Rechtsanwalt help their clients with a variety of issues. Their duties include advising clients, representing them in court and preparing legal documents. They also follow a set of ethical rules.
The exact terminology varies from country to country, but lawyers are generally known as Attorney or Counsel. Some may use a suffix like Esq, J.D or M.A.
Legal Research
Legal research is a critical aspect of any lawyer’s job. Attorneys spend much of their time navigating through the various research methods available to them, and many dedicate entire law school courses and books to the process.
The goal of legal research is to find laws and information that apply to a case’s facts and support legal decision-making. This can include searching for primary sources of law (cases, statutes, and regulations) and secondary sources of law such as legal dictionaries, treatises, and law reviews.
A legal researcher can also use a variety of tools to streamline their search processes, including a research platform like LexisNexis and software that can identify terms of art in a natural language search. This can save significant amounts of time and help ensure a thorough, accurate research project.
Writing
Legal writing requires clarity and simplicity. Lawyers who struggle with drafting can benefit from learning the tricks of the trade to make their writing less confusing for their colleagues.
It is also important for lawyers to understand that they should write for topics rather than keywords. This will allow them to create content that speaks directly to the client persona and helps improve search engine optimization.
A lawyer should be wary of becoming a writer, however, because this could potentially expose her to violating Rules 1.6 on client confidentiality and Rules 1.7 and 1.8(d) on conflicts of interest. Instead, she should find other ways to engage her creativity without risking her reputation.
Communication
Communication between lawyers and clients is a key component of the legal process. It should be clear, concise, and valuable to the client. Lawyers should avoid using legal jargon and industry speak, as this can make their clients feel confused and unconnected.
In addition, it is important for lawyers to return phone calls within a reasonable time frame. If a lawyer is not available to take a call, it is helpful for them to have another employee or partner in their firm call the client back and acknowledge receipt of the message.
Secure, cloud-based software like Clio allows firms to effectively communicate with their clients and keep them up-to-date on their cases. This helps create great client experiences, which generate more business and referrals.
Organization
Lawyers need to be organized in order to manage workloads, stay on top of deadlines, and increase efficiency. Being organized also helps lawyers build a positive reputation among peers by demonstrating their reliability and work ethic.
Organizing client files is a key aspect of the legal profession, especially for solo attorneys who may need to maintain paper and digital file organization systems. Using a consistent folder organizational structure can help you find information quickly and avoid duplicate work.
Getting involved in professional organizations can open up new career opportunities for lawyers and provide valuable resources for their practice. For example, joining a trade association that aligns with your clients’ industries can help you develop deeper understanding of their circumstances and better serve them as a lawyer.
Attention to Detail
A lawyer’s ability to notice even the slightest inconsistencies or omissions within large documents and articles is a necessary skill for this career. A single word or punctuation mark out of place can change the meaning of a clause or contract.
This is a skill that lawyers are taught early on and throughout their careers. The best attorneys are always able to find holes in their opponents’ cases and compile foolproof arguments for their clients.
Hone your attention to detail by reading extensively and documenting everything you read. Consider volunteering to proofread student publications or working in customer service roles to improve your focus and organizational skills.
Time Management
Attorneys often feel as though there just aren’t enough hours in the day. While working late from time to time is unavoidable, there are ways that lawyers can improve their efficiency and make a better impact on clients.
For example, setting ‘do not disturb’ work hours can help eliminate distractions and keep productivity up. Also, focusing on more important matters during peak energy periods and handling less demanding tasks at other times can increase productivity.
Lastly, legal practice management software can help attorneys and staff stay organized. This includes tracking billable hours, maintaining calendars and case files and providing instance access to documents.
