why is speaking a second language good for lawyer

Clients like it when their lawyer speaks [their] language.” If non-English-speaking clients are required to complete forms as part of their representation, Leh says, they can complete the forms in the language in which they are fluent, knowing that the bilingual attorney can translate as they speak.

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How can a second language help your legal practice?

“With an additional language, you are able to communicate better and more widely, and the mere fact of having this sub-discipline indicates your ability to concentrate and deploy your language skills in the legal practice,” says Porro.

Why is it better to speak the same language as someone?

It is much easier to build relationships with someone when you speak the same language as them. You can simply connect with them on a more personal level and break through barriers if you speak the same language.

Do lawyers need to speak a foreign language?

Among lawyers who do have foreign language skills, western European languages are the most common, according to research by Obelisk. But the shift in economic power to markets such as China, and the expansion of international law firms, means recruiters increasingly seek speakers of languages from further afield.

What are the benefits of learning a second language?

Knowledge of different languages can also open the door to better opportunities once you’re employed, says Robert Volterra, partner and principal of Volterra Fietta, who speaks French, Spanish and Italian, as well as English.

Is it good to be bilingual as a lawyer?

Learning a second language, especially Spanish, will help ensure that you are always in demand, not only with clients but also with hiring law firms. According to ABAjournal.com, as many as 42% of law firms are looking to hire more lawyers who speak an additional language.

Do you need to know a second language to be a lawyer?

Sure, a second language is usually necessary for some practices. Immigration lawyers better be able to speak the language of their clients, for example (or be willing to watch a good chunk of their cash go to translators).

How do languages help with law?

White & Case's graduate recruitment partner Gareth Eagles points out: “Language skills help our lawyers a lot – when deals happen to involve people from the relevant places, they can speak to them in their local language, potentially saving time and cutting to the chase on a given point, or helping them form useful ...

What are the benefits of speaking a second language?

What are the benefits of learning a second languageIt improves your memory. The more you use your brain to learn new skills, the more your brain's functions work. ... Enhances your ability to multitask. ... Improves your performance in other academic areas.

Which language is best for lawyer?

English is the official language in 52 countries of the world. It is the spoken language in international offices and courtrooms, and by most international lawyers. English is now an important inter language among people of many countries. Further, almost all literature on American law practice is written in English.

What languages are good for law?

According to the State Department, Mandarin is a critical language. Other languages that are important for aspiring lawyers and other job seekers are German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, French, Arabic, Hindi and Russian.

What is the relationship between law and language?

A law is a standard that is essential for maintaining peace and order in systematic form of society. Language is a rule-based system of signs used for communication. Laws coded in language & Legal concepts are accessible only through language.

What are the 7 benefits of learning a language?

7 Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language!1) Get smarter. ... 2) A vast world of job opportunities. ... 3) Live better, live longer. ... 4) Increase cultural awareness. ... 5) Better understanding of one's mother tongue. ... 6) Increase your decision-making skills. ... 7) Become a global citizen.

How can learning a second language help your future career?

Employees who learn a foreign language command a higher salary. A recruitment agency recently stated that knowing a foreign language can add between 10-15% to your salary. United States military personnel also receive higher wages for knowing a foreign language, roughly $1000 extra every month.

What does it mean to know a second language?

Knowing a second language means a whole new literature is in your hands. However, these aren’t the only benefits of learning a new language. There are many more. Here’s our list of nine of them. 1.

Why do people remember more than one language?

Having first to understand and then later recall multiple grammar rules and vocabulary, strengthens the memory muscle. That’s why people who know more than one language are more likely to retain information. They’re way better at remembering lists, names, cell phone numbers, and directions than monolinguals. 9.

How does bilingualism affect cognitive decline?

The latest study on the effect of bilingualism in cognitive aging found that people who spoke more than one language regardless of their gender, ethnicity, and occupation experience the onset of cognitive decline four years and a half later than the ones who spoke only one. 8. It Improves Your Memory.

Why is learning a new language important?

It Boosts Your Self-Esteem. Learning a new language undoubtedly helps your gray matter grow. Acquiring a new language means that you’re going to learn a whole new set of rules of grammar and lexis (whether you find this part amusing or not).

How does learning a foreign language help you?

4. It Boosts Your Creativity. Knowing a foreign language isn’t beneficial only to the brain; it also influences your level of creativity. As a person starts to learn a language, they get familiar with the culture of the place where that language is spoken.

Which side of the brain do we use when speaking?

Nothing challenges the brain like learning a language does. Scientists have established that we use the left side of the brain when speaking our native language. Whereas, the second language usage isn’t limited to a specific hemisphere.

Is it hard to switch from one language to another?

When the brain gets used to this demanding job of switching from one language to another, it isn’t difficult for them to use this skill in other tasks, too. A study done by the National Institutes of Health concluded that bilinguals switch tasks faster than monolinguals.

Why is it important to know two languages?

Knowing two languages makes your brain more flexible; switching between two sets of grammar rules, vocabulary, tones, and nuances is a lot of work! In fact, even if you’re only speaking one language, your brain activates both language systems and requires you to focus on one—making you a natural at complex mental tasks.

What is the most in demand bilingual skill?

The most in-demand bilingual skill depends on where you live. In a place where many people speak a certain language—be it Spanish in Miami, French in Louisiana, or Vietnamese in the Bay Area of California—many jobs strongly encourage bilingual candidates.

Does Bilingualism make you more adaptable?

But even if you don’t speak one of these languages—or don’t use a second language on the job at all—bilingualism makes you a more adaptable thinker, according to a report by the Language Institute. Quick and flexible thinkers with broad perspectives will benefit any employer.

Is bilingualism a job?

Jul 1, 2019 10:00 AM. Bilingualism, or the ability to speak two or more languages fluently, can be a huge asset for job seekers. As a 2017 report by New American Economy discovered, the need for bilingual workers in the United States more than doubled in five years.

Is it bicultural to speak two languages?

But if you spoke two languages at home or learned a second language specific to your ethnic background, you may also be bicultural —someone with insider knowledge of two different cultures. This includes the dominant culture of the country you’re in; for example, the English-speaking culture in many areas of the United States.

Why is learning more than one language important?

People who speak more than one language have improved memory, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, enhanced concentration, ability to multitask, and better listening skills. They switch between competing tasks and monitor changes in their environment more easily than monolinguals, as well as display signs of greater creativity and flexibility. If that weren’t enough, as we age, being bilingual or multilingual also helps to stave off mental aging and cognitive decline.

Why is language important?

Being able to communicate in another language exposes us to and fosters an appreciation for the traditions, religions, arts, and history of the people associated with that language. Greater understanding, in turn, promotes greater tolerance, empathy, and acceptance of others—with studies showing that children who have studied another language are more open toward and express more positive attitudes toward the culture associated with that language.

What does it mean to learn a language?

Learning a language means putting yourself out there and moving out of your comfort zone. The upside is the amazing sense of accomplishment you’ll feel when conversing with someone in their native language. 9. Strengthen Your Decision Making.

Why don't people learn languages?

You’ve heard all the reasons why some people don’t learn languages, many of these founded on long-held myths and misconceptions . The truth is, in today’s increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, proficiency in other languages is a vital skill that gives you the opportunity to engage with the world in a more immediate ...

Does learning a second language improve your communication skills?

Not only does learning a second language improve communication skills and multiply vocabulary in your first language—yes, really!—but research shows that it makes picking up additional languages a much easier feat, especially among children. 3 That’s because when you learn a new language, you develop new brain networks that are primed and ready when you embark on learning a third language.

Why is knowing a foreign language important?

Studies have shown that they tend to be better at solving issues that are more complex. Knowing a foreign language can also make you more creative, and better able to multi-task . All these skills are obviously attractive qualities for any employer looking to hire a competent candidate.

Is it good to know more than one language?

It is a well-known fact that knowing more than one language can make you hugely attractive to employers. This is especially true when it comes to those of you who are applying to multinational corporations. As more job seekers are starting to realise that language skills could make them stand out in today’s competitive job market, ...

Do you have to be fluent in another language to apply for a job?

Keep in mind that you don’t have to be completely fluent in another language for it to boost your employability. Often, just knowing a second language in a conversational language is enough to make your application stand out from the crowd.

Is knowing another language good?

Anyone who is about to enter the workplace these days is understandably nervous about being able to get a good job. Voluntary work, internships, and academic qualifications are all well and good, but knowing another language is a great way to really help distinguish you from other candidates.

Why do people speak two languages?

People who speak two languages may process certain words faster, particularly if the word has the same meaning in both languages, according to a Psychological Science study . Using eye-movement technology, researchers found that bilingual people spend less time looking at "cognate words" -- words that have the same meaning in two languages, such as the word "sport" for both English and Dutch -- which suggests their brains need less time to process the word, Scientific American reported.

Why do people think in another language?

When people think in another language, they are more likely to make rational decisions in a problem scenario, a 2012 Psychological Study showed. Because people are naturally averse to loss, they tend to make decisions that minimize loss, even if the odds are in their favor.

Why are bilingual kids better switchers?

Their brains are better switchers. Bilingual kids may be speedier at switching between tasks, according to a Child Development study. The study involved having bilingual and monolingual children look at images of animals or depictions of colors on a computer screen.

Do bilingual kids have problem solving skills?

As kids, they have a leg up on problem-solving skills. Bilingual kids seem to do better on tasks examining problem-solving skills and creativity, according to a study in the International Journal of Bilingualism.

Can you get Alzheimer's if you are bilingual?

Advertisement. Alzheimer’s can strike anyone, but people who are bilingual may develop the condition four to five years later than people who only speak one language , according to findings presented at a 2011 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Is it good to be bilingual?

It's one of life's truths: Being bilingual or multilingual can only be considered a good thing. The ability to travel seamlessly in another country; to interact with people you wouldn't otherwise be able to communicate with; to really understand and immerse yourself in another culture, whether it be your own or another's; and on the most trivial level, to order off a menu and truly know what you're ordering.

Is it good to speak more than one language?

But aside from all these reasons, there is a multitude of research showing how speaking more than one language is also good for your health -- particularly, the health of your brain. Here's where the bilingual among us have an advantage: Advertisement.

How many people speak a second language?

About half of the world’s population uses a second language in their daily lives. Some areas of the world, such as Switzerland and Singapore, are bilingual hot spots where virtually everyone speaks two or more languages. However, even in America’s largest cities, there are sizable populations that speak a language other than English with family ...

What are the three domains of decision making in a second language?

The researchers considered decision-making in a second language in three domains, specifically judgments about: Losses, gains, and risks. Cause and effect. Moral issues. We already know a lot about how people make decisions in these realms, so let’s compare these data with performance in a second language. Losses, gains, and risks.

What is a bilingual person?

The naïve view is that a bilingual person is someone who speaks two languages with native-like fluency. However, this kind of “balanced” bilingualism is rare. In the vast majority of cases, bilinguals have a dominant native tongue and a second language they can speak with some effort. These are the kind of bilinguals that Spanish psychologist ...

Which part of the brain is activated in second language?

Brain imaging research shows that the same areas of the brain — mainly in the prefrontal cortex — are activated both in second-language use and in rational thought. Apparently, once second-language speakers activate their brain’s inhibition center, it inhibits their intuitions and emotions, too.

Is Albert Costa bilingual?

These are the kind of bilinguals that Spanish psychologist Albert Costa and his colleagues reported on in a recent article in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science. Costa and his colleagues work in Barcelona, another bilingual hot spot where many people speak both Spanish and Catalan.

Does speaking a second language affect decision making?

And the answer to that question is yes, but in unexpected ways. The researchers considered decision-making in a second language in three domains, specifically judgments about: Losses, gains, and risks.

Is it important to understand what makes thinking rationally or speaking a second language effortful?

However, it’s also important to understand what makes thinking rationally or speaking a second language effortful. It’s not so much the demand on cognitive resources, as is the case, for example, when doing mental arithmetic or reciting the alphabet backwards.