10 qualities and skills needed to be a commercial lawyer

Want to know the skills needed to be a lawyer? We’ll take you through the abilities and qualities that commercial law firms want to see when hiring.

Commercial law firms are clear on what they look for in their potential recruits, expecting applicants to have a consistent academic record and experience. But that’s only half the story. Beyond your grades, employers want to see other attributes that set you apart.

We've pulled together a list of the qualities and skills you need to be a lawyer (and some nice-to-haves):

1. Appropriate knowledge and motivation
2. High ethical standards
3. Self-confidence
4. A variety of interests
5. Ability to take initiative
6. Commercial awareness
7. Project management skills
8. Attention to detail
9. Language skills
10. Understanding of the law firm

We’ll also explain how commercial law differs from other legal practice areas and why it needs slightly different skills.

Have you researched the sector? Can you explain why you want to pursue a career in commercial law?

Commercial law firms want to check that you know your stuff. They want to see if you’ll suit the sector. Plus, they want you to be familiar with industry terms and ready to jump right in.

While you’ll have to go through formal legal training to become a fully qualified lawyer, it’s worth showing your knowledge from the get-go. For example, can you talk about an area like dispute resolution? If you’re unsure, do some revision before your job interview.

If you’re a law student or grad, you’ll know all about the importance of ethics in law. However, if you’re serious about a career in commercial law, take some time to read around the topic. You want to show employers that you’ve got a wide understanding.

Not studying law? If you’re entering the sector without a law degree, it’s extra important to do your own research.

You may already have plenty of self-confidence. That’s great, but it’s just as important to work out how to show it to an employer.

It’s a good idea to list some extra-curricular activities on your CV to show you’re confident and have interpersonal skills. For example, mentioning that you’re part of a debating society or perform in am-dram theatre productions tells employers that you’re likely a confident person.

Knowing a lot about law is one thing. But commercial law firms want you to have interests outside of the legal sector, too. That’s because they want to hire well-rounded individuals.

Again, mentioning your involvement in societies on your CV will show your personality to employers.

Commercial law firms value employees who are initiative-taking and willing to take responsibility for their actions.

To impress a potential employer, compile a list of times where you’ve shown these qualities. It’s good to have a variety of examples (from university, work and even hobbies) so that you can pick the most appropriate ones to use in job applications and interviews.

In a commercial law firm, your work revolves around supporting businesses. You’ll need commercial awareness to succeed.

It’s vital that you stay on top of current affairs and can share developed opinions on stories of interest.

You could set up online alerts for firms you’re considering applying to, so that you’re notified about any newsworthy deals. Alternatively, you might listen to business podcasts.

A degree will give you a chance to practise your project management skills, as most courses involve group work at some point. However, it’s always worth gaining more experience outside of university. Can you take the lead organising your football team’s fundraising event?

Project management skills are a mix of hard and soft skills. It’s just as important to call out your negotiation abilities and organisational skills on your CV as it is to list your familiarity with relevant software, like Excel.

If you want to work in law, you need great attention to detail.

The best way to show employers that you’ve got it is to make sure there are no errors in your applications. Even a common typo can work against you. So, always read your CV, cover letter and any other documents and use spellcheck before you send your application. It’s even better if you can get a friend or family member to check everything through with you, too.

Speaking multiple languages isn’t essential, but having language skills will make your application stand out. Be sure to call out the languages you speak on your CV.

Remember that it’s also never too late to learn a new language. Look out for learning societies at uni, evening courses or apps.

Although it’s not a general everyday skill, hiring employers want to see that you understand what the law firm is, what they stand for and why you’d be a great fit.

Showing that you’re familiar with the law firm will display your research skills, as well as your commitment to the company.

In an interview, an interviewer will likely ask you a question like:

“Why are you applying to our firm over another?”

You need to have an answer, so think of one in advance.

Showing you understand the firm starts before then, too. It’s important to always tailor every job application to meet each law firm’s exact requirements. Tweak your CV and cover letter to suit the law firm and the precise role.

Law firms pride themselves on what differentiates them from others. That might be their specialities, culture, global reach or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies. Show that you understand the differences and emphasise your specific skills that align with their focus. For example, if it’s about global reach, draw more attention to your language skills.

There are lots of legal career routes outside of commercial law. For example, you could work in family law (dealing with areas like divorce and child custody), criminal law (defending those accused of crimes or pursuing justice for victims) or conveyancing law (the legal processes surrounding house sales). There are plenty of other specialisms too, like tax, admiralty and shipping, media and sports.

In commercial law, you’ll focus on helping businesses. Key aspects include working on commercial contracts, intellectual property (IP) (ie. trademarks and patents), mergers and acquisitions, competition law, dispute resolution and legal financial matters. The areas you work within will depend on your law firm, its clients and your role.

If you’re interested in exploring your options, read our guide on why you should consider a career in law.

There’s no right or wrong career path in law (or beyond). Whether you suit commercial law, another specialism or a different sector altogether is down to what you’re looking for, your skills and your priorities.

Some of the reasons people choose to work in commercial law include:

• Potential to earn a decent salary. How much you earn will depend on your employer but, typically, commercial law firms pay competitive wages.
• Stimulating work environment. The challenge of working with businesses is exciting. You’ll get to keep your brain busy with a variety of tasks every day.
• Sense of achievement. If you enjoy your job, helping businesses win their cases will give you a thrill.

While there are lots of skills for law you’ll need working in any legal area (such as attention to detail), there are some skills that are extra important in commercial law.

For example, as you’ll be working with businesses, it’s crucial to have commercial awareness. You need to understand the ins and outs of businesses as well as the law.

Other specific skills that matter in commercial law include:

• Financial literacy. If you’re going to support businesses through mergers and acquisitions, you need to understand financial statements.
• Client management. All lawyers need to work well with their clients, but it goes even further in commercial law. Some businesses view commercial lawyers as strategic partners, so you need to be good at managing valuable relationships.
• Industry-specific expertise. If you’re part of a commercial law firm that specialises in supporting a particular type of business, you’ll need to brush up on that sector.

Commercial law is an exciting sector for graduates to work in.

If you’re serious about a career in commercial law, you want to make sure you’ve got the right skills needed to be a lawyer.

While many of the necessary skills for a lawyer are the same whatever type of law you’d like to specialise in, there are some specific things to keep in mind for commercial law. For example, having commercial awareness is extremely important, so you need to know your stuff about the world of business.

Remember that having the right skills for law is only one part. You’ve also got to prove you’ve got them to potential employers. So, when you’re applying for a job at a commercial law firm, make sure you tailor every application and mention your skills. Always emphasise your abilities on your CV and in your job applications – and back them up with examples. You don’t just want to tell employers you’ve got the right skills; you want to show them.

Good luck!

If you’re looking for additional advice, check out our career path guide to law. It includes more information about the sector and career entry routes.