Sharpen your legal toolkit with these 5 essential skills

The legal landscape has shifted. Think savvy clients. Legaltech innovations. Dynamic demographics. And holistic business solutions.

So to be a successful lawyer, you need to take charge – and change with the profession. To continually upskill and adapt as client needs become more sophisticated.

To prepare you for what’s next, we’re unpacking 5 essential skills. To help you navigate the year ahead – and deliver service excellence.

1. Collaborate and listen

Skilled lawyers are skilled collaborators.

From managing challenging clients and resolving complex disputes to cooperating with colleagues, the best lawyers are the ones who work together.

Throughout your career, you’ll need to collaborate to solve puzzling problems and achieve shared success. So sharpen those skills today to amplify your impact tomorrow.

The Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice model will equip you with team-based, holistic dispute-resolution strategies. It advocates for structured collaboration as an alternative to adversarial bargaining.

The art of collaboration is multifaceted: from overcoming roadblocks to managing conflict. And it’s a tool you’ll leverage time and again.

2. Draft coherent wills with confidence

With each passing year, more negligence claims are being brought against solicitors in relation to wills and will drafting. And over 50% of wills in Australia are contested.

So now, more than ever, it’s critical you follow a precise, methodical approach when taking instructions and drafting wills on behalf of your clients.

Gain the skills you need to draft accurate wills and minimise negligence claims.

Know how to tailor each will to your clients’ circumstances. And give them the peace of mind that you’ll execute their will – to the letter.

3. Design and drive business strategy

The legal industry is in the midst of a shake-up. Clients demand more, while legaltech continues to disrupt established processes and procedures.

As a result, law practices now need to operate more like high-functioning businesses.

Firms are enhancing their brand to stand out in a crowded market. They’re analysing their clients through market research – and using targeted tactics to build richer client relationships.

Gain an edge and build your business strategy foundations. And use your people skills, legal nous and commercial acumen to design and deliver your firm’s future success.

4. Draft clear commercial documents

Poorly-structured commercial documents aren’t only difficult to decipher. They can mislead your readers – and lead to costly errors.

As a result, drafting is one of the most important legal communication tools you can wield. To draft well is to think well – to communicate clearly with your clients, judicial officers and opposing parties.

So gain the skills to draft commercial documents that precisely state the legal issue, statements of the client and any remedies sought.

Whether you’re new to the legal profession or a seasoned professional, there’s always a new drafting tool in the lawyer’s toolkit to explore.

5. Mediate with grace and empathy

Mediation is an invaluable complementary skill – across almost all specialisations.

It’s especially vital in the areas of family law, wills and estates. Where relationships and the law intersect, the stress of the courtroom places a strain on interpersonal dynamics.

So you need to be equipped with the skills to handle those stressors when they arrive.

Compared to litigation, mediation is a quicker, cheaper and less stressful resolution process. It helps parties take control of the outcomes and avoid court.

If you’re looking to help your clients find a less adversarial resolution process, it’s time to add these practical strategies to your skill set.

Ready to retake control of your learning? Explore our full range of CPD courses to get ahead this year and invest in your professional development.