You may be proficient with the technical legal skills required for your job, but that is not enough to progress your career successfully. Unfortunately, we usually do not receive the most suitable soft skills training to develop the interpersonal and relationship-building skills that assist in communicating and collaborating effectively.

Solicitors need a repertoire of technical skills such as analytical and logical reasoning, legal research and knowledge of practical law and legal procedure etc. But, outside of these types of skills, what sets solicitors apart so that they are successful? The solicitor who is pleasant and takes time to answer your questions; the solicitor whose attitude is positive and upbeat, and who is always willing to help; the solicitor who has a great work ethic and encourages their colleagues. This is the solicitor who will, most likely, excel in their position and firm.

People skills

It is so important to focus as much on soft skills training and development as you do on traditional hard skills. People skills are more critical than ever as firms attempt to remain competitive and be productive. Teamwork, leadership, and communication are reinforced by soft skills development. Problem solving, delegating, motivating, and team building are all much easier if you have good soft skills. Knowing how to get along with people, and displaying a positive attitude, are crucial for success. Developing these skills is very important for both solicitors and their firms.

Problems

The problem is, the importance of these soft skills is often undervalued, and there is far less training provided for them than hard skills. Soft skills should complement the hard skills, and assist you to use your technical expertise to your full advantage. For some reason, we seem to expect ourselves and others to know how to behave on the job. It is accepted that everyone knows and understands the importance of being punctual, taking initiative, being friendly, and producing high-quality work. But, for example, what if you are really good at getting clients, and not so good at retaining them? Similarly, are there regular conflicts at work with personality clashes and warring egos? Well, chances are you could improve your soft skills.

Solutions

It is important for you to recognize the vital role soft skills play. Whenever you feel you cannot take advantage of your technical legal knowledge and experience, it is time to assess the level of communication and interpersonal skills you are using. The acts of listening, presenting ideas, resolving conflict, and fostering an open and honest work environment all come down to knowing how to build and maintain relationships with people.

It is not only important to work on developing these skills for yourself, but encourage their development within your team. The areas to examine, evaluate and develop include:

• Personal Accountability
• Interpersonal Negotiation Skills
• Conflict Resolution and Inclusion
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Communication and Collaboration
• Coaching and Mentoring

These soft skills all have a significant impact on the attitude you bring to your connections with clients, colleagues and managers. Your work ethic, your attitude, your communication skills, your emotional intelligence and a whole host of other personal attributes are the soft skills that will allow you to stand out from the crowd and are crucial for career success. Remember, the more positive your attitude is, the better your relationships will be.