Arbitration and mediation are processes that attempt to guide the parties toward settlement without the time and expense of going to court.
Civil litigation encompasses a broad range of disputes and can be loosely defined as a legal process in which criminal charges and penalties are not at issue.
The role and responsibilities of a civil litigation attorney can be challenging and diverse. It is an adversarial process with two or more parties pitted against each other. The attorney is his client’s advocate, obligated to fight for him to achieve the best possible outcome on the client’s behalf. Lawyers specializing in this field must be willing to assume oppositional positions, to embrace conflict and controversy, and to effectively act as human pit bulls in defense of their clients.
Attorneys and litigation paralegals in this field often work long hours, especially during a trial. Certain skills and knowledge are essential to litigation practice. Key legal skills include:
• Knowledge of substantive and procedural law
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills
• Analytical and logical reasoning abilities
• Ability to synthesize complex legal and factual materials
• Superior interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of legal research techniques and software
• Client development skills
• Negotiation skills
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