7 Skills You Need to Become a Legal Consultant
Legal consultant may not be a typical career title, but it’s an occupation that’s becoming more and more popular. Legal consultants have a background in law and work closely with their clients to provide them with guidance. We asked some legal professionals what skills are necessary for this occupation, and how you might be able to gain these skills. Here are some of the answers that they gave us:
It’s all about communication
According to many of the legal consultants we spoke to, the most important skill to have is the ability to communicate. This means not only being able to understand what your client wants, but also being able to explain things so that they easily understand. You may be trying to explain a complex legal issue, or you may just have an interesting story and need someone to empathize with you. Good communication skills are necessary in both situations.
Teamwork is a must
Legal consultants are not only working with clients, but with other staff as well. You’ll find yourself coordinating issues from different departments and watching the client’s needs, schedule, and deadlines come together. To be able to do this well you need to have excellent communication skills and the ability to work well with others in a team.
You can show value
Another important skill that legal representatives need is the ability to show value in their work. Lawyers are often paid an hourly rate or on a project basis, so you won’t be getting a lot of money up front. The legal professional we spoke to said you should make yourself available to the client, and that you should tell them how much time it’ll take to complete their case, but also show them what value your services bring.
You need specialized skills
Legal consultants need very specific skills that they can practice in—specifically experienced in the legal field. You’re not going to make a lot of money as a legal consultant through your hourly rate, so you’re going to have to produce results for the client. This can mean working on a case even after hours, or finding alternate routes to solve their problem.
You need to be a good writer
Legal consultants have to be able to write well. You may find yourself writing legal contracts and documents, court recommendations, or even book reviews. You need to be able to express your thoughts concisely and clearly, as well as understand other’s writings as you read through their work.
You need a great memory
Being able to use memory techniques is going to help you when it comes time to learn new information. Learning new information and knowing how to remember important details is always a good skill. This can be helpful when writing a report or talking to your client.
You need excellent time management skills
Next, legal consultants have to be very good at managing time. You may find yourself working on different cases during different times of the day, or even late into the night. You’ll also have to manage your time so that you aren’t getting behind on deadlines and have plenty of time for writing up reports.
