Skills You Should Master To Advance Your Legal Career

SRS Insights is now On the Go - Click to play Digital Audio version.

Do you have the seven key skills to help you stand out from the competition?

Searching for a legal job in 2021? Employers today are pursuing applicants that possess specific skills. When describing their ideal job candidate, law firm hiring managers said that these seven skills were essential. Whether you are a recent law school graduate or a seasoned paralegal, these seven skills can help you stand out from the competition.

1. Organization:

The ability to prioritize and remain focused when faced with competing priorities is essential. Researching points of law, drafting legal documents, and managing case files can sometimes be a juggling act. That’s why organizational skills are so critical.

2. Research and analysis skills:

Reading large amounts of information, absorbing facts and figures, analyzing the content, and summarizing it into a manageable memorandum, is vital. You can practice honing this skill by summarizing lengthy news articles into five-point bulleted lists of the most important themes.

3. Project Management:

As of 2020, 15.7 million project-management positions have been created globally across different industries. By the end of 2020, there should be over 6.2 million project management jobs in the United States alone. Some competencies you need to possess are strong leadership, organizational expertise, budget and schedule management, and business management skills.

4. Ability to Communicate:

Strong oral and written communication skills are crucial. Grammar mistakes can quickly deter potential employers from even considering you for a position. Although you proofread your resume and cover letter, make sure you give it another check before you submit it with your application.

5. Problem-Solving Skills:

Skills like problem-solving show potential employers that you know how to approach real-life situations and develop practical solutions. Most importantly, be sure to include specific examples of your experience with problem-solving during your interview.

6. Technical proficiency:

A successful legal professional is comfortable with the Microsoft Office Suite as well as Google Workplace. You should be familiar with electronic filing software, eDiscovery, practice management, document automation, electronic billing, and client communications.

7. Team Player:

Finally, being a team player is key to furthering your legal career. The primary traits for a team player are patience, being a good listener, and articulating your clear and honest opinion. Moreover, employers want employees that can get along with different personalities and be an effective team participant.

Call us today at 888-366-6508 to learn how easy partnering with SRS can help you reach your career goals. For more than a decade, we have been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region. Furthermore, we specialize in Legal and IT recruiting. Finally, feel free to browse our Jobs and Career Listings to see a growing list of job opportunities.