Public Speaking Tips for Lawyers
You're a lawyer. You've done moot court. You know your way around the podium.
If you are not a litigator, maybe you are a transactional attorney who counsels clients or gives presentations. In any case, you should not be nervous about public speaking anymore.
If you are, what were you thinking when you decided to become a lawyer? Like Joan Rivers used to say, "Can we talk?"
Butterflies Are Free
Many people dread public speaking. They would rather be in the casket at a funeral than be delivering the eulogy.
Lawyers, we can't take the easy way out. It's our job to talk. So here are some tips for your next speech:
- Relax. Butterflies are free adrenaline boosts to your performance.
- Test your talk on a friendly, honest audience first.
- Pick a message and drive it home; one memorable quote is a win.
- Be a good storyteller, if not a decent joke-teller.
Actually, you can skip the jokes if you're not a natural comic. There's nothing quite like dying on stage with a bad joke to start a speech.
You're a Natural Speaker
On the other hand, speaking is natural to everybody with a tongue. After uttering your first word, it was simply about putting more words together.
So it is with public speaking. It helps to have a prepared speech, but you're really just talking about something you know. And the more you talk about a subject, the better you get at it.
You probably have a dozen stories in your repertoire already -- you know, those tales or lectures you give your clients, your colleagues or your kids.
Just iron out the wrinkles in your presentation, customize it for your audience, and try not to tell any bad jokes.
Related Resources:
- Stealing the Courtroom Show: Should You Sign Up for Theater Classes? (FindLaw's Strategist)
- Judge Tells Lawyer: No Sidewalk Speeches (FindLaw's Strategist)
- Seasonal Business Cards for Marketing on a Budget (FindLaw's Strategist)
