Competencies for Successful Leadership as a Lawyer
Article by Herb Rubenstein
Introduction
Lawyers are often called upon to lead their clients, other lawyers, judges and juries, opposing counsel, opposing clients, professional organizations, and many other individuals and groups, often in very difficult, conflict-oriented situations. The full scope of all leadership competencies a lawyer would need to be a successful leader is far too large to document. This article lists some of the key leadership competencies necessary for lawyers to have to be successful leaders in our complex profession:
The competencies include:
1. Synthesize complex fact patterns
2. Active Listening
3. Expertness in Legal Reasoning
4. Analyze historical information embedded in case law
5. Construction and Analysis of Legal Codes and Legislative Intent(Technical Capability)
6. Persistence and Resilience
7. Constructive skepticism
8. Organization of large bodies of information
9. Presentation and Public Communication Skills
10. Interpersonal Skills
11. Negotiation Skills/Proper Estimation of Real Leverage
12. Empathy
13. Directness
14. Strategic Thinking
15. Accountability
16. Conflict Management
17. Client Responsiveness
18. Problem Solving
19. Integrity, A Strong Sense of Ethics and Reputation for Integrity
20. Technological Competence
21. Writing Skills
22. Reading Comprehension
23. Inquisitiveness/Desire to Learn
24. Precision in Drafting and Execution of Client Demands
25. Mentoring Capability
26. Fairness
27. Intensity/Ability to Focus
28. Confidence
29. Intellectual Rigor
30. Business Skills
31. Able to Predict Responses to Actions
32. Breadth of Outlook to Cover all Ramifications of Behavior
33. Creativity
34. Ability to Build/Work With and Lead Teams
35. Decisiveness and Clarity
36. Open-Mindedness
37. Ability to Translate Vision Into Reality
38. Desire and Ability to Acknowledge and Respect Others
39. Adaptability and Flexibility
40. Ability to Organize A Large Sequence of Tasks
41. Ability to Document Activities, Information in an Organized,
Retrievable Manner
42. Oral communication skills
43. Acknowledgement skills
44. Motivational skills
45. Engagement skills
46. Self-evaluation skills
47. Ability to evaluate others objectively, hold others accountable, and require them to exercise a strong sense of ethics.
These competencies are needed in differing amounts in different situations. In many lines of legal work, creativity is essential. In other areas of legal practice, organizational capability of large bodies of information is more critical. Lawyers need to be able to recognize when a particular competency is necessary for success in a legal matter or in managing other lawyers.
Conclusion
Some of these competencies can be referred to as “soft skills” and others involve substantive areas of the law, project management, and organizational capabilities. Often lawyers do not appreciate the breadth and depth of competencies required to be successful leaders. Leadership development programs can often provide guidance to lawyers to expand their skill sets in areas where they were unaware of the importance of the skill as being essential to being an excellent leader as well as help lawyers improve skill sets they already have in place.