what makes a great attorney

by Dr. Guy Robel 10 min read

What does it take to be a good attorney?

Apr 19, 2011 · Attorney-Lawyer, General Legal Advice A virtuous attorney is made up of many parts. He is personable, poised and articulate. He is also punctual, organized and always prepared. Our lawyers exemplify all these traits and many more. However, we feel that three of our virtues stand out above the rest. They are experience, ethics and integrity.

What are the qualities of a good attorney?

Aug 31, 2021 · What Makes A Great Attorney Biography? YEC. ... and a good case study/scenario is an excellent start to building trust. ... Include All …

What are the signs of a good lawyer?

What Makes A Good Lawyer The Must-Have's. Before you go one step further, make sure the attorney is in good standing with their licensing... Communication. In our experience, this is always at the top of the list. Most people don't have an open legal matter... Listening Skills. Yes, we all need to ...

What kind of Attorney makes the most money?

Nov 29, 2016 · Some of the necessary skills for lawyers include: The ability to communicate. This includes both written and public speaking communications skills as well as the ability... People skills are generally a necessity for any attorney—while a great academic record is impressive, at the end of the... ...

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What makes a good lawyer?

But the truth is, the traits that transform a good lawyer into a great lawyer may not be the ones you think. Here are five traits that make a lawyer — or any person — stand above the rest. Cultivating these traits provides the opportunity to really understand the issues and offer effective solutions. 1. Compassion: One of the Many Qualities of ...

What is the best way to be a lawyer?

Without it, you cannot provide the best solutions. 2. Ability to Listen. Effective communication skills are essential to good lawyering.

What is compassionate lawyer?

The compassionate lawyer focuses on how others feel and is accepting of their perspective, whether or not he ultimately agrees with it. Compassion is the foundation for good people skills. Without compassion, you cannot put yourself in your client’s shoes or fully understand the issues your client faces.

What are the skills required to become a lawyer?

2. Ability to Listen. Effective communication skills are essential to good lawyering. One of the most important aspects of communication is listening. Of course, what we say, how we say it and when we say it are important. But we can only do it right if we listen first.

Is assertiveness an aggressiveness?

Assertiveness, Not Aggressiveness. I often hear people say, “She’s not aggressive enough to be an effective lawyer.”. That’s not right. You don’t need to be aggressive — though you must be assertive. Assertive lawyers state their opinions and make themselves heard while remaining respectful of others.

How to find if an attorney is in good standing?

Generally speaking, attorneys can be researched online. Once you find their profile - usually searchable by name - check to see if they are in good standing. If the attorney you lookup has some past findings that have subsequently been resolved, you are still good.

How to tell if an attorney is not a good listener?

There is a lot of information that can be conveyed without words. Multi-tasking, not focused on what you are saying, interrupting continuously, etc. are signs that the attorney may not be a great listener. Now, that isn't a deal breaker. Just make sure you are comfortable with their level of attentiveness.

Do attorneys practice law?

Yes, the attorney practices law (likely) every day. They are used to the process. But for you, it may be the first time. Decide what level of empathy you need. If it isn't a big deal to you, then take it off your list. But if it is, you need to get some feel for their level.

Is an experienced attorney the most expensive?

Experience. The most experienced and successful attorneys are likely also the most expensive. There is a good reason for that. But, not all matters need that level of experience. So, depending on how complicated your matter is, a less experienced attorney is a great option.

Do attorneys have online reviews?

Some attorneys have online review sites, but remember to take those with a grain of salt. As we all know, most people only post if they have had a negative experience. And there are always two sides to the story. But look for multiple comments on the same topic and you can give those a bit more credibility.

What Do Clients Really Want from Their Attorney?

In a Bloomberg article regarding what lawyers put in their online bios versus what clients really want, the seven things clients listed as being most important to them included:

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Who is the personification of the law?

In ancient Greece, Nomos was the personification of the law. We believe that lawyers are the modern day embodiment of that ideal. Our mission is to make the law more human by focusing on character rather than superficial superlatives.

What is self management in law?

Self-management is the ability to manage your time, stress, finances and relationships. As anyone who has practiced law can tell you, self-management is not easy. Lawyers are forced to juggle the needs of their clients, the availability of opposing counsel, court dates, filing deadlines, student loan payments, family obligations and about a million other things that unexpectedly fall into their laps day after day.

Is empathy difficult for clients?

Practicing empathy for clients is difficult. Empathy requires you to step into your client’s shoes to understand their perspective. Empathy also requires you to think beyond your own concerns, wants and needs.

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Compassion: One of The Many Qualities of A Lawyer

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Compassion is an emotional response whereby one perceives another’s problem and authentically, genuinely wants to help resolve the problem. This is part of what lawyers do: People come to us with their problems, or to avoid future problems, and we help resolve or avoid the issues, whichever the case may be. If you practic…
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Ability to Listen

  • Effective communication skills are essential to good lawyering. One of the most important aspects of communication is listening. Of course, what we say, how we say it and when we say it are important. But we can only do it right if we listen first. Listen to your clients. Listen to your adversaries, your colleagues and the judges. As lawyers, we must take in much information, anal…
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Assertiveness, Not Aggressiveness

  • I often hear people say, “She’s not aggressive enough to be an effective lawyer.” That’s not right. You don’t need to be aggressive — though you must be assertive. Assertive lawyers state their opinions and make themselves heard while remaining respectful of others. Aggressive lawyers attack or ignore others’ opinions in favor of their own. Much like those who lack compassion, ov…
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Creativity

  • We need to be creative to find real solutions to the issues our clients face. Each matter is unique; each client must be handled differently, and each solution carefully crafted. While on the whole we lawyers are a rather risk-averse group, we must learn to think outside the box. The best way to create unique solutions is to approach each situation with compassionate listening, which enabl…
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Perseverance

  • Success is achieved with perseverance. We must keep working, keep trying and keep going. We must be able to walk away when things are not working, take a break and come back fresh and ready to “fight,” negotiate, or whatever the matter requires. Now go out there and be one of those great lawyers! Illustration ©iStockPhoto.com. Updated from a post that originally appeared in A…
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