#// call me a conman cos i only did the most rudimentary research to answer this ask *finger guns lamely*

[thebetterreigen]

As a lawyer, what advice do you have for someone considering the law field?

..and, my boyfriend wants me to add, how accurate is the videogame Ace Attorney to actually being a lawyer?

- @psychicflavouredritzcracker (I’m the brother to one of your conman brother’s ‘pupils’. I saw through him since day one, though.)

Hey there Mr. Future Lawyer. You've asked the right person. Also why does my brother seem to know so many teens?

Naturally one would assume being a successful lawyer requires good grades or reputable relationships with your tutors, and as much as it's true that there's a lot of theoretical material (court etiquette and procedures and the like—in my city we have uniform trial court rules and rules of civil procedure; I keep a copy of them, and you should do so as well for your local rules) none of that would matter because that's not what makes up a good lawyer. Learning the theory only becomes helpful 20% of the time on field—or I suppose, in court—the other 80% is learning the practicality of things.

And that leads to: gaining people skills. This. Is. Essential. Learn to listen. Try not to overtake the conversations. Interject only when necessary. Too often, we’re programmed to get to the bottom of something quickly and efficiently. You can wind up turning off a client or missing something important by being impatient. There's a lot of skills you need to develop—reading people, digging into their intentions, knowing what to ask and say and how to say them to get what you need—and that's not something you can learn by reading a textbook. Seeing through my brother was a first step, wink wink.

Another thing. If you're in it for the money, then don't bother. Do it for the people. Clients come to you for a reason.

...And Ace Attorney (outside of the magic and spiritual mediums used in the game) is a horrendously and agregriously inaccurate depiction of court proceedings. It may follow Japan's court systems but even then some of it is just downright wrong. I'll save that rant for another time, though, for your sake.