A Hard Look at “Soft Skills”

When selecting an attorney, most consumers regard interpersonal and emotional factors to be just as important as degrees and experience, according to Findlaw’s recent U.S. Consumer Legal Needs Survey.

This finding correlates with a recent study by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).  After surveying the attributes of newly licensed lawyers, the NCBE found that the following “soft skills” were at the top of the list: paying attention to details, listening, oral communication, and professionalism.

To help prepare La Verne Law students for practice, the Career Development Office and the Student Affairs Office are creating a co-curricular experience to complement the learning inside of the classroom.  Part of this co-curricular experience is the development of “soft skills.”

The program began during the first day of Orientation, a week-long schedule of activities meant to acclimate First Year students to the law school environment.  Interpersonal and intercultural communication skills were interwoven into the Career Development and Student Affairs presentations, through a classroom discussion that explained the significance of the NCBE survey results.

“We actually call these skills ‘Hard Skills’ instead of ‘Soft Skills’ because they are so critical in the development of a new lawyer,” said Issac Carter, the College of Law’s new Director of Student Affairs.  “Using my counseling and cultural studies background, I hope to equip each student with active listening and cultural sensitivity skills necessary to excel in our global society.”

These Orientation classes will be complemented with career development programs that include instructional workshops on networking, developing a personal image, negotiating, and business etiquette.

“These co-curricular offerings will help students develop the attributes that they will use for their entire lives,” said Michael Chen, the Director of Career Services & Professional Development.