THESE are the attributes you really need to be a good lawyer - and it takes more than just academic success to shine in the courtroom.
That’s according to Dr Ian Johnson, a Senior Lecturer in Law at Liverpool Hope University’s expanded new Law School.
Dr Johnson is a highly experienced former Barrister who operated from chambers in Liverpool and London for more than two decades.
Dr Johnson says becoming a competent lawyer takes much more than just being qualified, because you need some vital character attributes, too - from having a curious mind and excellent people skills, to being able to take set-backs on the chin.
Dr Johnson says: “I’ve seen lots of students really excel in the classroom, only to ultimately fall short and struggle in the courtroom.
“And if you’re really going to succeed in what is a highly charged and highly competitive industry, you’ll need some robust character attributes to sit alongside your qualifications.”
Here Dr Johnson, who regularly sits as a judge on national university law competitions, provides some valuable insights for any students who might be considering a legal career:
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Take responsibility
Dr Johnson: “The first attribute of any good lawyer is a willingness to take responsibility for what it is they’re doing. And that responsibility needs to sit lightly on your shoulders. You’ll be responsible to a client, your senior partners in the firm you work for, or the senior members of Chambers if you’re a barrister. I always say to students that when I looked at CVs while I was at the Bar, I would always look to see examples of where applicants could demonstrate where they’d taken responsibility. It’s the thing that really stood out in my mind - particularly when I was looking at a swathe of applicants all with 2:1 class degrees, or firsts. Those positions of responsibility might be an elected member of the Students’ Union, President or team member of the Law Society, or a position of responsibility outside university. You should try and seek out those roles if you can.”
People skills
“As a lawyer, you’ve got to be able to relate to and understand people. You have to know what to say and how to say it, while keeping the people you’re talking to on your side. It’s something that really marks out a good lawyer. Again, I’d advise students that it’s not the most brilliant academics that make the best lawyers, it’s the people who can speak to their clients and manage their expectations. How do you acquire good people skills? For me it’s about immersing yourself in lots of different communities and getting yourself out of your comfort zone. It’s all well and good getting on well with your peers - you all share the same interests and can easily relate to one another. But can you converse with people outside that bubble, particularly older people? I think this is why voluntary Citizens Advice Bureau work is really good for intending lawyers to get involved with. Some Law Schools will also have law clinics for students to partake in. They’re both really useful in honing your people-handling skills.”
Curiosity
“You have to have an interest in getting to the answer - whether it’s solving a factual problem or a legal problem. You need the tenacity and the drive to get to that answer. And a big part of that is being curious about what makes people tick. You’ll also need good research skills to be able to delve into the law and come up with a well-reasoned response.”
Good language skills
“Language skills are really important, whether we’re talking about the written word or oral communication. You have to express yourself clearly, succinctly and accurately as a lawyer - you have to make yourself understood. And the way you explain things will be determined by who your client is. You need to adapt. Of course, confidence plays a part in good communication skills, but it’s more than just that. Students often ask me, ‘What books should I be reading in the summer before I start my law degree?’ My answer would be to go away and read one of the classic novels - Bleak House, for example, by Charles Dickens. It’s not a law book - but you’re reading something like Bleak House to see how sentences are constructed and how grammar and punctuation is used. As a lawyer, those skills are demanded of you. If you write a letter to a client with a number of grammatical errors in it… well, the client might reach the conclusion that you’re not fit to represent them. And remember that courts often need written skeleton arguments in advance of you actually saying it.”
Resilience, perseverance and patience
“These are all similar types of words, but they all mean slightly different things, and you’ll need all three in your armoury if you’re going to be a good lawyer. You will receive knockbacks in the course of your career as a lawyer, and it’s all about how you recover from them. You’ll also need patience and perseverance in applying for positions because the law is so competitive. In your first few years, you really need to keep your head down, dodge the brickbats, and get on with it - endure. Some people will think your performance in one case is sub-optimal, but you have to carry on and put things right in the next case without being too concerned about how other people think about you. In short, you need a thick skin as a lawyer.”
Good analytical skills
“You need the ability to deconstruct problems that your client has and to look at each aspect separately. You’re analysing the problem in the same way a scientist might in order to find a solution. Good research skills are also important here. Do you have the ability to delve down and see the difference between one subtle point in law and another? That skill is essential for a good lawyer. Then, from this, you need to be able to construct good arguments supported by reasoning. Working under pressure is something all lawyers will face. You might end up working into the early hours of the morning to get something done for a client or to prepare a case for the next day. It’s the reality of life as a lawyer and you need to have a certain level of commitment to your duties.”
Good judgement
“To make the right judgement at the right time is a wonderful skill to have. It’s all about risk analysis - what is the risk of being unsuccessful in this litigation? And what are the alternatives to litigation? Can you judge which is the best course to take for your client?”
Moral and ethical considerations
“There are professional conduct rules that you have to abide by, and which can be enforced against you. There are obligations to the court and to the administration of justice which are paramount, and sit higher than the obligations to your client. At the Bar, there’s something called the ‘Cab Rank Rule’. It means that if you practice in a certain area of law as a Barrister and a case comes in, you’ve got an obligation to take it unless you’re otherwise booked. If you refuse it, a complaint can be made against you. I knew one Barrister, for example, who defended a client in an extremely high–profile murder case, which saw him being sent death threats. He had to take that brief whatever his views were. That client needed representation and it was his professional duty to take the case - and do the best he possibly could. You can’t allow your personal view to impact your professional performance. Solicitors, on the other hand, are not under the same obligation. They can refuse work on a moral or ethical basis.”
