What You Need to Know for a Successful Career in Law

A successful female lawyer

What You Need to Know for a Successful Career in Law

Have you found yourself questioning - if you have the right skills for a job you wish to apply for? You are not the only one. The question of skills arises in every job advert - and the legal industry is no exception to this rule. 

You will find that legal careers demand a certain set of skills, including: 

  • Attention to detail

  • Commercial awareness

  • Analytical 

  • Research

  • Work well under pressure 

  • Teamwork 

But while these technical skills (also known as hard skills) are essential within your legal career, they are skills you can acquire and enhance through education and experience. So, do not get put off from applying for a position because you think you may not bring a set of skills to the table. 

In fact, to succeed in a legal career, you also need what are known as – soft skills. In some instances, you will find that these outweigh the hard skills - driving you to a successful career in the legal industry. 

So, without further ado, let us take a quick look at what these are. 

Five Soft Skills Essential for a Successful Legal Career

1.      Resilience. 

Being in the legal industry is no easy feat. Therefore, you need the fighting spirit to bounce back and adapt to every curve ball the industry throws at you. Remember, you will be dealing with successful clients, important decision-makers, and high-end deals - all while supporting your team. 

2.      Excellent communication.

The foundations of law are built on communication. From paperwork to conversations, you spend a significant amount of your day communicating. Hence, clear, concise, and excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential to succeed in the industry. 

Through effective communication, you reduce the opportunity for misunderstandings. In turn, building an environment of trust. 

Professional communication training courses are available if you need further support and wish to grow your skills in this area. 

3.      Be a good listener.

Leading on from good communication skills – listening is vital in this cutthroat industry. So, while you may be the best communicator at the firm, if you don’t know when to stop talking and start listening - you will find yourself at the bottom of the career ladder. 

In an industry where you are constantly dealing with processing information, you need to be an active listener to communicate effectively with your clients and colleagues. 

 

4.      Empathy

When you think of those who work in the legal profession empathy is not the first thing to come to mind. After all, as lawyers and legal professionals, you take an impartial, logical approach. 

An often-overlooked skill, empathy is essential for you to understand the perspectives of colleagues and clients.

5.      Creative, critical thinking

The best lawyers and legal professionals can think out of the box and read between the lines. 

While critical thinking can be taught and developed over time through training and experience, the attributes of creativity, emotional intelligence, and optimism are all soft skills that one naturally possesses. 

As a creative, critical thinker, you can find simple solutions to some of the most complex problems. 

 

Do you have what it takes to succeed in a legal career? Let’s talk. 

If you’re reading this article and nodding your head - yes, then call 07 3185 5157 today! 

At Day One Recruitment, we will show you opportunities in law firms and legal teams nationally. Our partnerships with clients see us recruit at all levels.

So, don’t wait for one day. Make your day one today. 

Angela Grant