<p>Many people have told me that in order to succeed in law, you must be an eloquent speaker. So just out of curiosity, how can someone become an eloquent speaker? This skill seems to come naturally to some, but not others, so are there ways and techniques to improve one's speaking skills? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Having good speaking skills is great but not necessary to being a good lawyer. Most lawyers don’t do any more speaking than those in any other occupation. You do need to be able to get a point across but that is a skill needed in many jobs. Trial lawyers need to have better oral skills than lawyers in other practice areas, but many great litigators rarely see the inside of a courtroom. Cases are more often won and lost on the basis of good writing than good speaking - except on television.</p>
<p>I spent twelve years as a litigator, and years than that as a transactional attorney.</p>
<p>Eloquence is overrated in the profession of law. There are a few trial lawyers who have made their name by swaying juries in their opening or closing statements, but success in a courtroom (or in negotiating a contract) depends much more upon knowing what to say, and when to say it, than it does upon eloquence.</p>
<p>Knowing what to say, and when to say it, is a function of your knowledge of the applicable law, and the pertinent facts.</p>
<p>Fortune favors the well prepared.</p>
<p>I concur with Greybeard’s assessment. I would say it is important to be an effective speaker to be an attorney, and most of that involves preparation. Having said that, if you are still in high school or undergrad, certainly debate skills and, frankly, theater would help you with thinking on your feet and speaking in front of lots of people. Even if you are a transactional lawyer, you often have to hold the floor in front of dozens of people when negotiating. Shy flowers need not apply.</p>
<p>One of the best attorneys in Miami that I know went to numerous trials and simply watched attorneys perform in the trial. He did this while in law school too.</p>
<p>It’s less about eloquence and more about confidence and quick thinking.</p>
<p>As long as you can speak confidently when you need to - and come up with something to say at a moment’s notice -, eloquence isn’t really necessary.</p>
<p>Even if you’re not confident, you need to appear confident.</p>
<p>Honestly Toastmasters helped me tremendously. There are different groups at most universities directed to public speaking, but I had a friends dad tell me to go to Toastmasters with him, and I am glad I did.</p>
<p>No matter what you will never win a case in court if the jury does not like you, and the jury will not like you if they know you are nervous… In my case it was very obvious every time i stood up to speak.</p>
<p>Look online to find a meeting in your area, it will not cost you anything and you might learn to love it like i did.</p>