The employment outlook for lawyers looks strong as it’s set to increase by 7.5% by 2032, with the current average salary now at $135,740. Public speaking is a great way lawyers can expand their professional network, get established as industry thought leaders, and find further opportunities for career growth. Yet, speaking doesn’t always come naturally to everyone. If this is the case for you, don’t worry, it’s a skill that can be honed. By putting together presentations that address common pain points and hook listeners, you can successfully persuade and inform your audience and become the best speaker you can be.
It’s useful to understand your audience’s shared pain points (which can be any relevant law-related problems persistent within the industry), so you can design your speech to address and solve these issues. This offers maximum value to your audience and will keep them engaged throughout. So, for example, if you’re talking to fellow lawyers about recent developments in employment law, you may want to address relevant issues like employee sexual harassment cases and unfair dismisal processes.
Alternatively, you could use your speech as an opportunity to educate lawyers on financial compliance. For example, lawyers don’t usually understand the ins and outs of IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts) programs, which require them to hold client funds in interest-bearing trust accounts, and transfer the interest to the state bar. IOLTA programs help low-income individuals afford legal representation — annual IOLTA grants in the U.S. total over $175 million on average. Yet, there’s set rules about how these accounts should be managed with unethical practices resulting in risk of disbarment. Lawyers should therefore prioritize IOLTA compliance, which involves keeping comprehensive bookkeeping records. By explaining common IOLTA mistakes and how to avoid them, you're bound to offer information of real value and interest to your audience.
The opening line is arguably the most important of your entire presentation as it needs to grab audience attention right away. If, on the other hand, you waste your precious opening minutes thanking the emcee and stating how happy you are to be there (something you hear from most speakers), your audience is more likely to tune out. So, launch into your speech right away, and you can always throw in the pleasantries later. Start with an impactful statement like a shocking law statistic or intriguing fact to wow people from the get-go. Asking the audience a question is another effective, attention-grabbing opening strategy. Questions automatically engage the audience as they try to work out the correct answer. They’re therefore naturally tuned into what you’re saying.
Although finishing with a Q&A may seem fairly standard, it has the potential to derail your talk so it falls flat overall. Ideally, it’s best to include a Q&A just before you’re about to wrap things up (as they’re still a great way to engage the audience), and then close with a strong, pre-planned final statement. You want to finish your presentation on a high-note that gives the audience an inspiring call to action, rather than rescinding control to the audience with a Q&A that could take any turn (potentially a negative one). So, for example, you could say something like: “Before I make my crucial final point, I’d like to hear from you. Are there any questions?”. To avoid the risk of an awkward silence and no questions, say: “I’m often asked about ___. Here’s my response”. You can then transition into your final point.
All lawyers should master the art of public speaking. Fortunately, with enough planning and practice, you can strengthen your communication skills and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
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