Communication as it Pertains to Law

Communication as it Pertains to Law

Law as a career commands respect and demands reasonability. The profession requires more years of education and intellectual honing than most individuals are willing to partake in. The experience of maturing into an attorney brings with it authority and understanding. Some of the crucial skills demanded by this field are strong writing and speaking, reading, researching, analyzing and thinking logically (Abraham, & Herman, 2000). The art of communication is an underlying theme for one’s capacity to be a brilliant lawyer.

Many universities have an emphasis on communication in their pre-law curriculum to help bolster students’ preparedness for law school. For example, San Jose State University’s courses teach relevant skills including critical thinking and analysis, logical outlining, legal research, interviewing, argumentative writing, public speaking, debating in a cross-examination format, and ethical problem solving, all of which are key communication components for effective expression as an attorney (Salter, September 10, 2001). In this paper public speaking and argumentation will be the focus.

The five fundamental principles of human communication are the following: being aware of your communication with your self and others, effectively using and interpreting verbal and nonverbal messages, listening and responding thoughtfully to others, and appropriately adapting messages to others. In the legal profession, being attentive to your audience is extremely important for a good argument. This is applicable to anything from addressing a jury, judge, or council. Depending on the audience, a speaker may have one of two aims; either to change or reinforce an attitude, belief, or value, or to ...

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The law is a simply barren article, it is only humans that give it meaning. Volumes of legal jargon mean nothing if they are not perceived and then acted upon by people. Through all forms of communication, people put the words into the text that binds a society together. These bonds are the substance that litigators ponder and quibble over day in and day out because they thrive on it. That is why law is a very noble career within the vast art of communication.

Bibliography:

Abraham, K., & Herman, A. (2000). Occupational Outlook Handbook 2000-2001 Edition. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, Inc.

Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Ivy, D. (2001). Communication: principles for a lifetime. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Salter, K. (September 10, 2001). Pre-Legal Studies in Communication. Prelaw Program. http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/commstudies/prelaw/.