Most Important Skills For A Partner At An Am Law 200 Law Firm
Mindy, a Partner at an AmLaw 200 firm, identifies "being a good writer" as the most critical skill for lawyers, honed through education and practice. Beyond writing, the ability to "think quickly on your feet" and be a strong "team player," leading and contributing effectively within diverse teams, are equally crucial for success in her high-level legal career.
Communication, Problem-Solving, Teamwork, Leadership, Critical Thinking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mindy Morton
Partner
Amlaw 200 law firm
UC Berkeley
Yale Law School, J.D.
Political Science, American Studies
Law
Legal
Honors Student
Video Highlights
1. Excellent writing skills are crucial for success as a lawyer.
2. The ability to think critically and quickly is essential for interacting with clients, judges, and colleagues.
3. Teamwork and collaboration are vital, including both leading and contributing effectively within diverse teams.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
Being a good writer is probably the most critical skill for any lawyer, whether you're a corporate attorney or a litigator. You learn these skills in law school and college, and then refine them when you get to a law firm, in-house, or wherever else you may be using your legal skills.
The second most important skill, at least for my job, is being able to think quickly on your feet. You're talking to clients, judges, and colleagues, and you really need to think quickly to figure out the best solution.
I'd also say being a team player is important. This means both leading a team, which I'm often doing, but also knowing when you're not the leader and contributing to the best effort.
We know for a fact that teams, and diverse teams especially, do the best job collectively. So, we need to build those diverse teams and participate in them. That's something people probably don't think about when they're thinking about law.