Most Important Skills for an Attorney at State of California
Dee, an attorney specializing in environmental law for a California state agency, emphasizes the importance of strong interpersonal communication skills, "working with people...from a lot of different backgrounds," and clear writing accessible to non-legal audiences. The ability to conduct thorough legal research and understanding the advisory, rather than advocacy, role of an agency attorney— "staying in your own lane"— are also crucial for success in this position.
Communication, Legal Research, Policy Analysis, Interpersonal Skills, Writing
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Dee Dee Dickey
Attorney
State of California
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley - JD
Anthropology, Sociology
Government & Public Sector, Law
Legal
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are crucial for working with diverse individuals and explaining complex legal matters clearly.
2. Strong research skills are needed to stay informed on constantly evolving legal precedents and technical information in environmental law.
3. The ability to provide objective advice and support to decision-makers, rather than advocating for a specific position, is essential for an attorney in a state agency setting.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours, for an attorney doing environmental law with the state, advising an agency?
The key skills are working with people and communicating well with individuals from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. This includes writing clearly in ways that non-attorneys can understand.
It also involves research and staying up to date on technical legal precedence. Overall, an attorney for an agency needs to understand that their role is to advise, not to advocate.
Attorneys are there to help and support decision-makers, but not to plead a case or become advocates for the environment. It's important to stay within your role, as decision-makers are the ones paid to make the decisions.