Legal support staff are crucial to the smooth functioning of law firms and legal departments. To serve clients effectively and keep work moving forward, legal support staff need three skills to stand out above all others:
- Not only do legal support staff need to be able to express themselves fluently in both oral and written language, they need to have a keen sense for the flow and nuances of communication in multiple contexts and for multiple audiences. In any one day, legal support staff might be asked to communicate on a wide variety of topics with audiences as varied as clients and their families, lay and expert witnesses, court staff, law enforcement, or judges – as well as with their colleagues and supervisors at work. The abilities to listen carefully, share information concisely, and recognize and manage conflicts are essential.
- In many law firms and legal departments, legal support staff are responsible for the bulk of the legal research performed. Good legal research requires staff to know not only where to find relevant statutes, opinions, and other information, but also how to evaluate its content and to organize it for easy reference. Staying on top of new legislative or judicial releases in particular areas of law is also a must. Legal support staff who become top-notch researchers also position themselves as temporary in-house subject-matter experts while working on a complex case or area of law, becoming an invaluable resource to the entire team.
- Although legal support staff need to be adept at all areas of communication, their writing ability takes priority in many situations. Many law firms and legal departments rely on their legal support teams to produce the content of letters, internal memos, and other documents that play key roles in meeting clients’ needs. Outstanding writing skills are prized in the practice of law, and legal support staff who demonstrate them do much to establish their value to current or potential employers.
At Kent Legal, our experienced Toronto-based recruiters can help you demonstrate to law firms and legal departments how your communication, research, and writing skills can help them thrive. Contact us today to learn more.