Skills Needed By Lawyers Working In A Global Market.

    As national borders disappear, the ability for global exchange of goods, services and information is creating boundless opportunities and challenges for the legal industry in the U.S.  Law firms, regardless of size continue to expand across borders, collaborate with foreign counsel and form global mergers. New technologies such as websites, blogs, social networking sites, listservs and email have made it easier to develop a global client base.

    While the opportunities to do business abroad may be increasing the traditional view held by many law firms is that only large law firms have foreign clients. A recent online survey conducted by Walker Clark, LLC, demonstrated otherwise. The results from the survey indicated that firms with LESS than 20 attorneys have foreign clients.

    In a recent two day conference on International Corporate Social Responsibility, held in New York City, Elizabeth Wall, an attorney and GC  who has worked on both sides of the Atlantic stated that in today's  24/7 fast paced global community, ALL attorneys need to develop global characteristics.

Here is a condensed version of those characteristics:

1. Take charge in a crisis.

2. Have another language in your marketing arsenal, or at a very basic learn a few practical expressions in the client's mother tongue.

3. Show an interest in current affairs domestic and international.

4. Network consistently, not just online networking, but breaking bread with important alliances of clients.

5. Political adroitness and diplomacy.

6. Cultural awareness, take a course in foreign customs and behaviour.

7. Communication, Communication, Communication at all levels.

8. Be knowledgeable of issues that may impact the client, for example corporate social responsibility.

9. Know the client's strategic vision.

10. Be unfailingly polite to EVERYONE when in client's office.

    On review, many of these traits, apply equally to attorneys who conduct business domestically. What really stuck out in Elizabeth's presentation was her point that a combination of soft and hard skill set was no longer a luxury but a necessity to survive in a global marketplace.