In the moment where 300 eyeballs are fixated on you while up on stage at a legal conference and your heart is beating like it just started a new running record. Sound familiar? Every leading a law firm encounters this scenario. Public speaking is no longer an optional extra for a lawyer – now it is THE secret weapon for building trust, attracting new clients, and inspiring practice group
Let’s get real about running a law firm. Most days in your schedule probably start before the sun with an overwhelming amount of email. You are juggling more things than a circus performer while splitting your day between managing partner meetings, client calls, and strategy sessions. Oh and it doesn’t help that your success depends on how articulately you can communicate that juggling act to pretty m
Speaking of which, I’ve seen brilliant attorneys with a room full of people get more frozen than a popsicle. The fix? Start small. Try out your keynote at your team meetings. Share some war stories from cases last year. Colleagues are going to be your best test subjects – they will never sugarcoat it for you so will be a great source of feedback to see what
When we are talking about communication, remember the law firm retreats where you noticed your most strategic thinkers had a panic attack when they saw the mic? Ever fallen off a bike and gotten back up again? Speaking is the same thing. Few of us are naturals. Slide deck crash? Turn it into the running joke of the event. You’ll connect with the audience, with them, your human side – not the superhero you kn
Can you translate your legal expertise into leadership? It’s not synonymous. As leader of a 21st century law firm, you’re the captain of a ship battling the tides of market competition, talent retention and client demands. Be the signal beacon for your crew – compelling, clear, and consciously
Quick tip: Record yourself speaking. I know it’s a little like watching the home video of your first month as a lawyer at your first job out of law school, but it’s totally worth it. How fast is your presentation? Slow it down. Don’t make your message fight over voi
Conversion centric tactics come second to authenticity. Remember that speaking event where your slides crashed, the same time you had spinach stuck in your teeth? Moan about it. Human connection to a speaker is established by triumph and tragedy – not a perfect New Yorker st
Your speaking in law is more than just legalese. You’re relaying orders to a crew of pirates in rough seas – tailor it to cut through that sharp yelling wind. In order to get your message not just heard, but listened to – it must be clear, powerful, and guiding.
It’s best practice to mix up your presentation formats. All hands meetings. One-on-one sessions. Virtual workshops. Each demands a different tone. Think of them like adapting your oral argument to a jury in a negligence case versus a bench trial in a construction defe
Can’t divert from the court theme. Prep as if you were laying down your closing arguments to a judge in an important matter. Tailor your approach based on who your attendees are – but remember to put a cherry on top with a dash of your personality. Story time with that one time you made a coffee explosion all over opposing c’s desk after getting a li
Virtual speaking is a different creature. It requires novel capabilities. Think about your position on camera and where you are speaking in relation to the viewpoint. In modern times good lighting is crucial to delivering a great argument. This isn’t a technical skill like a litigation-based motion but more in the vein of a new practi
Can’t stress it enough – your verbal etiquette can build or cut down your firm’s success. Everything from client interactions to internal dynamics to employee morale. So get up there behind the wood, take that deep breath, and remember – even the best speakers took their shot at the first podium from the big leagues. Usually with quivering hands