As a personal injury lawyer, you speak with clients, staff, insurance adjusters, other lawyers, and vendors. Effective communication is essential to operating a successful law firm – or any business for that matter. Here are five key communication tips for lawyers to master:
Quieting our thoughts while listening to another person is not easy. However, when we do this, we can really listen and understand what the other person is trying to say. Take a step back and stop yourself when you find yourself solely thinking of a response while the other person is talking.
Your time, your team’s, your clients’ time are valuable. More often than not, a long memo can be shortened. Be to the point and don’t beat around the bush when communicating information to a client or a colleague.
For new lawyers, communicating properly is vital to building a successful law practice. The American Bar Association does a great job at explaining the art of communication for young lawyers.
Questions convey interest. Asking questions is key in delivering sound legal advice. Curiosity leads to improved engagement, innovation, and productivity.
Document what you learn about your clients, adjusters, defense counsel, and other people. CASEpeer legal software helps personal injury law firms track notes on contacts, so you can pick up every new conversation where the other left off. Your ability to recall facts from past conversations makes people feel heard and can change the dynamic of even the most contentious negotiation.
If you want to come across as an expert in your field, you need to be able to persuade others to trust in your expertise. This is essential for any successful trial attorney. Together with the points we’ve already covered above, consider the following steps in mastering the art of persuasion:
Your time spent communicating must be valuable, since most lawyers bill for their time.
Connect with your clients, colleagues, and adversaries in a more meaningful way by coming into conversations prepared. Listening to understand, rather than to reply, is a hallmark of effective communication. Be sure not to overexplain and know your key points for a conversation. Curiosity will get you a long way in communicating productively. Speak the language of your audience and build strong relationships to better persuade them. Understanding their needs and desires is key. Lastly, make sure your message is clear and valuable to your listener.
Practicing these communication methods will improve collaboration and productivity for your law firm as a whole. For more tips on how to lead a productive personal injury law firm, check out our article on essential leadership skills for lawyers.