HOW THE INTROVERT LAWYER WORKS

Who is doing the listening?


Opposed to the extrovert lawyer many people see the introvert lawyer as incompetent. 

A person seems to think the lawyer who talks more is more intelligent and knows the law more. 

In fact, the public always say lawyers talk too much and this is a stereotype that has stuck to the minds of most people that lawyers talk too much and they are proud.  

In most cases, nobody realizes that you have the quiet lawyers, the ones who you think has nothing to say but they are a tank full of ideas. 

The introverted lawyer, who is more of an ardent listener and a good observer, is the topic of my discussion today.
 To listen means to pay attention to a sound. It means to accept or obey the oral instruction. It also means to accurately perceive what is being said both directly and indirectly.
Listening is a skill just like any other skill and we have noticed that those who are introverts seem to be a natural with listening. 

Not everybody can be the best talker and not everybody is a natural listener. The profound thing is that everyone should learn how to listen. 
When I was an undergrad student at the university many people complain that I was very quiet and I don’t seem to talk much. Some people even make fun that what kind of a lawyer am I going to become? In most cases, I don’t reply them I just laugh a say I’m the kind of lawyer that listens. 

The mere fact that a person is not  a talkative does not make him less smart. Some people are just naturally able to keep quiet. Not that they don’t have what to say but they only realize that silence pays more in some situations. 
Listening is not easy, especially when you are in a social environment where everybody is trying to be the voice head.  For some of us listening comes naturally. 

To be in a social gathering and still be able to listen to everybody on the table talk is really something.  

The ability to pay attention and listen is equally an important skill as the ability to talk actively. 

Great lawyers must stop talking and listen to their clients, opponents in court, and also listen to witnesses. When we actively listen, we demonstrate that we show concern for our clients and show understanding of the case. 

It is a good way of building trust in relationships with our clients and to facilitate information-sharing and create the way of demonstrating good advocacy skills.
Listening is an intentional and mindful act. It’s a conscious choice. It is an active act and not passive. It involves you paying full attention.  

By listening it paves the way for clients to open up the more to you. 

A judge, for instance, must develop the ability to listen attentively to what is going on in court and at the same time coordinate the activities in his court. A judge who is found talking all the time will most likely be jumping into the arena and could jeopardize the credibly of his judgment. 
Introverts lawyers listen well. Active listening is a powerful innate competency for an introverted advocate.
Introverts are more in tune with their environment and are more sensitive to notice things that a person may not be saying verbally. 

Introverts are better at reading body language and they are regarded as living lie detectors.  

Introverts resist the urge to interrupt while a person is talking. 

Before speaking, introverts absorb, synthesize, and discern. They think well and reflect on what they have heard.   

Introverts can be the most effective people in the room who can turn out distractions and focus on the issues at hand. 

If you are a principal counsel you will need an introvert lawyer as a member of your team. 

Introverts pay attention more and they pick up the unspoken word. They perceive the client’s every move and an introverted lawyer’s focused attention can facilitate continued dialogue with clients.  

During negotiations and meetings, introverted lawyers process facts, rules, and legal theories mentally before sharing and in most cases, they give you an accurate forecast of things.  
While I was working as a junior counsel, my principal always perceived me as not assertive and outgoing enough. He was always in an erroneous belief that I was not interested in what is going on. 

The reality was that I was always engaged in my mind thinking of solutions, listening again and again to finding legal solutions in my mind in quiet contemplation. 

When you ask an introvert a question, he might not answer you with speed at the moment like the extroverts who talk before they hear. If you give him the time he would have thought it out over and over in his mind and he will give you an outstanding answer. 

Do not be turned out by his momentary inability to answer you at the moment, he might just be in a state of mental calculation.

Thanks for reading.

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