The Art of Persuasion & the Practice of Family Law

Even with the ever-increasing importance of persuasion and family law, these two fields are often thought of as vastly different. While it is true that a lawyer’s job is to persuade a jury or judge, this isn’t the only way lawyers practice their craft. In fact, like any other skill set, there are many ways in which lawyers could practice their art. One area where legal practitioners can apply their skills through persuasion would be by teaching so they can go into the field themselves later on as counselors or therapists.

Going back to the field of family law, there is a vast amount of theory and research that addresses the question of what is best for children during divorce. Since our society places so much value on children, we would all benefit from parents who are more knowledgeable about the subject. Teaching is a great way for these lawyers to teach what they know in order to help others. And while they may not always be able to accurately assess the situation, they certainly have the ability to craft a persuasive argument that will help parents and children make more sound decisions in their lives.

Tips for Practicing the Art of Persuasion:

1. Acknowledge Your Clients’ Struggles:

To practice the art of persuasion and family law, lawyers should be aware of their clients’ struggles and challenges. Drawing on the knowledge they have gained through trial and court experience, lawyers must be able to openly communicate with their clients about these struggles so that their clients can feel more understood. Lawyers who are unable to fully understand a client are almost guaranteeing that their client will not feel completely heard.

2. Allay Their Fears:

Lawyers can use their persuasive skills to help clients understand that their fears are valid. In this profession, there is often a tendency to try and protect the client from life’s struggles because the attorney wants to remain optimistic about his or her chances in court. However, this often represents an obstacle when it comes to practicing the art of persuasion and family law because they are not listening effectively.

3. Create Rapport with Your Family Law Clients:

Lawyers must be able to get along with their clients and remember that family law cases are often won or lost based on the rapport between the lawyer and the client. Many times this rapport can come from a genuine understanding of what makes these clients tick. Lawmakers should be able to use their knowledge of family law to connect with their clients so that they can solve problems in a more effective manner.

4. Empathize with the Client’s Wishes:

Lawyers should be capable of relating themselves to their clients so that they can empathize with the client’s wishes and needs. The ability to empathize is vital because it allows lawyers to react in a certain way that is advantageous to the client’s needs. Also, this kind of ability shows that lawyers truly care about their clients, which helps them gain more trust from the client and make them feel heard.

5. Find One Succinct Sentence:

In order to be successful in the practice of family law, lawyers must find a succinct, convincing argument that can be understood by every member of the family. Lawyers should also be able to provide their clients with a solution that focuses on the child’s best interests without straying away from what is best for the child. Watching how these lawyers craft their arguments can help better persuade clients because they will understand exactly how they would apply this argument to their own situation later on.

6. Describe the Effects of This Proposition:

When it comes to persuasion and family law, relationships are all about compromise. A lawyer must detail the effects of a proposition and how each will be affected. Lawyers often have to practice the art of persuasion when giving their client advice on how to proceed during a divorce proceeding. One extremely important aspect of this is understanding how the propositions will affect everyone involved in the case.

7. Stand in Their Shoes:

Lawyers must be able to stand in their client’s shoes so that they can accurately judge what they are going through. Although lawyers have a tremendous amount of knowledge about the law, they must pay attention to how this knowledge is applied in a personal situation so that they can help their clients understand exactly how the law affects them. These lawyers are also able to get a clearer picture of solutions.

8. Stand Against the Other Side:

It is also important for lawyers to be able to stand in the shoes of the other side. It is easy to become so focused on one’s own client that one fails to understand how their arguments affect the other side of the case. When both parties can convey how their propositions affect the case as a whole, this will increase the likelihood of finding common ground where both sides are satisfied with the outcome.

Conclusion:

Being a family law practitioner is a great way to help families avoid unnecessary conflict through the use of persuasion, but it requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Lawyers must be able to cultivate the skills necessary to persuade their clients in order to achieve a positive outcome. While it will take a lot of patience and understanding, lawyers can use their persuasive skills as valuable tools after they complete their training. If a lawyer is able to practice the art of persuasion, then every client will be able to feel heard and understood.

If you have questions about family law issues and need to consult a lawyer that is familiar with handling family law cases, refer to this link to schedule an appointment with a family law lawyer today.