Lonny Rose
Director, Litigation Skills Program
University of Miami School of Law
Lonny Rose will return to Miami in July after heading up the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He has more than 30 years experience training lawyers and a keen eye on the profession today.
To a great degree, a re-skilling is underway.
Are lawyering skills taught and learned, or are they dependent on 'lawyering talent?'
There is always an idea that people with talent can perform at a higher level, but lawyering skills are taught and learnable. Much like sports or medicine skills, the ability to know what to do is teachable, and improves with practice.
How can lawyering skills embrace the laws of multiple jurisdictions?
Law is essentially a service. Because we serve clients, the skills are more related to the client than a particular location or jurisdiction. While there certainly are nuances from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the commonalities greatly exceed the differences.
Are lawyering skills most applicable to the courtroom or the conference room or the desk?
There are different skills for each setting. The courtroom calls for skill in oral presentations. In the conference room there is more emphasis on interpersonal relations and problem-solving. The desk requires the skills of writing and analysis. A lawyer can decide in which of those areas he or she wants to be the most successful. The superstar will do it all. An excellent lawyer will excel in two of the settings; a competent lawyer in one.
Are lawyer fees steadily rising?
Yes. Several elements are involved in the setting of fees, however, and they are all going up. Hourly rates may give way to project-based fees, yielding more predictability per matter.
Are trial lawyers the high earners in the legal profession today?
Sometimes. With today's reliance on deal-making and business generation, law firms are relying on transactional lawyers to earn the bulk of the fees. Historically, plaintiff personal injury lawyers were among the most highly compensated, and that is giving way to the transactional specialists.
Which lawyers would make the best elected politicians and why?
Elected officials need to be trusted and responsive. So a lawyer who deals successfully with people will make the best politician. They tend to be trial lawyers. Legal aid lawyers often make good politicians. As do some prosecutors and public defenders.
Which lawyers would make the best businesspeople and why?
Effective businesspeople need to understand the ins and outs of the law. They need a good perception of the intersections of the law with finance and commercial activity. Transactional lawyers often make the best businesspeople. As do lawyers who have achieved success in a regulatory environment.
Which lawyers would make the best college presidents and why?
The best presidents come from the ranks of the university. Their backgrounds are often academic or in student services. So a good lawyer president would most likely have a teaching background, perhaps at the law school.