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Before coming to the Bar I was a volunteer manager, then a sports administrator before becoming a personal trainer and spending ten years building a franchising company for personal trainers. While not a traditional legal pathway, it taught me how to run a business and gave me a different perspective on relating to commercial clients. Here are some of the lessons I have learnt.
Our training focuses on law and legal argument. This is of little concern to many clients. Most will take our legal competence as a given, especially commercial clients who regularly use consultants.
Instead, successful companies focus on the bottom line. Profits are built on good reputations, efficient use of resources and strong relationships with clients. A barrister who demonstrates appreciation of these commercial priorities will quickly build rapport with clients.
Showing you understand your client starts simply, with universal skills. Listen carefully. Answer directly. Know your case. These are familiar to us all. Finesse comes in their application, especially with commercial clients.
Your client is likely to be an expert in their field. It is unlikely that you are. So don’t be afraid to ask technical questions to build the knowledge you need for a case. It is not a sign of weakness.
Make efforts to have a general appreciation of the business world. Most barristers don’t have the experience of running or managing a company, so here are a few quick ways to grow your commercial perspective.
Firstly, the business section of a weekend newspaper is a great place to start. These pages will summarise the latest government business policy, major developments for significant companies and the state of the markets. It will exercise your business mind and is useful knowledge to drop into conversation, as appropriate.
Secondly, read Freakonomics by Dubner and Levitt. It is a light-hearted but thought-provoking introduction to behavioural economics. It revolutionised the way I think about incentives, unintended consequences and interactions across all sectors of society. It even helped me get pupillage as ‘a book I had recently read’. This is a gateway to the many books and podcasts on all aspects of micro and macroeconomics.
Thirdly, review your own practice as the small business that it is. It could be of personal benefit as well as developing a more commercial way of thinking. For example:
In exhibiting your commercial awareness, don’t avoid giving a clear and frank legal analysis. This will build confidence that you are the legal expert your client is paying for. But then move beyond this to explore the overall impact on the business with your client:
Habitually adopting a ‘client’s eye’ approach lets you provide robust legal advice combined with commercial pragmatism. It builds better relationships so that your client and you can decide the best way forward.
Before coming to the Bar I was a volunteer manager, then a sports administrator before becoming a personal trainer and spending ten years building a franchising company for personal trainers. While not a traditional legal pathway, it taught me how to run a business and gave me a different perspective on relating to commercial clients. Here are some of the lessons I have learnt.
Our training focuses on law and legal argument. This is of little concern to many clients. Most will take our legal competence as a given, especially commercial clients who regularly use consultants.
Instead, successful companies focus on the bottom line. Profits are built on good reputations, efficient use of resources and strong relationships with clients. A barrister who demonstrates appreciation of these commercial priorities will quickly build rapport with clients.
Showing you understand your client starts simply, with universal skills. Listen carefully. Answer directly. Know your case. These are familiar to us all. Finesse comes in their application, especially with commercial clients.
Your client is likely to be an expert in their field. It is unlikely that you are. So don’t be afraid to ask technical questions to build the knowledge you need for a case. It is not a sign of weakness.
Make efforts to have a general appreciation of the business world. Most barristers don’t have the experience of running or managing a company, so here are a few quick ways to grow your commercial perspective.
Firstly, the business section of a weekend newspaper is a great place to start. These pages will summarise the latest government business policy, major developments for significant companies and the state of the markets. It will exercise your business mind and is useful knowledge to drop into conversation, as appropriate.
Secondly, read Freakonomics by Dubner and Levitt. It is a light-hearted but thought-provoking introduction to behavioural economics. It revolutionised the way I think about incentives, unintended consequences and interactions across all sectors of society. It even helped me get pupillage as ‘a book I had recently read’. This is a gateway to the many books and podcasts on all aspects of micro and macroeconomics.
Thirdly, review your own practice as the small business that it is. It could be of personal benefit as well as developing a more commercial way of thinking. For example:
In exhibiting your commercial awareness, don’t avoid giving a clear and frank legal analysis. This will build confidence that you are the legal expert your client is paying for. But then move beyond this to explore the overall impact on the business with your client:
Habitually adopting a ‘client’s eye’ approach lets you provide robust legal advice combined with commercial pragmatism. It builds better relationships so that your client and you can decide the best way forward.
Chair of the Bar sets out a busy calendar for the rest of the year
AlphaBiolabs has announced its latest Giving Back donation to RAY Ceredigion, a grassroots West Wales charity that provides play, learning and community opportunities for families across Ceredigion County
Rachel Davenport, Co-founder and Director at AlphaBiolabs, outlines why barristers, solicitors, judges, social workers and local authorities across the UK trust AlphaBiolabs for court-admissible testing
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs is helping to support women and children affected by domestic abuse, thanks to the company’s unique charity initiative that empowers legal professionals to give back to community causes
Casey Randall of AlphaBiolabs discusses the benefits of Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity testing for the Family Court
Philip N Bristow explains how to unlock your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step
Come in with your eyes open, but don’t let fear cloud the prospect. A view from practice by John Dove
Timothy James Dutton CBE KC was known across the profession as an outstanding advocate, a dedicated public servant and a man of the utmost integrity. He was also a loyal and loving friend to many of us
Lana Murphy and Francesca Perera started their careers at the Crown Prosecution Service before joining chambers. They discuss why they made the move and the practicalities of setting up self-employed practice as qualified juniors
As threats and attacks against lawyers continue to rise, a new international treaty offers a much-needed safeguard. Sarah Kavanagh reports on the landmark convention defending the independence of lawyers and rule of law
Author: Charlotte Proudman Reviewer: Stephanie Hayward