Top 5 skills needed to become a legal leader

by Darren Smith Legal Adviser

Every legal professional reading this article wants to be a pro and a leader in their field. It’s something almost everyone working in the current scenario is struggling for. Rather than debating on whether leaders in lawyer jobs Toronto are born or made, let’s take a look at the top five skills required to become a successful leader.

Agility

Agility is much more than only a business buzzword; it has been found by researches that it is the top priority of business leaders. If Toronto lawyer jobs leaders are agile, it enables them to achieve all their goals and to react to new opportunities quickly and determinedly. We can call it a skill that is extremely important to have in today’s hyper-connected world. It is because the client expectations are heightened manifolds and effective leaders can easily balance the complexities of regulation and legislation.

Emotional intelligence

We all know the legal industry has undergone a lot of changes, fast-changing technology, and artificial intelligence also continue to change the shape of the legal sector. In the times to come people skills in Toronto law jobs will become even more important than they are today. If leaders can understand people and are empathetic with them, it will determine when the technology advancement is helping professionals and when it owns them. Knowing this will help avoid fatigue and promote more positive mental health and wellbeing. It’ll also help in improving the overall quality of work and workplace culture. Emotional intelligence is also crucial to differentiating law firms.

Lead by example

In recent years, there has been much talk on skills like ‘transparency’ and ‘authenticity’ in legal counsel jobs in Toronto. These important traits are there to take on a whole new meaning in the times to come. The reason being that more millennial and Gen Zs have started to join law firms. These are the youngsters who are determined towards what they do and value leaders who share experiences and insights instead of preaching. When they are led by example, it encourages them to be passionate and enthusiastic about work which enhances their motivation level.

Leading by example doesn’t just gain their respect; it encourages their passion and enthusiasm, which motivates innovation. So, it is important for the legal jobs in Toronto leaders to shed the cloak of privacy and exclusiveness that’s sometimes wrapped around the boardroom and partnership status. They should be able to show how leaders work and lead.

Humility

The leadership qualities that junior lawyer jobs Toronto leaders possess should be in favor of the law firm and its employees and not about themselves. The leaders should be available to listen to the people and welcome their opinion and thoughts and implement them wherever feasible. It’s also about being accessible, eradicating any fear that a leader is autocratic.

Shared vision

General counsel jobs Toronto lawyers must know that a strong leadership needs a strong vision which now also needs to be a shared vision. Employees only listen and support a leader and give their full commitment if they fully understand what they’re striving for. When people have clarity, it also means they have the freedom to decide if they want to work towards achieving the vision or should look to work elsewhere. It can also help avoid unhelpful speculation.

All in all a successful leader will not only share a vision for the practice or firm, but they’ll also ask their teams to share how they think they can contribute to the goals. It helps empower and motivate teams to a great deal.

Leadership qualities are extremely important if you want to reach a certain level in your job. These qualities are sometimes inborn or developed with the help of several training and learning programs. If you too are looking to grow in a leadership role, you must self-introspect if you have these qualities within you or what are the ways in which you can groom yourself.

There are several legal recruitment firms where specialists help lawyer jobs in Toronto candidates realize their worth by counseling them and guiding them on a right career path. If you want any help from them, it is the time to consult a good legal recruitment firm in your area and get guidance.