Active Listening Skills for Law College Students

April 30, 2021

There is no denying that oratory skills are a must for a student pursuing law. But just like good oratory skills, active listening skills are important as they help the lawyers develop win-win relationships with clients, colleagues and teams. Active listening skills help a lawyer listen carefully to the client’s story and respond in a manner the client feels heard and more forthcoming. How well you listen has a major impact on your job effectiveness As one of the leading law colleges in Ahmedabad, we share some useful tips to help students develop active listening skills:

Face the speaker and maintain eye contact: A very important part of active listening is maintaining eye contact. While you are talking to a client or a colleague, if you are gazing out of the window or looking into your phone, the other person will feel that they don’t have your undivided attention. Maintaining eye contact lets the speaker know that you are listening.

Listen to absorb information: Attention to detail is one of the most important skills needed in the legal profession. Commit all your attention to what is being said. Notice the tone and emotions of the speaker. Don’t get out distracted by background activity or noise. The most important thing, don’t be distracted by your own thoughts, feelings or biases. If you are not properly listening, you will not be able to absorb all the details. Details are critical to the practice of law as they are the building blocks of cases. A lawyer’s inability to elicit important facts can reflect poorly on the advice he or she gives to the client.

Don’t interrupt: Listen and withhold judgment. Let the speaker express himself or herself completely. If there’s something that you have not fully understood, make a mental note of it and circle back the conversation to it. Many lawyers are good interviewers who listen actively and delay asking questions. These skills come in handy in the preparation of cases. If the speaker says something alarming, ask a quick question. But don’t be sentence-grabber and take the conversation in another direction.

Ask clarifying questions: While it is important for you to listen to the other person with an open mind, it’s likely you have questions. Ask open-ended questions to correct understanding. If you still haven’t understood, paraphrase the questions. Open-ended questions often lead to more information.

Acknowledge that you are listening: Reflecting back on what the speaker is saying or acknowledging his or her feelings will encourage communication. Avoid passive listening responses such as ‘hmn’ or ‘sure’. Instead, a good lawyer extensively asks questions, reassures and advises clients while they are talking. The principal purpose of active listening for a law student is to build rapport with and to obtain information from the client. For this, the lawyer must demonstrate that he or she has fully understood the speaker.

Confirm you have understood things correctly: To give the clients an idea that you are listening and following their train of thought, summarise in a few sentences what you have understood. This gives the clients reassurance that they are properly heard.

Here at Unitedworld School of Law (UWSL), one of the best law colleges in Ahmedabad, each law student is made to participate in moot court and mock trials so that they gain a realistic appellate advocacy experience. Our BBA LLB (Hons), recognised by the Bar Council of India (BCI), is designed to prepare students to face multifaceted legal challenges and opportunities of the new millennium.

Related Blogs

Navratri and the Nine Forms of Goddess Durga

September 20, 2023

Navrati is one of the most significant Hindu festivals celebrated in India. There are total four Navratri in a year – Sharadiy Navratri, Chaitra Navratri, Magh Navratri and Ashadh Navratri. Sharadiy Navratri (શારદીય નવરાત્રી)2023 is scheduled from 15th October till 24th October 2023. Navratri, a vibrant and spiritually significant Hindu festival, is celebrated with immense […]

The role of white hat hackers in preventing cybercrime. Useful insights for students planning to pursue integrated masters in cyber security

July 28, 2023

In an era dominated by digitalisation, the prevalence of cybercrime has seen a significant surge. Hackers take advantage of vulnerabilities in computer systems, posing risks to sensitive data, financial security, and even national security. However, there exists a distinctive group of individuals called white hat hackers who play a vital role in combating cybercrime. White […]

Influential Designers and Their Impact on the Industry: List by one of the best fashion designing colleges in India

July 26, 2023

The fashion world is an exciting and colourful place where creativity, new ideas, and personal expression thrive. In this ever-changing industry, there are few designers who have made a big impact and become trailblazers. They have redefined fashion, challenged what is considered normal, and pushed the limits of design. These visionary designers have not only […]

Active Listening Skills for Law College Students

Related Blogs

Navratri and the Nine Forms of Goddess Durga

The role of white hat hackers in preventing cybercrime. Useful insights for students planning to pursue integrated masters in cyber security

Influential Designers and Their Impact on the Industry: List by one of the best fashion designing colleges in India

Karnavati University

Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID):

Unitedworld School of Business (UWSB):

Unitedworld School of Law (UWSL):

Unitedworld School of Liberal Arts & Mass Communication (USLM):

Unitedworld School of Computational Intelligence (USCI):

Karnavati School of Dentistry (KSD):

Karnavati University

Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID):

Unitedworld School of Business (UWSB):

Unitedworld School of Law (UWSL):

Unitedworld School of Liberal Arts & Mass Communication (USLM):

Unitedworld School of Computational Intelligence (USCI):

Karnavati School of Dentistry (KSD):

Karnavati University

Unitedworld Institute of Design