Solicitors should be:
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Responsible and trustworthy as they are often entrusted with very confidential information and with clients’ funds.
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Able to think clearly, get to the root of a problem and quickly recognise what is important as well as being able to express themselves accurately and clearly in writing and in speech.
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Able to deal with several matters at once. There will be deadlines to meet, telephone calls to answer and clients arriving in the office unexpectedly.
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Able to think quickly and clearly to answer, for example, points being raised by the opposing solicitor or the judge in court.
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Interested in people as those who come to them will often have problems and difficulties. Clients may be under great stress and solicitors have to listen patiently and bring matters to a sympathetic conclusion. They need a wide range of knowledge and understanding of people.
Do I need any additional skills?
In addition to legal knowledge, you must remember that a solicitor in private practice is essentially self-employed and faces responsibilities attached to running a business. It will be helpful in dealing with matters such as staff, premises, accounts, equipment and office systems if you are a good manager. In very large firms of solicitors there is often an office manager or a managing partner, but for most solicitors the responsibility of managing the practice and ensuring it complies with Law Society rules falls on their own shoulders.
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