what are the desirable personality traits to be a lawyer

by Dr. Ian Grimes 7 min read

  1. Compassion. Compassion is an emotional response whereby one perceives another’s problem and authentically, genuinely wants to help resolve the problem.
  2. Ability to Listen. Effective communication skills are essential to good lawyering. One of the most important aspects of communication is listening.
  3. Assertiveness, Not Aggressiveness. I often hear people say, “She’s not aggressive enough to be an effective lawyer.” That’s not right. ...
  4. Creativity. We need to be creative to find real solutions to the issues our clients face. ...
  5. Perseverance. Success is achieved with perseverance. We must keep working, keep trying and keep going. ...

Below are ten traits that are common to the best lawyers in the United States.
  • Passion for the Job. ...
  • Compassion for Clients. ...
  • Great Communication Skills. ...
  • Willingness to Listen. ...
  • Knowledge of the Law. ...
  • Strong Writing Ability. ...
  • Creativity. ...
  • Good Judgment.
•
Jun 17, 2019

What are the characteristics of a good lawyer?

Qualities A Good Trial Lawyer in Baton Rouge Should Have

  • Experienced. Just like doctors have specializations, lawyers are experienced in certain areas of law. ...
  • A great negotiator. Even when a case has gone to trial, a settlement could still take place. ...
  • Good communicator. ...
  • Outstanding writer. ...
  • Excellent analytical skills. ...
  • Interpersonal skills. ...
  • Part of a team. ...

What are the personality requirements for a lawyer?

  • Sharp at Observation,
  • Comprehension,
  • Reading between the lines,
  • Suspicious,
  • A Half psychologist.
  • Know something about everything,
  • Talkers

Is ISTJ personality type suitable for being a lawyer?

ISTJ personality type is prevalent in 17.8 percent of lawyers. So, it is the most common lawyer personality type. Introversion (I) Intuition (N) Thinking (T) Judging (J). INRJ is prevalent in 13.1 percent of lawyers.

What makes a good lawyer?

Once upon a time, to be an American was to feel impervious to forces of supply and demand. Oh, you might occasionally have to pay more, but if you wanted a thing, by God, you could have it. There was always enough. Indeed, having enough — and then some — was a sacred national entitlement. Until it wasn’t.

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What kind of person is a good lawyer?

Lawyers must be orally articulate, have good written communication skills and also be good listeners. In order to argue convincingly in the courtroom before juries and judges, good public speaking skills are essential.

What qualities make a good law student?

Understanding the types of qualities required for successful law school applicants is critical to becoming an accepted law student.Passion. ... Love of Learning. ... Well-Rounded. ... Good Communication Skills. ... Ethical Responsibility. ... Perseverance.

How do you know if I would be a good lawyer?

You work well with others. That's right—being a lawyer means working with people! ... You can persuade others. The ability to persuade=the practice of law. ... You are independent and self-disciplined. ... You can endure the grind. ... You don't take things at face value. ... You must be able to network.

What qualities would you look for when hiring a lawyer?

7 Qualities to Look for in a Lawyer Before HiringExcellent Communication Skills. First, you want to make sure to find a lawyer with good communication skills. ... Research and Analytical Skills. ... Ethics and Good Judgement. ... Empathy. ... Perseverance. ... People Skills. ... Creativity.

How do you become a brilliant law student?

The 10 Habits of Highly Successful Law StudentsPlan your work. …and work your plan! ... Get ahead in the reading. Part of your job as a law student is self-education. ... Create Their Own Outlines. ... Memorize Material Weekly. ... Go to Class. ... Ask Questions. ... Practice, Practice, Practice. ... Take Advantage of Free Resources.More items...

Does law school change your personality?

Typically, the law student does not feel like they have become a different person, but instead they have been learning new skills. One of the most prevalent experiences about law school is the way that it changes the way you think about everything.

How smart do you have to be to be a lawyer?

Do you have to be smart to be a lawyer? To become an attorney, you need an extensive and intensive education. There are self taught lawyers who have passed the bar exam, but the majority did it the traditional way through schools. You need good grades in high school so you can get into a good college or university.

What makes a successful lawyer?

Here are the top 5 qualities of a good lawyer: responsiveness, analytical skills, good research skills, speaking skills, and listening skills. and understand it on the spot. When a case is in session, curveballs will likely be thrown and they have to be able to interpret and respond to them appropriately.

Is studying law good?

The study of law will equip you with the ability of dealing with challenging issues, understanding human logic and analyzing real life cases along with logical clarity and a good grip over oral/written communication. Your success in this field will have a lot to do with your personality.

What are the seven skills of a lawyer?

10 KEY SKILLS EVERY LAWYER NEEDS TO MASTER#1 Fluent Verbal Communication. ... #2 Superior Writing Skills. ... #3 Logical and Analytical Rationale. ... #4 Extensive Legal Research. ... #5 Coherent Client Service. ... #6 Well-versed In Technology. ... #7 Substantive Knowledge on Law and Legal Procedures. ... #8 Initiated toward Teamwork.More items...•

What are the skills of an attorney?

On a fundamental level, attorneys are communicators. They communicate with their clients, they communicate with other parties to the case, and they communicate with the court. Beyond that, lawyers communicate in a wide range of different ways.

What is the most underrated trait of an attorney?

Willingness to Listen. One of the most underrated traits shared by almost every successful attorney is a strong ability and willingness to listen. Although strong listening is a part of overall communication skills, it’s important to highlight listening as its own professional trait.

How do lawyers persevere?

Finally, successful lawyers know how to persevere. The law is a tough field. There is no reason to sugar coat it; practicing law can be one of the most rewarding and meaningful careers out there, but it’s also a lot of work. As is true with any profession, success requires effort. There will be difficult days. You may be stuck dealing with a client who is making your life unnecessarily hard, an opposing counsel who is being rude for no reason, or a judge who rules the wrong way on a key procedural matter. You may simply be frustrated because you spilled hot coffee on your shirt that morning. It happens. What sets successful attorneys apart from ordinary attorneys is that they know how to persevere through the challenging times to get to the rewarding and meaningful moments that make it all worth it.

What does an attorney do after an accident?

Whether it’s by helping them through a difficult family law matter, protect ing them against false charges , or securing fair financial compensation after an accident, attorneys advocate for people during some of the most challenging times in their life. Lawyers matter.

How do lawyers communicate?

A great lawyer knows how to get important ideas across in formal legal writing, in informal emails, in phone conversations, through discussions in official legal settings, and in private conversations.

What is the legal knowledge needed to be an effective corporate litigator?

The legal knowledge needed to be an effective corporate litigator is far different than the legal knowledge needed to help a California couple pursue a private adoption. Great lawyers know their area of practice. Some of this knowledge comes from experience. Some of it comes from education.

What is the key to talent development?

Some have an already developed enthusiasm for lifelong learning, but as noted by Deloitte, one of the keys to talent development is cultivating worker passion. In other words, people who are passionate about what they are doing are happier, more fulfilled, and they perform better.

What do lawyers need to know?

Remember, you are the one who is a legal professional, meaning that you need to have the ability to communicate complicated legal concepts in simplified terms. Your communication skills can help you ensure your client and the jury understand what you are trying to tell them. Likewise, much of this role involves written correspondence, meaning you need to be an effective writer.

What is the role of a lawyer?

Rather than giving in to what the other side of the courtroom is saying, you need to be the kind of person who is willing to argue for what you believe in. You need to think of arguments that are going to be favorable for your client and ways to present them in a persuasive way.

What does it mean to be a persuasive negotiator?

Even if your client doesn't claim innocence, your persuasive skills can help you get them a better plea bargain. The way you present evidence can drastically alter the way a case concludes. If you are a strong negotiator, you can help your client leave the courtroom in a favorable position.

What do you need to present to a jury?

When presenting your case to the jury, you need to show them that you are confident about your client's stance. Being a lawyer also requires public-speaking skills which require a great deal of confidence. You need to be able to eloquently present evidence and arguments for your client.

How to keep your emotions balanced in court?

Although it's important to show you are passionate about a case, you still need to keep your composure in the courtroom. Showing a sense of respect and professionalism to the judge and other individuals involved in a case can help your client's position and improve your reputation as a lawyer.

How long does it take to become a lawyer?

Most law programs require three years of intense studying and comprehension of legal terms and processes. You need to take the knowledge you learned through law school and experience and apply it to every task you do. Your intelligence can help you ensure you are giving good legal advice and making smart arguments.

Why is it important to be organized in the legal system?

As a lawyer, you are working with all kinds of evidence and sensitive information. Your organization skills can help you ensure only the right people are getting access to these materials. Likewise, being organized can help you ensure you are keeping all of your legal documents in order. This is important when you need to reference them for a case.

What makes a good lawyer?

But the truth is, the traits that transform a good lawyer into a great lawyer may not be the ones you think. Here are five traits that make a lawyer — or any person — stand above the rest. Cultivating these traits provides the opportunity to really understand the issues and offer effective solutions. 1. Compassion: One of the Many Qualities of ...

What are the skills required to become a lawyer?

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.

What is compassionate lawyer?

The compassionate lawyer focuses on how others feel and is accepting of their perspective, whether or not he ultimately agrees with it. Compassion is the foundation for good people skills. Without compassion, you cannot put yourself in your client’s shoes or fully understand the issues your client faces.

What is the best way to be a lawyer?

Without it, you cannot provide the best solutions. 2. Ability to Listen. Effective communication skills are essential to good lawyering.

Is assertiveness an aggressiveness?

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.

Why is finding the right career important?

Why is finding the right career so important? Because your sense of happiness is closely linked to whether you feel a sense of purpose. And will you feel ‘called’ to do something if it goes against everything in your natural skillset, your values or your personality?

Who is Rachel Brooks?

Rachel Brooks is a contributing writer for Attorney at Law Magazine and Real Estate Agent Magazine. She has written articles on various marketing and legal related topics as well as penned featured articles on legal and real estate professionals.

What skills do lawyers need?

Interpersonal Skills. Lawyers should be able to persuade clients to follow their advice or convince the opposition to negotiate a resolution. This requires the ability to read people and figure out the best approach to take when making your points.

What skills do lawyers need to be successful in law school?

Analytical Skills. Lawyers must absorb a great deal of information, both during law school and when preparing a case, then be able to organize and analyze the information in a logical manner. If more than one law or precedent applies to a situation, lawyers must evaluate which argument best advances their cause.

Why do lawyers need to have good oral communication skills?

Lawyers need to possess good oral communication skills in order to be effective in the courtroom and make convincing arguments to judges and juries. They must have good written communication skills because they might have to write a variety of documents, including legal case studies. They must also be good listeners, able to follow complex testimony or to understand and analyze what clients tell them.

What do lawyers do?

Lawyers handle a variety of legal tasks for their clients. They might represent individuals accused of a crime, a corporation facing a civil lawsuit, or prepare wills for a recently married couple. Some lawyers choose to specialize in a particular area, such as tax law or bankruptcy.

When presenting a case, must lawyers be able to read how jurors react to statements and testimony?

When presenting a case, lawyers must be able to read how jurors react to statements and testimony, and they need to read witnesses well enough to know whether the individual’s testimony is honest and unbiased.

How long does it take to become a lawyer?

The mere act of becoming a lawyer requires a great deal of commitment. The typical path is a bachelor’s degree, followed by law school, which lasts three years. The lawyer must then pass the state bar exam before being allowed to practice law.

Why is sound judgment important in law?

The ability to think critically is important for lawyers. They must be able to follow a chain of logic to identify potential trouble areas in their own arguments, and to spot weaknesses in the reasoning presented by their opposition or even their own clients.

What are the qualities of a good lawyer?

Here are the top 5 qualities of a good lawyer: responsiveness, analytical skills, good research skills, speaking skills, and listening skills. 5. Analytical Skills – All lawyers should be able to look at any situation and analyze it from all points of view.

What skills do lawyers need?

2. Speaking Skills – All lawyers must be able to speak clearly and concisely. A lot of lawyers are comfortable in front of a large group of people, but they lack the ability to form a logical thought that gets his/her point across. Another aspect of speaking skills is to understand legal terminology.

What happens if you can't understand your lawyer?

If you can’t understand your lawyer, then neither can the jury. 1. Listening Skills – In order to properly understand the case, all lawyers must listen to their clients. Without listening skills, the lawyer will miss pertinent information.

What is responsiveness in law?

Responsiveness – This is a skill that not every lawyer has, which a lot of clients find out about quickly. All lawyers should respond to their clients, law partners, secretaries, and anyone else involved in a case.

Do opinions stand up in court?

A lawyer’s opinion does not stand up in court, so it must be backed with facts. That’s where the research and investigation comes in. All lawyers should know how to work with investigators, use online resources, research laws, regulations, and judicial opinions to back their case up.

Can a law school teach you character?

Law schools will teach you some of the skills you need, but they can't teach character. In order to become a "good" lawyer, you have to naturally have certain qualities. Some of these qualities you've discovered within yourself in your time as a law student, but others may need to be worked on.

What is the personality test for lawyers?

So should know that What Personality Type A Lawyer Has. According to a renowned personality test called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test, you can distinguish your personality type.

What is an intuitive lawyer?

On the other hand, an intuitive lawyer likes to do such works and practices to analyze creatively from every corner’s view. For example, labor law, criminal case, litigation, etc.

Can a lawyer be a person of any personality?

People of any personality type can be lawyers. Even people of every walk can be in any profession according to their preferences. Most importantly, you only need to make required positive changes and take innovative strategies so that you can be the most suitable one for your profession.

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Compassion: One of The Many Qualities of A Lawyer

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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. If you practice bu…
See more on attorneyatwork.com

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. As lawyers, we must take in much information, ana…
See more on attorneyatwork.com

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. Much like those who lack compassion, ov…
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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. The best way to create unique solutions is to approach each situation with compassionate listening, which enabl…
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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. Now go out there and be one of those great lawyers! Illustration ŠiStockPhoto.com. Updated from a post that originally appeared in A…
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