Researchers at the University of Dayton
School of Law recently released the findings from a study on what
legal employers expect from law school graduates. Most observers
would expect the employers to emphasize a need for writing and
analytical skills, and they do touch on the importance of such
capabilities. However, the respondents focused far more on so-called
“soft” skills, like work ethic and individual responsibility.
In terms of the expected practical
skills, employers highlighted the importance of conducting research,
a skill to which most thought law schools should devote more time and
resources. As new hires are often tasked with compiling up-to-date
research for cases, respondents emphasized the need for graduates to
know how to scour all available sources effectively, while also
keeping in mind the purpose and the audience of an assignment. While
lengthy research memos are commonly assigned, so too are shorter
writing assignments for clients or other parties. Just as employers'
preferences vary, clients' preferences for the amount of information
provided differ as well. Recognizing how to tailor work products was
observed by respondents as a critical skill.
Past the practical skills desired,
employers voiced opinions on new hires' attitudes to the workplace
and the work assigned to them. Coming in with a positive attitude and
being able to work independently rated high on employers' list of
desired “soft” skills. One even stated that some graduates come
in to firms with an expectation that employers will “sit down and
kind of spoon feed them.” For the employers interviewed in the
study, that kind of attitude is problematic for new hires looking to
succeed in the legal field.
While this study was focused on firms
in the Dayton, Ohio area, it is beneficial for law students to
understand what skills to cultivate prior to graduation.
