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A STUDY OF THE COMMUNICATION SKILLS PRACTICES, TRAINING, AND NEEDS OF KANSAS ATTORNEYS (LEGAL)
Abstract
The relationship between speech and law is long-standing. As attacks on the trial bar's competence have grown, speech researchers have become more interested in that relationship and in the role they can play in helping attorneys and future attorneys develop communication skills. Based on legal and speech research on communication skills in legal practice, a survey of Kansas attorneys was conducted to answer five questions: (1) What communication skills are needed in the practice of law according to type and length of practice? (2) Does participation in trial work affect perceptions of the importance of communication skills? (3) Where and how do lawyers currently acquire communication skills? (4) What do lawyers perceive to be the best methods of teaching the communication skills needed in legal practice? and (5) Do lawyers with pre-legal or CLE (Continuing Legal Education) training in communication skills perceive themselves as more effective communicators than those without? Results of the survey indicated that all 23 communication skills addressed were considered as "Somewhat Important" or "Important" by all 368 respondents. The variable of length and type of practice affected ratings as did frequency of trial participation. Previous findings showing that skills are acquired primarily through personal experience were corroborated. Additionally, attorneys in this study believed that 22 of the 23 skills are better learned through sources other than those they had used. No statistical differences in self-evaluations were found for those with pre-legal or CLE training and those without. Because 181 respondents had practiced over 10 years, experience appeared to balance gains made through instruction. Based on results, speech communication departments should play a more active role in educating pre-law students. Legal communication sources should include a broader range of communication skills than traditional trial skills. Speech professionals should also become more actively involved in CLE instruction and should advise law school educators regarding appropriate teaching techniques in communication skills.
Subject Area
Communication
Recommended Citation
PRENTICE, DIANA BARTELLI, "A STUDY OF THE COMMUNICATION SKILLS PRACTICES, TRAINING, AND NEEDS OF KANSAS ATTORNEYS (LEGAL)" (1985). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8521473.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8521473