Consultancy is a new phenomenon, and it has been a rage for a while now. The opportunity to engage with leaders, advance a career swiftly, cooperate with talented individuals, and travel the world are some of the top benefits of working as a consultant. Additionally, as a consultant one has the opportunity to choose their own work hours as well as work with multiple stakeholders in the industry, providing greater exposure and opportunities.
In general terms, a consultant is someone who has expert knowledge in a particular field, for instance, business management or engineering or law, and they work as advisors to certain individuals or organisations/companies who may not have experts on board. What makes a good/bad consultant is the passion and excellence towards the work they are doing.
Most big companies hire a legal consultant who helps in securing the legal standing of the company and maintaining the law. A legal consultant uses legal practice knowledge to enhance a law company's efficiency and profitability. Besides advising on the right solutions for customer productivity, marketing and development strategies, legal consultants also actively manage risks by consulting on program and legal-related issues. They help the parent law firm meet its objectives by analysing problems and developing solutions. Other than negotiating, drafting, and reviewing legal documents, legal consultants also conduct legal research and analyse the right securities, insurance, and retirement plans.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, legal consultant careers are projected to have a growth rate of 6% from 2018 to 2028. Hence, it can be said that the field is providing more opportunities for people who wish to apply to this field. Also, the projected number of opportunities that are predicted to become available for a legal consultant by 2028 is 50,100.
Responsibilities of a legal consultant
Below are typical tasks which legal consultants are most likely to perform in their roles.
Manage day-to-day legal affairs of NYSE list airline.
Monitor payments receive during bankruptcy case and follow up on repossession orders.
Complete bankruptcy filing forms in accordance with company and federal bankruptcy procedures.
Coordinate interactions between outside counsel, compliance agencies to determine collection and storage requirement for sensitive date use between different entities.
Distribute confidential and sensitive materials relate to the IRS asset forfeiture program to appropriate outlets, including senior IRS analysts.
Obtain release of IRS tax liens and improper mechanics liens against properties.
Restructure OGC operations; establish and develop new advisory division - from initiation through full implementation.
Skills required by a legal consultant
The major point every consultant needs to remember is to always be a good listener. To quote Ernest Hemingway, ‘When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.’ Another major point is good communication. Consultancy is a two-way communication process where we must be able to convey our ideas effectively and bring about measurable changes.
Teamwork is an essential skill when it comes to legal consultants. We may collaborate with other legal consultants or legal professionals to provide the best service for the clients. While working as part of a team, respect and empathy are essential to listening actively and accepting the opinions of others. If people enjoy working with us, they are more likely to refer to our services again and even recommend our business to others.
It is possible to not find solutions to problems directly. Sometimes, legal consultants will have to explore other avenues and arguments to come up with the desired result for the client. As such, it is essential for them to have creative-problem solving skills.
Ability to work under pressure is another important skill. Even as a legal consultant, we will often have to complete a large amount of work under tight deadlines. This requires us to stay calm and focused so as not to become too stressed. A simple trick to stay on track is to create a personal deadline before the actual deadline. This can help us factor in any unexpected issues that may arise.
As a legal consultant, we need the ability to spot key pieces of information in large quantities of documents with expert attention to detail. It's also an essential skill when creating contracts and developing legal strategies. A focus on details combined with an excellent memory can help in identifying and remembering details of the law that can help our case.
Dedicating time to research and prepare for each case or client is essential in this role. Researching, like any other skill, takes practise and the more we research, the more efficient and streamlined it becomes. Legal consultants typically conduct extensive research as part of their undergraduate and law school studies, and to prepare for the LSAT and bar exams.
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