Most Important Skills For An Attorney At Gunderson Dettmer
Colin, an attorney at Gunderson Dettmer, emphasizes the critical importance of strong writing skills, stating that "it's all about the words" in the legal field, even with the rise of AI tools. Beyond writing, the ability to "develop really good analytical skills" and excel at "problem solving" are highlighted as crucial for navigating the complexities of emerging growth technology and its unclear business models.
Communication, Analytical Skills, Problem-Solving, Writing Skills, Legal
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Colin Chapman
Attorney
Gunderson Dettmer
University of California Berkeley
Law degree - University of Michigan
History, Art History, Political Science, American Studies
Law
Legal
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Excellent writing skills are crucial for success in law, even with AI writing tools. Improving writing ability is possible with dedicated effort.
2. Strong analytical skills are needed to understand complex issues and emerging technologies in the legal field.
3. Problem-solving abilities are essential for finding solutions in various legal situations. A competitive spirit can be beneficial but isn't strictly required
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
You have to write well. If you don't, you have to learn to write well; it's possible. I was a terrible writer when I went to Cal, but I became a better writer there. It took a ton of work, but it was worth doing.
Even with tools like ChatGPT and other AI, figuring out how to express yourself individually in writing is still really important. In the legal world, it's all about the words, so it remains important there.
The second point is developing really good analytical skills. You're mostly looking at things and trying to figure out how to make them work or how to do something. In the emerging growth world, we deal with brand new technologies all the time.
Sometimes the business model for how that technology will get into the marketplace isn't clear. So, from a lawyer's perspective, you spend a lot of time trying to figure that out. That leads to the third piece, which is problem-solving.
Learning to become good at problem-solving and doing a lot of it is crucial. It doesn't hurt if you like to compete.
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