing their applications. J.D. admissions officers will consider not only a candidate's GPA and test score, but also his or her personal statement and resume.

Step 7: Get Admitted to the Bar Where You Intend to Practice

In order to practice law in the U.S., an aspiring attorney generally must pass the bar exam in the jurisdiction where he or she intends to practice. However, the state of Wisconsin exempts local graduates of Wisconsin law schools that are approved by the American Bar Association from its bar exam, and it automatically admits those J.D.

1. Compassion: One of the Many Qualities of a Lawyer

Compassion is an emotional response whereby one perceives another’s problem and authentically, genuinely wants to help resolve the problem. This is part of what lawyers do: People come to us with their problems, or to avoid future problems, and we help resolve or avoid the issues, whichever the case may be.

2. Ability to Listen

Effective communication skills are essential to good lawyering. One of the most important aspects of communication is listening. Of course, what we say, how we say it and when we say it are important. But we can only do it right if we listen first. Listen to your clients. Listen to your adversaries, your colleagues and the judges.

3. Assertiveness, Not Aggressiveness

I often hear people say, “She’s not aggressive enough to be an effective lawyer.” That’s not right. You don’t need to be aggressive — though you must be assertive. Assertive lawyers state their opinions and make themselves heard while remaining respectful of others. Aggressive lawyers attack or ignore others’ opinions in favor of their own.

4. Creativity

We need to be creative to find real solutions to the issues our clients face. Each matter is unique; each client must be handled differently, and each solution carefully crafted. While on the whole we lawyers are a rather risk-averse group, we must learn to think outside the box.

5. Perseverance

Success is achieved with perseverance. We must keep working, keep trying and keep going. We must be able to walk away when things are not working, take a break and come back fresh and ready to “fight,” negotiate, or whatever the matter requires.

What should I look for when choosing a lawyer?

The lawyer will be helping you solve your problems, so the first qualification is that you must feel comfortable enough to tell him or her, honestly and completely, all the facts necessary to resolve your problem.

Are there any practical considerations to keep in mind when choosing a lawyer?

Yes, the lawyer’s area of expertise and prior experience are important. Many states have specialization programs that certify lawyers as specialists in certain types of law.

Where should I start to look for a lawyer?

There are many ways to find a reliable lawyer. One of the best is a recommendation from a trusted friend, relative, or business associate. Be aware, however, that each legal case is different and that a lawyer who is right for someone else may not suit you or your legal problem.

Are advertisements a good place to look for a lawyer?

In some ways, yes, ads are useful. However, always be careful about believing everything you read and hear — and nowhere is this truer than with advertisements. Newspaper, telephone directory, radio, television, and Internet ads, along with direct mail, can make you familiar with the names of lawyers who may be appropriate for your legal needs.

What about a local referral service?

Most communities have referral services to help people find lawyers. You might be able to find them under “Lawyer Referral Service” or something similar in your yellow pages. These services usually recommend a lawyer in the area to evaluate a situation.

My new job offers a prepaid legal services plan. What can I expect?

Legal services, like many other things, are often less expensive when bought in bulk. Some employers, labor and credit unions, and other groups have formed “legal insurance” plans. These plans vary. Many cover most, if not all, of the cost of legal consultations, document preparation, and court representation in routine legal matters.

I want to hire a lawyer, but I do not have much money. Where can I find low-cost legal help?

Several legal assistance programs offer inexpensive or free legal services to those in need. Look in the yellow pages under topics such as “legal clinics,” “legal aid,” or “legal advice,” or search online. Most legal aid programs have special guidelines for eligibility, often based on where you live, the size of your family, and your income.

Before You Write

There are a few considerations to keep in mind before you even touch your keyboard or crack a book:

Legal Memo Model Template

RE: [Case/Matter Number] [Client Name] [Matter Name] – [Subject of Memo]

Discussing Cases

Just as important as the format of the memo (if not more so), is the manner in which you discuss cases. Almost everyone who has come out of law schools in the past twenty years should be familiar with it, but the general format for discussing legal issues is I.R.A.C. (Issue/Rule/Analysis/Conclusion) or C.I.R.A.C.

Forging Your Own Way

People will read with this and disagree with it. “Well actually, in our firm we do it this way…” Great, do it that way.

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