Qualities of a Good Trial Lawyer
Listen and react – this is a quality needed in court and a great trial lawyer knows how to listen and react to the opposing party no matter what stage of a trial a surprise gets thrown up. This allows him or her to develop additional questions needed to take an opponents argument apart. He or she can lead a witness down a winding road without losing his/her footing taking the lawyer to the answer needed to be heard by the jury. And he or she should never miss a step when calling a witness back to make a telling statement or countering remark.
Another quality is also the willingness and eagerness to be creative as the courtroom drama unfolds. Never get stuck in a rut and try to be different in each trial is advice that many a good lawyer takes on board as every trial can be different This is vital since a trial lawyer must use persuasive arguments to win a case and this will often require innovation. A trial lawyer who has the ability to communicate in a clear and simple manner is also a big advantage to his/her client.
Passion: feel it, demonstrate it and live it in the courtroom. A good trial lawyer must be passionate about the cause and trial lawyers who are passionate about their cause and win big cases in the courtroom often come from humble backgrounds. Many grew up in poverty and experienced oppression and so they understand the pain of injustice and have the ability to convey this to a jury. If the client can connect with a trial lawyer’s passion, they will have a better chance of winning the case.
Experience is an important characteristic of a good trial lawyer, but it should not be the only one. As in most walks of life, those who continually seek to improve their craft are most likely to become successful. Taking cases to trial requires more time, but the results are usually better. Taking cases to trial requires courage and preparation.
A good criminal defense lawyer must be able to persuade a jury to believe their client’s side of the story with strong oral and written communication skills delivered with passion as the trial unfolds. Moreover, he/she must be able to communicate complex legal concepts in simple terms. Besides, he/she must be a good listener. Those who cannot do so will miss crucial details about the case.
Having a strong team behind him/her is also crucial. Having a large team of attorneys working for you can free up your time to focus on important aspects of the case. This team also helps you with administrative tasks and research, which can help the attorney focus on the most important work. A good attorney can help you get the maximum amount of compensation for your case without compromising on the quality of representation.
Denis Mackenzie