Medical negligence is among the most competitive areas of law, which means that would-be solicitors embarking on new careers face a battle to break into the industry. So what qualities are necessary to distinguish yourself from the rest of the field? Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Knowledge of the Law
Let’s start with obvious point. It’s highly advantageous to have a strong intuitive grasp of the law. As you pick up experience, you’ll start to get a feel of which laws apply in every given situation – but this must be rooted in a strong understanding of how the law works. In many cases, this will come in the form of a degree – though there are often opportunities to progress while learning on-the-job. So, if you already have a position as a legal assistant in a law firm, it’s possible to make the step up and become a lawyer. You might even get the firm to pay for it.
Knowledge of the Healthcare Sector
If you’re dealing with negligence taking place in a given sector, then it’s advantageous to understand exactly how that sector works, both in theory and practice. While you don’t need experience or expertise in healthcare or biology, you do need to know the basics of what’s expected of a healthcare worker.
Emotional Intelligence
When you’re working in this field, your clients will often have been through some fairly traumatic experiences. Not only will they have had the stress of needing medical treatment in the first place; they’ll also have endured mistreatment. In some cases, that mistreatment might be severe. You’ll need to be an easy person to talk to, being able to reassure and sympathise, as well as guide your client through what might be an exhausting process. If you aren’t approachable, then you might not be able to earn the trust of your clients.
Organisation Skills
When you work as a lawyer, your time can become incredibly scarce, incredibly quickly. It’s therefore essential that you get the most utility out of every available hour, by putting in place the right working practices. If you lack the ability to put paperwork in order, and to tidy your workspace, then it’s worth scrutinising your habits and looking to put in place better ones. That way, when you’re poring through precedents, you can easily collate your research in a way that will make sense later.
