No matter if you are looking for a lawyer to represent you, or looking to become a lawyer yourself, it is vital to know the qualities that are required to thrive in this extremely competitive and high-risk industry.
Here are some of the most important skills possessed by top lawyers in Glasgow who are recognised both nationally and internationally for their expertise.
Communication
Every single thing a lawyer does requires fantastic communication skills, from getting the most information from their clients and witnesses, to negotiating deals and presenting a powerful case in court.
Lawyers must constantly hone both their oral and written communication skills, after all there is much more paperwork involved in criminal cases than is shown in the movies.
They must be clear and concise with their speech, but also emotive and convincing as well as being able to alter their approach for different situations.
They will know exactly what approach is most likely to be successful with certain judges or to convince a jury.
They must also be fantastic listeners, taking on the information that they are given in an instant and interpreting it in the most useful possible way to help their client.
High pressure decision making
Lawyers, especially criminal lawyers, are often trusted with the very future of their clients and each decision that they make has huge potential implications.
Lawyers must possess the ability to make split second decisions, evaluating new information in an instant and drawing conclusions based on their experience and legal expertise.
They must also be able to notice and pounce upon any mistakes made by the opposing council and spot each and every potential weakness that exists in their arguments.
The best lawyers thrive in high-pressure situations and get the big calls right more often than not.
Evidence analysis
Most criminal cases have a huge amount of evidence attached, some will be useful, much will be largely irrelevant.
A lawyer must be able to identify the salient facts and utilise them to create the most compelling case possible on behalf of their client.
They must have the patience to go through mounds of paperwork and evidence and spot the needle in the haystack that just might tip the scales in their favour in terms of the outcome of the case.
Sometimes the evidence will be overwhelming, but often information can be interpreted in a number of different ways and it is the job of lawyer to use their evaluative skills to make sure they are in your favour.
People skills
Dealing with evidence is just a small part of what a lawyer does and they will spend the majority of their time dealing with people.
Lawyers make decisions that change the lives of people forever and must work closely with witnesses, clients, other lawyers, and experts frequently throughout their daily lives.
Being able to read people will give them key information on the mood of the jury and the confidence of their opposing counsel, and adapt their approach to a case based on what they see.
These are skills that can only be taught or learned to a certain extent and at the end of the day you’ve either got it or you don’t. The very best lawyers have it in abundance.
Adaptability
The legal process is not one straight road from accusation to court date, there are many twists, turns, and side-streets along the way and it is the job of a lawyer to be their clients satnav as they navigate this journey.
Lawyers must adapt their approach as they experience bumps along the way reacting the moves from the opposing counsel and thinking outside the box in an attempt to identify unique ways that they can assist their client.
Negotiating Skills
A criminal case is one long negotiation between parties and great negotiating skills will ensure that you are the one who comes out on top when the gavel finally falls.
In fact, the best lawyers rarely reach court anyway as they will often be able to settle, obtain a satisfactory plea agreement, or have the charges against their client dropped before the case gets that far.
It is essential, however, that they do have a good track record in court, as formidable courtroom opponents are more likely to get good out of court offers as the opposition looks to avoid facing them in an open battle.
Great negotiators have the scales tipped in their favour from the outset and are negotiating from a position of strength and this is exactly what experienced lawyers with years of successful cases behind them do on a daily basis.