The main task of the lawyer is limited to the defense of the client before the courts; the fact is that not all members of a firm are often involved in courtrooms. Various reasons such as specialty lawyer, the internal organization of the firm or even lack of skills warrant.
In fact, an important segment tends to evade such intervention. However, work in the Forum is essential to the lawyer, since the Act of judgment, regardless of the court order, is the highlight for the defense of the case and the place in which, against the adversary, will have to deploy all the skills that make up profession.
With these backgrounds, in this post we will examine some of the qualities should adorn the trial lawyer or litigant.
The trial lawyer must be, above all, scholar. The defense of the matter always requires knowledge of the rules, doctrine and jurisprudence applicable to the case, since during the report or conclusions you should properly reason your request. If it is he who has brought the matter from the beginning, it is obvious that his pre-trial study will be more settled and require less effort, but if history come from another partner, must submit, prior to trial, a thorough study of the subject.
Being organized is also an essential skill. Knowing well in advance the date of intervention, the trial attorney must be organized carefully to prepare the two main phases of the trial: taking of evidence and conclusions. To do this, you must know how to handle criteria of organization and time management by establishing the temporary milestones for the case preparation. There is nothing more disastrous for a lawyer to prepare a trial the day before the hearing, unless, of course, in cases where the circumstances have not allowed the preparation.
Linked to the foregoing is the constancy and discipline. Consistency is the virtue that leads to that, once taken concrete decision or determination is carried out as necessary to achieve the goals although external or internal difficulties arise or decrease personal motivation, thanks to a continued effort to take action to overcome the difficulties. Without discipline it is difficult the preparation of a trial, especially when, as we have seen it is essential for well-run study and preparation well managed the case, and there is no doubt that during its preparation difficulties will arise and adversities such as for example the unforeseen or the accumulation of timely work.
The trial lawyer will never leave anything to chance. Every judgment requires the determination of clear strategy to follow; preparing interrogations, both of witnesses and those of the opposing party, and report preparation. Absolutely everything must be measured and predicted. Surprises, the minimum.
Related to this is the ability to concentrate. In courtrooms, the lawyer must know the “topography of the room” and be constantly alert and focused in everything that happens to him about not losing sight of any detail that could help his defense. Precisely, ingenuity and resilience will be keys in trial.
Lawyers must be great communicators: They are eloquent, imaginative and witty, which is essential since the Forum produces numerous situations in which lawyers must communicate effectively: interrogations, clarifications to the judge or the parties, the report. A lawyer in courtroom should aspire to be getting a better speaker. To do this, must improve not only public speaking skills, but also skills for the effective conduct of interrogations.
On courtroom, the lawyer must have poise and dignity and should not be displayed with air shrunk. Faintheartedness weakens the persuasive force of the report and, without diminishing the consideration and respect for the Court and parties; the forensic orator must keep in mind that is neither a superior nor a subordinate, such as speaker, but the speaker of an autonomous right, the defense of freedom.