As far as careers go, being a lawyer is one which can offer you respect, authority, a good wage and most importantly, a stable and long career. Not everyone has what it takes to become a lawyer however and there are many years of studying and working extremely hard to gain the position.
It is important to remember that a lawyer is very different from the justice seekers that you see on the television, the job is in fact not quite as exciting as it looks. Be this as it may, being a lawyer is a fantastic career choice and we spoke to the guys at Pottroff & Karlin, to find out a little more about what skills you will need, if being a lawyer is something that you would like to pursue as a career choice.
Persuasiveness
Whilst being a lawyer is not exactly like you see in the movies, there will always be arguments that the lawyer will need to win throughout their case. In order to win these arguments either with the judge or the jury, a lawyer must have a naturally persuasive manner. Being persuasive is about the way in which you say things, the way that you move your body when you speak and your ability to perceive the other side of the argument, and register a counter before it arrives. If you want to be a lawyer, you must be able to persuade.
Hard Working
Hard working is a characteristic which you could attach to many professions but when it comes to working as a lawyer, you simply will not survive without the skill. This hard work will begin right from the early days of your education, and from then it really never stops. Your studies will require long hours and so too will the job itself. If you are not prepared to work hard for a career in law, then it is likely that you will not succeed.
Team Player
As aforementioned, being a lawyer is not about seeking justice on your own, legal cases are worked on by a range of legal professionals from attorneys to paralegals and you will be required to work within the team, in a variety of positions. In order to be a successful lawyer you will need to be able to play any of these roles, depending on what the case is.
Ability to Process
As both a law student and a lawyer, you will be required to process and store large amounts of information about the law itself, and previous cases. This means that you’ll have to be able show analytical skills when reading through large chunks of information, and pick out the key details. You will also need to have the ability to recall such information when it is relevant. Whilst you can practice this kind of skill, if you don’t have it, you’ll have to work exceptionally hard to attain it.
Do you have what it takes to be a lawyer?