1) Good communication skills

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. Communication and speaking skills can be developed during
your studies by taking part in activities such as mooting or general
public speaking.

Lawyers must also be able to write clearly, persuasively and concisely,

as they must produce a variety of legal documents.

But its not all about projection. To be able to analyse what clients tell
them or follow a complex testimony, a lawyer must have good listening
skills.

2) Judgement
The ability to draw reasonable, logical conclusions or assumptions from
limited information is essential as a lawyer.

You must also be able to consider these judgements critically, so that

you can anticipate potential areas of weakness in your argument that
must be fortified against.

Similarly, you must be able to spot points of weakness in an oppositions

argument. Decisiveness is also a part of judgement. There will be a lot of
important judgement calls to make and little time for sitting on the fence.

3) Analytical skills
Both the study and practice of law involve absorbing large quantities of
information, then having to distil it into something manageable and
logical.

At times, there will be more than one reasonable conclusion, or more

than one precedent applicable to resolving a situation.

A lawyer must therefore have the evaluative skills in order to choose

which is the most suitable.

4) Research skills
Similarly, being able to research quickly and effectively is essential to
understanding your clients, their needs, and to preparing legal
strategies.
Preparing legal strategies requires absorbing and comprehending large
amounts of information, then distilling them down into something
manageable and useful.

5) People skills
Law is not an abstract practice. Irrelevant of how well someone
does academically, at the end of the day lawyers work with people, on
behalf of people, and the decisions that are made effect peoples lives.

They must be personable, persuasive and able to read others. This

allows them to gauge jurors reactions and the honesty of witnesses.

This allows them to decide upon the best approach to take in order to
achieve the desired outcome: either clients taking their advice or
reaching a favourable negotiation with the opposition.

6) Perseverance
Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the
other. Even studying to become a lawyer takes a great deal of
perseverance and commitment and thats before you even start work!

Typically, a lawyer will do an undergraduate law degree, an LPC, and

then a training contract before qualifying. Most will also complete
a vacation scheme or some other kind of work experience.
When working on a case, you must have the perseverance to complete
the work necessary to drive it to a successful finish.

7) Creativity
The very top lawyers are not only logical and analytical, but they display
a great deal of creativity in their problem solving.

The best solution is not always the most obvious and in order to
outmanoeuvre your challenger it is often necessary to think outside the
box.