Law is a challenging profession, and to excel, aspiring lawyers must develop a core set of skills throughout their education. These skills form the foundation of effective legal practice and will support students as they progress into training contracts and future roles.
1. Strong communication
Verbal communication is essential. Without clear and confident speaking skills, it becomes difficult to carry out legal duties effectively. Succinct language helps build strong client relationships and builds trust. Many people struggle with confidence when speaking, but joining debate or public speaking societies at university can help develop these skills.
Written communication is equally important. Lawyers must write clearly and concisely when drafting legal documents, contracts and letters. Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors undermine credibility. Writing essays at school or university naturally strengthens your writing style, but contributing articles to a school paper, university law review, or even The Student Lawyer can help you refine fluency and accuracy.
2. Teamwork
Lawyers frequently work in teams, whether on transactions, disputes or client matters. Collaboration is fundamental to the profession. Getting involved in societies, committees, or sports teams at university provides valuable experience working with people with different strengths and approaches. This helps build confidence in group settings and demonstrates adaptability.
3. Research skills
Research is central to a lawyer’s daily work. Lawyers must research quickly and methodically to understand client needs and prepare legal strategies. Familiarising yourself with online legal databases such as Westlaw and Lexis Library while at university will significantly improve your research ability. Learning to locate, interpret, and apply information is essential to answering complex legal questions.
4. Creative problem solving
Clients’ problems do not always have obvious solutions. Lawyers must think creatively to identify the best possible outcome. Mooting competitions are an excellent way to develop this skill. Mooting simulates court hearings and requires participants to analyse legal issues, construct arguments and present them persuasively. It challenges students to think critically and creatively while also being enjoyable.
5. Time management and organisation
Lawyers often work under tight deadlines and must manage large volumes of work. Staying focused, staying organised, and creating structured plans help prioritise important tasks. Students can develop these skills through part-time work, volunteering, or extracurricular activities alongside their studies. Balancing multiple commitments builds discipline and resilience.
6. Commercial awareness
Commercial awareness is one of the most valuable skills for aspiring lawyers. It involves understanding current developments in local, national and global business news, particularly issues that affect law firms and their clients. As trusted advisors, lawyers must understand how clients’ businesses operate and how social, political, and economic changes may affect them.
There are many ways to improve commercial awareness. Reading publications such as the Financial Times, taking part in commercial awareness competitions, or gaining work experience at commercial organisations can all help. Podcasts such as FT News Briefing and Commercial Awareness with Watson’s Daily provide accessible daily insights. Many law firms, including Herbert Smith Freehills and Linklaters, also produce regular podcasts on thought-provoking topics. Commercial awareness is not acquired overnight and should be an ongoing part of professional development.
7. Perseverance
The legal profession is highly competitive, and securing a training contract can be challenging. Perseverance is essential. Students should not be discouraged by rejections. Seeking feedback, acting on it and improving applications over time will strengthen future performance. With determination and consistent effort, aspiring lawyers can achieve their goals.
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