Trial Attorney: Do You Have What It Takes?
The role of a trial attorney is a demanding one. Trial attorneys must draw upon a specific set of skills and qualities to succeed, both in the office and in the courtroom.
In this blog, we explore several key attributes needed to succeed as a trial attorney. Review this list to see if you have what it takes to advance your legal career in this challenging profession.
Analytical Thinking
Analysis, planning, and strategizing: These are all hallmarks of how trial attorneys think.
From their initial conversation with a potential client, trial attorneys are thinking about the case: Its strengths, its pitfalls, what needs to be done to obtain the evidence necessary to navigate these, and what they can likely expect from the other side as they proceed.
If your train of thought lends itself to strategizing, planning, and analysis, you may do well as a trial attorney. If you love the challenge of analytical, strategic thinking that allows you to succeed, you may thrive in the role.
Persuasive Communication
From first steps to closing arguments, trial attorneys depend on strong persuasive communication skills. As a trial attorney, you’ll need to persuade more than just judges or juries. Trial attorneys also rely on persuasive speaking and writing skills to:
- Collect evidence during discovery,
- Get the most effective answers from witnesses during depositions,
- Negotiate results for their clients with opposing parties, their counsel, insurance companies, and other participants,
- Handle the unique demands of mediation and arbitration,
- Schedule court hearings and other deadlines at times most advantageous to their clients.
- Lay out their client’s strongest case at trial.
If you’re good at persuasive communication and you enjoy it, being a trial attorney might be the right fit for you.
Resilience Under Pressure
Remember the stress of law school exams? You had too little time to memorize as much information as possible, without knowing exactly which items you’d need on the exam. At exam time, you had to express as much of that information as you could in response to specific, often surprising questions – and then forget it immediately so you could move on to the next exam.
Preparing for trial is much like preparing for a law school exam. You’ll need command of your client’s entire case, without knowing exactly which parts you’ll be asked to address. You’ll need to stay calm and flexible under pressure, whether it’s from opposing counsel, a hot bench, or even your client.
If you enjoyed law school exams despite the pressure, you may thrive as a trial lawyer.
Start your search for a trial attorney role with the help of a specialized recruiter. Talk to the team at Avata Partners today!
