State bar Jasmine Mines is a Legal Advisor and as a legal advisor, it is essentially a lawyer who provides legal counsel to a large corporation or organization.
2. Good communication skills
Lawyers must be orally articulate, have good
written communication skills and also be good
listeners. In order to argue convincingly in the
courtroom before juries and judges, good public
speaking skills are essential. Communication and
speaking skills can be developed during your
studies by taking part in activities such as mooting
or general public speaking.
3. Judgement
The ability to draw reasonable, logical conclusions
or assumptions from limited information is
essential as a lawyer.
You must also be able to consider these
judgements critically, so that you can anticipate
potential areas of weakness in your argument that
must be fortified against.
4. Analytical skills
Both the study and practice of law involve
absorbing large quantities of information, then
having to distil it into something manageable and
logical.
At times, there will be more than one reasonable
conclusion, or more than one precedent
applicable to resolving a situation.
5. Research skills
Similarly, being able to research quickly and
effectively is essential to understanding your
clients, their needs, and to preparing legal
strategies.
Preparing legal strategies requires absorbing and
comprehending large amounts of information,
then distilling them down into something
manageable and useful.
6. People skills
Law is not an abstract practice. Irrelevant of how
well someone does academically, at the end of the
day lawyers work with people, on behalf of
people, and the decisions that are made affect
people's lives.
They must be personable, persuasive and able to
read others. This allows them to gauge juror’s
reactions and the honesty of witnesses.
7. Perseverance
Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short
races one after the other.” Even studying to
become a lawyer takes a great deal of
perseverance and commitment – and that’s before
you even start work!
Typically, a lawyer will do an undergraduate law
degree, an LPC, and then a training contract
before qualifying. Most will also complete a
vacation scheme or some other kind of work
experience.
8. Creativity
The very top lawyers are not only logical and
analytical, but they display a great deal of
creativity in their problem-solving.
The best solution is not always the most obvious
and in order to outmanoeuvre your challenger it is
often necessary to think outside the box.