what does it take to think like a lawyer

1. Be tolerant. Oftentimes, an attorney will be given a case that does not align with their personal beliefs and values. ...
2. Be pragmatic. Pragmatism is critical for thinking like a lawyer. ...
3. Be logical. In order to make effective arguments, an attorney at law has to look at all possible angles. ...
4. Be engaged.

Full Answer

What does it mean to "think like a lawyer"?

Lawyers refer to why a law was made as its ''policy.'' The policy behind a law can be used to argue that new facts or circumstances should also fall under ... For example, suppose that in 1935, the city council enacted a law prohibiting vehicles in the public park. ... Thinking like a lawyer also means not taking anything for granted. ...

What is it really like to be a lawyer?

Long hours, frantic deadlines, and developing a thick skin are all part of the job, says Phoebe, who is currently working as a Senior Associate Lawyer at MinterEllison. She has a solid foot in the profession and recognises the highs and lows of the industry.

What being a lawyer is really like?

Despite the commonly held misapprehension that the lawyer is a litigious adversary, a lawyer is more often concerned with securing harmonious and orderly arrangements, and with avoiding and settling controversy, especially in regard to the drafting of contracts, wills, and other such documents.

Why should you should become a lawyer?

• Opportunity to Help Others. Furtherance of public good and ensuring justice and fair treatment to all and sundry in the society by duly helping individuals, groups and organizations with their ...
• Knowledge of the law. ...
• Command over speech. ...

How do I know if I'll like being a 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 are the 3 most important skills that you think a lawyer needs?

As you enter your career, there are several skills you'll want to develop as a lawyer, including:Analytical and research skills. ... Attention to detail. ... Organizational skills. ... Time management. ... Persuasive communication. ... Written communication skills. ... Interpersonal skills. ... Technical skills.More items...•

What makes you think you are a good lawyer?

What Makes a Good Lawyer? Common Traits of Successful Attorneys TodayPassion for the Job. As a starting point, successful lawyers almost always have a true passion for their job. ... Compassion for Clients. ... Great Communication Skills. ... Willingness to Listen. ... Knowledge of the Law. ... Strong Writing Ability. ... Creativity. ... Good Judgment.More items...•

Do you have to be extremely smart to be a lawyer?

You need good grades in high school so you can get into a good college or university. Then once you are there, you need a good GPA and good credentials so you can be competitive when you apply for the limited spots reputable law schools have open. So the answer is yes, you do need to be smart to be a lawyer.

Are lawyers critical thinkers?

Lawyers and judges often use inductive reasoning when they analyze a series of specific cases to develop a general legal rule. Another form of critical thinking is reasoning by analogy. This process is based on the concept that similar facts or principles should lead to similar conclusions.

What is difficult about being a lawyer?

The Stress Deadlines, billing pressures, client demands, long hours, changing laws, and other demands all combine to make the practice of law one of the most stressful jobs out there. Throw in rising business pressures, evolving legal technologies, and climbing law school debt and it's no wonder lawyers are stressed.

What are the weaknesses of a lawyer?

WeaknessesSkills gaps.Poor work habits.Client development.Negative personal characteristics.

Why do I love being a lawyer?

I knew then that I loved being a lawyer. I loved protecting people in a court of law. I loved the feeling of accomplishment I get from helping others fight—win or lose. I get to think through problems every day for people I really like.

Are lawyers rich?

Most lawyers earn more of a solid middle-class income," says Devereux. You probably will be carrying a large amount of student loan debt from law school, which is not at all ideal when you're just starting out in your career. "Make sure you only become a lawyer if you actually want to work as a lawyer.

What IQ do lawyers have?

Some professionals, such as lawyers, exhibit high average IQ scores (in the 115-130 range), while at the same time scoring lower than the general population on EI (85-95). Nor does emotional intelligence correlate with any particular type of personality.

Do lawyers have higher IQs?

Lawyers have amongst the highest average IQ's of all job categories. Note: that's analytical not emotional intelligence. They also have significant formal education and professional licensure--neither of which make them practice ready. But it does provide a degree of analytical rigor.

What IQ do you need to get into law school?

Simply getting into the best school for lawyers that you will have to be at to be a good lawyer places you at about the top five percent in IQ that places you at 130 to 145 range of IQ and work ethic of 90th percentile to boot.

Careful. A Career In Law Could Change The Way You Think

When asked why I became a lawyer, I usually say that it seemed like a smart thing to do. Unlike some of my law school classmates, I had no illusions of becoming either a great advocate or a legal scholar. All I wanted was a comfortable income and a respectable station in life. For me, law was a safe career choice, not a passion.

Thinking Like A Lawyer

Thinking like a lawyer demands thinking within the confines of inductive and deductive forms of reasoning. As law students, we entered a world of rigorous dialogue in which abstractions are formulated and then described—usually leading to the discovery of a general principle or rule, which is then distinguished from another general rule.

A New Perspective of the World

I had just enough left-brain skills to get me through law school and the bar. The sheer mental gymnastics necessary are a tribute to the plasticity of the human mind. Yet it is worth pondering both what we gained from the process and what we may have lost. The values we learned in law school began to spill over into our personal lives.

Who wrote the book "Think like a lawyer"?

Listen to this classic description of legal reasoning, which was published in The University of Chicago Law Review in 1948. Its author, by the way, Edward Levi, attended the University of Chicago for both his undergraduate ...

What to do during 2L year?

You may do trial advocacy or moot court during your 2L year. Separation-individuation: awareness of psychological differences and autonomy from parents (16 months to 3 years) This is when things get fun. During your 3L year—or for the precocious ones among you, your 2L year—you’ll hit your terrible twos.

How long does it take to recognize a primary caregiver?

Recognition of primary caregiver (1-4 weeks) Within a month, you’ll know who’s who around the Law School, at least insofar as it affects you. Interactions with caregivers: beginnings of preferential attachments; focusing attention on caregivers for longer periods; social smiling; cooing (1-3 months)

1. Be tolerant

Oftentimes, an attorney will be given a case that does not align with their personal beliefs and values. Practicing tolerance can help the attorney put aside their personal values for the good of the client, their work and / or career, and even the law itself.

2. Be pragmatic

Pragmatism is critical for thinking like a lawyer. Compromises are at the core of many practicing lawyers’ professional careers; coming to a settlement, reducing sentences - all of these are the result of lessons learned that trains the attorney to look at things from the big picture perspective.

3. Be logical

In order to make effective arguments, an attorney at law has to look at all possible angles. Their success in the courtroom hinges on building a foundation of logic in support of their argument; if they can make a good case, they can sway even the most stubborn jury.

4. Be engaged

Lawyers have a reputation for being laser-focused, determined individuals. This makes sense if you look at it from a certain perspective. They are often career-minded; their goal is to deliver the desired results for their clients by defeating the logic and arguments of their attorney opponents.

Understand the Bigger Picture

A smelly boxing gym may seem like an unlikely place to start a story about thinking like a lawyer, but I’m not one to follow the conventional storytelling crowd. Most contemporary fans know Freddie Roach as the man behind Manny Pacquiao’s legacy, but Freddie has made a long career of being a Kingmaker in boxing.

Give Yourself Time to Think Even under the Gun

One of the most valuable things a lawyer can give themselves is time to think. We are paid to evaluate the client’s circumstances under prevailing law, assess the risks, and advise on their options. It seems simple, but can be a daunting task.

Don't Go through Life with a Red Pen in Your Hand

If a law school course could ever be described as “fun,” first-year torts was just that. My torts professor had a particularly sadistic sense of humor and wicked imagination.

Take Stock of Your Resources

Approaching your practice as an endurance race is critical, and thinking like a good lawyer means always having a keen awareness of your resources at all times in that race.

Don't Forget the Narrative

The art of great persuasion requires narrative. Each problem you face has one. Our job is to craft our client’s side of the story to cast them in the best light and give them an advantage. But once you have created a narrative, take a step back. Thinking like a good lawyer requires exercising self-awareness.

Sweat the Details. Then Don't Sweat the Details

A litigation partner I worked with early in my career had the same routine whenever I brought him a brief that we had slaved over for days. Just before filing it, I would anxiously hand it to him for a final look.