how to talk like an attorney

More Than Just Words: This Is What It Really Means to Talk Like a Lawyer

• BOND WITH YOUR AUDIENCE. Even the simple “May it please the court” is an instinctive recognition that pleasing your audience is the key to persuading it.
• ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. You didn’t design the courtroom, the bench, the jury box or the lectern. ...
• CREATE A PERCEPTION OF CREDIBILITY. ...
• HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. ...
• SHOW, DON’T TELL. ...
• KEEP IT SIMPLE. ...

Full Answer

What is a typical day like for a lawyer?

Simply nod and say "I’LL CONSIDER THE MOTION." Then quickly continue with your point. The above phrases can work for almost anybody. Example: Let’s say you’re a kid and your big sister tells you to go cut the grass—but you know it’s her turn. Tell her "I’D LIKE TO APPEAL THAT."

How to "think like a lawyer"?

Jun 15, 2015 · How To Get Your Lawyer On: Lawyers stick with the topic. Subjective opinions are not objective facts. No matter what strategies the opposing side uses to distract you from the main issue, or how tempting it is to draw in other connections, a good lawyer always brings the argument back to the original point. 2. Leave Emotion At The Door!

Should I talk to the police without a lawyer?

Nov 16, 2016 · So whether in a courtroom or in your office, using a nice deep voice could give you an edge. To pull this off, try speaking from your belly rather than your chest. But avoid being emotionless or cold, which could give clients the sense that you don’t care about them. 4. To convey credibility and charisma, use more vocal variety.

How to negotiate like a lawyer?

If you are not either a lawyer or an adept sociopath, you cannot reasonably talk like a lawyer. If you try, you will convince only a few people who know nothing about the law or how lawyers talk, appear strange and suspicious to anybody with common sense, and be an obvious fraud to anyone with legal training. You can speak reasonably, though.

Research like a Librarian

So lawyers are thinkers, perhaps a way to embody their role as risk analysts. Those of us who have cut our teeth in law libraries, with or without an advanced degree, are arguably better researchers than most legal professionals. It’s not a smarts issue, it’s an access and time issue. You get better at doing the things you do all day.

Present like a Speaker

The tweet behind all of this was about speaking. I’d learned to speak like a lawyer, if you will. I’m not nearly one of my law school’s better graduates but we all took a trial advocacy course in which we were filmed, class after class. I kept that videotape for a number of years afterward as a reminder, and I used some of those skills.

Code like a Programmer

Another tweet, that I can’t lay my mouse on right now, noted the new Canadian law school is planning a mandatory coding bootcamp (p5) as part of the curriculum. I can see the attraction, and I know a lot of the people who I’ve met in relation to law practice would enjoy a course in coding.

Think

The more I thought about advice to speakers on legal tech, the more I realized how generic my input would be. It’s like legal research. Or trial advocacy. Or coding. There’s no magic.

What makes a good lawyer?

“A good lawyer is one who can see both sides of an argument,” administrative attorney Lindsay Garroway said. Open-mindedness can solve your conflict with your roommate too. Lawyers must argue for their clients whether they agree with them or not. Being able to competently argue for both sides requires a deep understanding of the other person’s position; and even if you end up agreeing to disagree, an expression of empathy for the other side’s perspective can save you and your roommate’s relationship.

How to convince the other side of a case?

Lawyers can’t become emotionally attached to every case. They must rely on logic and reason to convince the other side. In any heated argument, instead of focusing on your anger, stay calm and use your head. Stick to the facts and if you’re correct, you’ll come out on top. If you’re wrong, at least you’ll be the better person for not resorting to vitriol.

How to avoid the straw man?

(via giphy.com) One of the most common fallacies in argument, making a “straw man” is when you inaccurately represent your opponent’s point. By refuting the straw man you can create the illusion that you’re right, even if you’re not.

What happens if you show up to court without your briefcase?

If you show up to court without your briefcase full of research, you’re bound to lose. Likewise, if you start up an argument and have no legitimate facts to back up your claim, you’ll end up looking like an amateur.

1. Get organized

Try to create a clear, comprehensive story of your situation. For example, if it’s an event-related incident (e.g. traffic ticket ), you should make sure you write down everything that took place, from start to finish, in chronological order. Create a folder of relevant legal documents. Get a contact list of the witnesses on the scene.

2. Be detailed

Seemingly frivolous details like the weather may, at first, seem dismissible. But in the eyes of the law, every detail matters; every variable has the potential to help your case.

3. Be honest

Plain and simple: Don’t lie. Remember that you and your lawyer are on the same team. Your lawyer cannot share confidential information with anyone unless you give them permission to do so. When you start omitting relevant facts or adding fictitious information to your story, it’ll only hurt you in the end.

4. Ask to clarify

If you find yourself confused by all the legal jargon you hear, that’s okay. The law can get confusing, and this is not the time to guess at meanings or pretend to understand legalese. Just let your lawyer know, and they should do their best to explain things in layman’s terms.

5. Keep them informed

Things are bound to change. And when they do, it’s imperative to update your lawyer. Each small detail or development can dramatically change your legal situation—for better or for worse. Some legal situations may take a longer time to resolve so it’s best to keep in contact with your lawyer as new relevant updates pop up.

How do lawyers stay calm?

Lawyers stay calm and stick with the facts. When it comes to arguments or negotiations, emotion is weakness. Even if lawyers are provoked, or are emotionally connected with a particular subject, they do not allow their opponent to use it to their advantage.

Why is it so difficult to present a convincing argument?

Emotion makes it difficult for us to present a convincing argument. Negative displays of body language such as yelling, crying, sighing, eye rolling or name-calling is a waste of the mental energy required to win your argument . It fortifies your opponent’s psychological and emotional defences meaning that from this point, no matter how persuasive you are, you have already lost the battle.

What happens when you challenge someone's views?

A strong emotional response to someone challenging these views leaves us not only vulnerable to feelings of personal attack, but also not thinking clearly. This can lead to anger, resentfulness, jealousy, defensiveness or distress.

What do you want from a divorce lawyer?

Some people want a divorce lawyer who is compassionate, someone who can show empathy and support. Others want their divorce lawyer to be a bulldog. Some people expect their personal injury lawyer to be aggressive; some want their immigration attorney to be kind. Different people want different types of lawyers. In your first meeting with clients, feel them out. Or directly ask them what they expect from you. That way you can adjust your communication to meet their needs. If you don’t want to adjust your pitch, volume, or tone for your clients, then recognize that you may need to tailor your marketing strategy to attract people who want a lawyer who sounds just like you.

What does it mean when your voice is creaky?

Vocal fry — also known as “creaky voice,” “glottal scrape” or “the way a Kardashian speaks” — happens when your vocal folds close together completely (compared to regular speaking where that doesn’t happen). The result is a jittery or sizzling sound. Women are much more likely to use a creaky voice. Those who do run the risk of seeming less educated, competent, or trustworthy than those who don’t. About 83 to 86 percent of people prefer a normal voice to one with vocal fry.

Do lawyers use sound?

For the most part, lawyers are pretty mindful of the words they use and try to avoid lawyer speak. They want to give their clients the right information, not mislead them and be helpful. Getting this right takes practice. Sounding right also takes practice. It’s worth taking the time to work on how you sound.