Soft skills for law graduates

Soft skills training offers numerous benefits that extend beyond the workplace. It enhances communication, fostering clearer interactions and stronger relationships.

Improved leadership skills emerge, enabling individuals to inspire and guide teams effectively. This course is specifically designed for law students, law graduates, and candidate attorneys as it focuses on day-to-day expectations in a law firm, which does come as a surprise to most young people.

Join us for a ten-hour course, held over five days.

When and where?

9 to 13 June 2025, 15:00 to 17:00 SAST

This course will be held remotely, most likely on Zoom - exact details will be sent to registered participants a few days before the course.

Course outline

Basic communication skills for law graduates (verbal & written)

Effective communication is essential for legal professionals, encompassing both written and verbal skills. While law graduates acquire these skills during their studies, they are often learned indirectly, leaving gaps that become evident in practice. This course addresses those gaps by equipping graduates with the necessary communication competencies, ensuring they are prepared for the demands of legal practice. It focuses on demonstrating best practices in legal communication to enhance professional effectiveness and career readiness.

Part 1: Introduction and importance of communication in legal practice

Overview of communication in law
Importance of precise, clear communication
Differences between legal and casual communication

Part 2: Fundamentals of effective legal writing

Key principles of legal writing
Clarity, precision, and brevity
Structured argumentation
Tailoring tone for different audiences (clients vs. courts)
Common pitfalls in legal writing
Over-complicating language
Avoiding ambiguity and redundancy
Using plain language effectively
Editing and proofreading techniques
Creating logical and persuasive content (writing memoranda, legal opinions, etc.)

Part 3: Essentials of verbal communication in legal practice

Key aspects of professional verbal communication
Active listening and clarity in response
Engaging with clients, colleagues, and the court
Communication in court
The role of verbal communication in court settings
Presenting arguments and examining witnesses
Client interaction skills
Explaining complex legal matters simply
Handling sensitive conversations and negotiations
Non-verbal communication (body language, tone, etc.)
Confidence in public speaking

Part 4: Integration of written and verbal communication in legal practice

Bridging the gap between written and verbal communication
Preparing written briefs for verbal arguments
Transitioning between writing and speaking in court
Effective communication in legal correspondence
Writing persuasive emails and letters
Engaging in professional conversations based on written material

Part 5: Q&A and key takeaways

Open discussion and questions
Recap of best practices
Final tips for continuous improvement
Resources for further learning
Practice exercises for ongoing skill development

Who will benefit from this course?

Law students, law graduates and candidate attorneys

Presenter

Pam Padayachee brings 25 years of legal expertise from top South African law firms. At PMV Virtual Assistants, she enhances legal teams with essential business support services. As a Learning and Development Facilitator, Pam provides training to first year candidate attorneys and other ad hoc training. Pam’s first-hand experience with young legal professionals and the challenges they face is her motivation for uplifting and upskilling legal students, graduates and candidate attorneys.

Lisa V. Thomas, a former criminal defence advocate based in Durban, brings extensive experience in both private and public law practice. She holds an LLB from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard College) and was admitted as an advocate in 2008 after completing her pupillage. Currently, Lisa focuses on alternative dispute resolution, particularly mediation. A strong advocate for ethics and humanity in the South African legal profession, she is dedicated to supporting entry-level legal professionals. Lisa shares her expertise through LinkedIn, a mentorship and career coaching platform, and her legal academy. Additionally, she provides litigation training and has developed a candidate attorney course for the SA Legal Academy. Guided by empathy, Lisa remains committed to mentoring aspiring legal professionals.

How much?

R2,980 per person

Certificate

A digital certificate of attendance from UCT will be issued to those who attend the full course.

How to sign up

Complete and submit the registration form. You will then be given the payment information. Please note that your registration is not complete until payment has been made.

One or two days before the course, we will send you the Zoom link. You will need to register and use a password to enter the virtual classroom.

Registrations close three days before the course starts.

Download the brochure.