March 23, 2013

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Communication 101

“What we have here is a failure to communicate.”
–Cool Hand Luke (1967)

The practice of law is to a great extent the practice of communications.  It may be oral, such as questioning a witness, making legal arguments to a judge, discussing the law with a client or negotiating a resolution to a dispute.  It may be written, such as writing a contract, drafting a pleading, preparing a brief or filling in the blank spaces in a deed.  To some extent, communications skills are tempered through law school training and honed in an attorney’s daily practice.  They are formed much earlier in life, though.  It seems almost miraculous that some of us – including me –are able to communicate at all. Continue reading →