Skills and Sub Skills Addressed | University of Wisconsin Law School

Conduct a Client Meeting
1. Plan for the meeting.
2. Establish rapport with the client.
3. Understand the client's goals.
4. Use active listening and attending skills.
5. Keep the meeting on track.
6. Obtain necessary facts from the client.
7. Communicate at the client's level.
8. Present options in clear, simple language.
9. Recognize and address the client's feelings and emotions.
10. Deal with difficult clients.
11. Communicate empathy.
12. Prepare an accurate record of meeting.
Plan and Manage a Case
1. Investigate a case file by systematic fact gathering.
2. Diagnose the nature of the problem presented by the client.
3. Sift facts and legal authorities.
4. Generate options that fit a client's needs and goals.
5. Evaluate and prioritize options.
6. Formulate a plan of execution.
7. Develop and implement a time line.
8. In litigated matters, evaluate and, when appropriate, implement alternative dispute resolution techniques.
Draft Legal Documents
1. Obtain instructions and information necessary to complete the project.
2. Address all relevant issues and accurately describe the rights and obligations of the parties.
3. Use clear and concise language.
4. Effectively reflect the parties' positions.
5. Persuasively advance the client's interests.
6. Use logical organization and avoid internal inconsistencies.
7. Express facts and positions accurately.
8. Use appropriate style and tone.
9. Produce a professional-appearing product.
Negotiate
1. Prepare for negotiations.
2. Develop mastery of the subjects in dispute including facts, client goals, legal issues, negotiating styles, opponent's needs and personal or emotional factors.
3. Ascertain the extent of your own and your opponent's authority.
4. Develop discipline and self-mastery.
5. Assert an effective negotiating demeanor.
6. Listen and observe attentively.
7. Recognize opportunities for mutual gain.
8. Recognize and use tactics and strategy.
9. Advance negotiations to effective resolution.
10. Implement negotiated agreements.
11. Utilize alternative dispute resolution techniques.
Interview and Examine Witnesses
1. Plan the objective of the interview or examination.
2. Motivate cooperation from the witnesses.
3. Select and organize questions.
4. Phrase questions effectively.
5. Listen attentively during the interview or examination.
6. Pay attention to non-verbal cues.
7. Record witness statements.
Communicate Orally
1. Speak effectively in court, non-trial forums, business meetings, or public assemblies.
2. Obtain instructions and information necessary to execute the presentation.
3. Organize facts and arguments.
4. Express thoughts clearly and persuasively.
5. Recognize and respond to the perspectives and needs of an audience.
6. Pay attention to physical communication techniques (including gestures, eye contact, visual aids, and physicality).
Examine Ethics and Professionalism
1. Critically examine the Rules of Professional Conduct and other standards and norms that affect a lawyer's behavior.
2. Foresee fact situations, relationships and role demands in law practice that may conflict with the Rules, professional norms, standards, and personal values.
3. Competently analyze ethical dilemmas and identify alternative courses of behavior.
4. Make and implement responsible choices among alternative courses of behavior.
5. Identify goals to achieve justice and improve the legal profession.
Manage a Law Practice
1. Understand the structure, systems, economics, and techniques used to operate the modern law office.
2. Find and utilize resources available to assist in the task of lawyering.
3. Plan and manage time, effort, and other resources to gain control over workload and to be able to work under time pressure.
4. Work as a member of a group of people to successfully represent clients.
5. Develop productive working relationships with clients.
6. Balance a productive law practice with a healthy personal life.

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