You’ve graduated from law school and passed your bar exam! Congratulations! You’re off to a great start to becoming the best lawyer you can be.
There are a few more things that you need to have that you can’t learn in school, like the importance of integrity and empathy. You’ll need to be able to communicate with your clients to defend them in court.
It’s always a good idea to stay up to date with your education, and you’ll need to know how to show some compassion.
Want to learn more about how to be a good lawyer? We’ve got a list of attorney characteristics that you’ll need to have. Let’s delve in!
Table of Contents
Weigh Your Career Options
There are a ton of different types of attorneys. You can stick to general law, or you can specialize.
You can work with families and divorce cases. You can tackle personal injury lawsuits and more.
Most people choose what area of expertise they want to go into while they’re still in school. If you don’t know what direction you want to go in, sit down and do your research. A quick Google search will give you a list of specialization options.
Build a Professional Network
Becoming a lawyer is a difficult path that you don’t have to do all on your own. Build a professional network full of people to help you.
These individuals can back up your skills and promote your expertise. Their word will do wonders for attracting new clients.
There are a variety of places where you can meet people to add to your network. Your professors and peers you met in college are a great start.
You can also introduce yourself to new people at social organizations. The internet is a great place to find professionals in your field that can become your mentors.
Work on Your Communication Skills
As a lawyer, you’re going to need to have great verbal and written communication skills. You’re going to be talking to more than your clients.
You have to be able to present cases to the court in a clear way. If there’s any room for interpretation, things might not end well for your client.
You also have to arrange your notes in a way that you can understand them. These labels can help, but you’ve got to put in some effort as well.
The best way to develop these skills is by taking English and public speaking classes while you’re in college.
Continue Learning
It’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. The law field is always evolving. That means there’s always something new that you can learn about it.
If you don’t stay up to date on the latest regulations, it will be hard for you to handle newer cases. Don’t let yourself fall behind!
Have Some Integrity
Integrity is one of the most crucial lawyer qualities that you can have. A good attorney is honest in and out of the courtroom.
The law is there for a reason. It’s for you to follow. By sticking to a code of ethics, you make yourself more attractive to potential clients. Your colleagues will gain respect for you as well.
Be Innovative
You’re going to see some pretty out-there cases. For most of them, there are multiple ways you can tackle them and represent your client.
Sometimes it takes a little innovation. Find a creative solution that can save the day.
When you’re innovative, you can find the most cost-effective way to represent your clients too. It’s something that they’ll appreciate.
Stay Persistent
There will come a time when you stumble upon a difficult case. No matter how much you beat your head against the wall, you just can’t find a good solution to your client’s problem.
During these challenging cases, it’s important that you’re persistent. Stick with it until you’ve weighed all your options.
If you can’t get the results your client wants, you can at least tell them that you tried everything.
Have a Passion for the Job
In the case of most careers, it’s important that you have a passion for it. You shouldn’t only go to law school because the pay is good.
Loving the work you do will make you better at it. There are plenty of ways you can invest yourself in your field.
The main ones are to choose a specialization that interests you and to make sure you give yourself a good work-life balance.
Show Some Compassion
For you to represent a client and gather evidence to tackle their case, they’re going to have to tell you a lot about themselves and their situation.
Many of them will come to you feeling their absolute lowest. You’ll need to be real with them (if there’s no way to win their case, don’t give them false hope), but you should do it in a way that’s empathetic.
Being compassionate and having a good relationship with your client will help the case go smoother. It will also fill you with a sense of self-satisfaction.
How to Be a Good Lawyer and Be Successful
Are you trying to learn how to be a good lawyer? As you can see, it’s not enough to go to law school. There are certain traits that you’ve got to have.
By showing empathy, having a passion for your job, and choosing the right field to specialize in, you’ll bring a ton of new clients through your doors.
For more tips that will help you develop your law career, visit the Business section of our blog.
