What Makes a Good Lawyer: Five Essential Traits

What makes a great lawyer? Is it intelligence, good people skills, effective writing? Five traits that make a lawyer stand above the rest.

What makes a great lawyer? Is it intelligence, good people skills, effective writing? Of course, we must have a certain level of intelligence and motivation, along with experience and opportunities. Attending law school is a crucial step for aspiring lawyers. Acquiring strong legal knowledge is essential for effective legal practice. 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 Successful Lawyers

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 practice business law, tax law or in any area that is not particularly “emotional,” you may not think that compassion is important to your practice. But it is. The compassionate lawyer focuses on how others feel and is accepting of their perspective, whether or not he ultimately agrees with it. Successful attorneys use compassion to effectively understand and resolve client issues.

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. Without compassion, you cannot understand your adversary’s position, anticipate what she will do, and take pre-emptive steps to benefit your client. Without it, you cannot provide the best solutions.

2. Ability to Listen: Essential Communication Skills

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, analyze and synthesize it, and exercise good judgment to provide advice to our clients. It starts with listening. Practicing law presents numerous challenges and rewards, making it a demanding yet fulfilling career for those who excel.

3. Assertiveness, Not Aggressiveness: Key to Effective Legal Practice

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, overly aggressive lawyers cannot understand another’s position when it varies from their client’s position. That makes them ineffective at understanding the problem and thus incapable of providing an effective solution. Even more detrimental, overly aggressive lawyers act without respect for others. This damages interpersonal relationships, ultimately leading to an uncooperative environment that makes resolution or agreement impossible. A successful lawyer balances assertiveness with respect for others, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.

4. Creativity in Complex Cases

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 enables you to really understand the issues and what the client and the adversary need. That level of understanding can lead to long-lasting solutions that work for all interested parties. Stalemates often arise when opposing counsel fails to approach the matter with compassionate listening and, instead, becomes unnecessarily aggressive. Don’t be that deal-breaker.

5. 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.

Here are five more additional traits to make you even greater!

Strong Technical Skills

In today’s fast-paced legal profession, strong technical skills are indispensable. A good lawyer must be adept at using legal software, research tools, and other technologies that streamline effective legal practice. Staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements is important for successful lawyers to remain competitive and efficient.

Technical skills enable lawyers to manage their workload efficiently, communicate effectively with clients, and produce well-reasoned legal documents. These skills can be honed through formal education, training, and hands-on experience. A good lawyer must be able to apply their technical skills practically to navigate the complexities of the legal system and provide high-quality services.

Strong technical skills are essential for building a solid reputation and fostering client loyalty. By leveraging technology, lawyers can enhance their communication skills, ensuring they deliver clear and concise information to clients and colleagues.

Continuous Learning and Adaptability

The legal profession is in a constant state of flux, making continuous learning and adaptability vital traits for successful lawyers. Staying current with changes in the law, technology, and industry trends is a must to remain competitive and provide effective legal services.

A good lawyer must be able to adapt to new situations, think critically, and solve complex problems. This adaptability not only helps in navigating the ever-changing legal landscape but also in building trust with clients and maintaining a strong reputation. Continuous learning can be achieved through formal education, training, CLE programs and practical experience.

By embracing continuous learning and adaptability, lawyers can stay ahead of the competition and effectively handle complex cases. These traits are important for providing innovative solutions and maintaining a successful legal career.

Effective Time Management and Organization

Effective time management and organization are cornerstones of a successful legal career. Lawyers often juggle multiple cases and deadlines. Prioritizing tasks and maintain high productivity levels is key. Good time management and organization skills enable lawyers to deliver high-quality services, build trust with clients, and uphold a strong reputation.

A good lawyer must balance work and personal life, which requires managing time effectively. These skills can be developed through practice, training, and experience. Utilizing technology and other tools can also aid in staying organized and managing time efficiently.

By mastering time management and organization, lawyers can reduce stress, increase productivity, and provide effective legal services. These skills are important for building strong client relationships and achieving long-term success in the legal profession.

Building Strong Client Relationships

Building strong client relationships is fundamental for successful lawyers. Effective communication, understanding client needs, and providing emotional support are key components of a good lawyer-client relationship. Trust, confidentiality, and high-quality services are the pillars that uphold these relationships.

Strong client relationships contribute to a lawyer’s reputation, increase client loyalty, and attract new clients. Lawyers can develop these relationships through empathy, effective communication, and a deep understanding of the client’s needs. Managing client expectations, providing regular updates, and maintaining open communication are essential practices.

In navigating complex cases, strong client relationships are invaluable. They enable lawyers to provide tailored legal services and maintain a successful legal career. Building and nurturing these relationships is critical for long-term success in the legal profession.

Professional Networking

Professional networking is a vital aspect of a successful legal career. Building relationships with other professionals, clients, and referral sources can significantly impact a lawyer’s success. Effective communication, trust-building, and maintaining a strong reputation are essential for networking.

A good lawyer must be adept at networking to build a robust professional network, increase client referrals, and stay updated with industry trends. Utilizing social media, attending industry events, and participating in professional organizations are effective strategies for networking.

Professional networking helps lawyers build strong relationships with opposing counsel, judges, and other legal professionals. It is critical for staying competitive, building a strong reputation, and maintaining a successful legal career. By investing in professional networking, lawyers can enhance their practice and achieve long-term success.

Now go out there and be one of those great lawyers!

Illustration ©iStockPhoto.com. Updated from a post that originally appeared in April 2018.