Desirable Skills for an Attorney to Develop
Legal hiring demand and salary growth has grown at a slow, steady rate in recent years, but if you believe that your current legal skillset is or would not be competitive enough in today’s law job market, then you may want to consider developing and potentially expanding your overall skill portfolio. More than ever, private law firms and in-house legal departments are beginning to value attorneys who have a breadth of talents — not simply depth.
Develop Fluency in a High-Demand Language
A number of firms — particularly those working with global clients and with projects requiring global engagement — show preference to those job seekers who are multilingual. Developing fluency in a high-demand foreign language (i.e., Mandarin, Spanish, French, etc.) can strengthen your application and may even lead to deeper opportunities with the firm abroad. An attorney who is capable of communicating in a client’s own language is a significant asset from a “client-development” perspective.
Familiarize Yourself With Legal Support Software
Most law firms and in-house legal departments utilize a range of legal support software, to the point where the presence of such software has become ubiquitous. Legal support software varies depending on your practice area and industry, of course. For example, if you are in litigation, you will likely encounter e-discovery and litigation support software. On the other hand, if you work as a transactional attorney, you will likely encounter document management software.
Don’t just familiarize yourself with legal support software — make an attempt to master the software. Attorneys who stay on the leading edge of technology will have a distinct advantage when transitioning to a firm or in-house legal department that heavily invests in legal support software.
Cultivate a Network of Relationships
Attorneys can greatly increase their market value by developing the skills necessary to cultivate strong interpersonal networks. A strong network of relationships — with colleagues, industry experts, clients, and other stakeholders — will continue to benefit you even after a job transition. By ensuring that your engagement with these stakeholders is positive and memorable, you may be able to summon the value of such connections at a later date.
Of course, networking skills are directly valuable for attorneys looking for new job prospects. An existing relationship can help get your foot in the door at a law firm or in-house legal department where your resumé might not otherwise be considered. Alternatively, you can get your foot in the door by working with a legal recruiter, such as Garb Jaffe & Associates. Skilled legal recruiters have cultivated powerful networks and relationships that are utilized for the benefit of the attorney job seeker.
Hard Science Backgrounds Are Valuable
If you are an attorney with an educational background in a STEM subject — Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math — then you’re in luck! Aside from the value of a hard science background for certain areas of intellectual property law, many firms and in-house legal departments working in highly technical industries are beginning to recognize the value of having attorneys who are more capable of relating to clients and stakeholders in the target industry.
Assuming you have the existing hard science background, make sure to keep apprised of both technical and business developments in your studied field. If you are to engage with industry stakeholders, your background should not simply be a bullet point of past education, but should remain a matter of continuing interest and passion.
—
As an attorney, you should always look to improve and expand your skill portfolio, particularly if you intend to make a job transition in the near future. Stagnation is equivalent to decline in today’s competitive legal market.
If you’re an attorney dissatisfied with your current job and looking for a new position, speak with a Bay Area legal recruiter at Garb Jaffe & Associates. We have extensive experience placing attorneys with prestigious law firms and large corporations located across California, and will advise throughout the recruitment process so that you can secure an ideal placement.
Call us today at (310) 207-0727 for a free consultation.