The Astonishing Truth About What Law Firms REALLY Look For in Your Presentation

Nov 30, 2023

Written By Ben Ffrancon Dowds

Knowing what a law firm is looking for in your presentation can be a bit of a mystery. In the highly competitive world of vacation schemes and training contract applications, cracking the code to these presentations can be a real game-changer. Read on to find out what law firms are looking for in your presentation and how best to practise so that you can nail it on the day.

Cracking the code: unveiling law firms’ presentation priorities

The presentation is a great chance to show just how well you know the firm. Make sure your presentation aligns with the firm’s core values and culture and shows off how much you know about them.

The presentation is also your opportunity to show off your legal and commercial knowledge and acumen. Demonstrate that you’re up to speed with the legal world by integrating relevant case law and recent legal developments into your presentation. Even better if there’s a relevant case that the firm themselves worked on, or you can bring in your commercial awareness

Effective communication skills, both written and oral, are crucial – they will help you make an impact and stand out against the other candidates. Avoid jargon and make sure you adapt your communication style to your audience. Practise your presentation to work on your pronunciation and articulation. You should aim to sound confident, informed and intelligent.

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Beyond the words: non-verbal elements

That said, you don’t just need to sound the part, you’ve got to look the part, too. During your trial runs, work on your posture and body language. Learn to maintain eye contact and use appropriate gestures, as this will help you to come across more confident during your presentation.

A professional appearance, including appropriate attire, is essential. It will help lend credibility to your presentation, as well as fulfilling the firm’s professional expectations. Look at a firm’s website or drop them an email to see what type of clothing will be most appropriate.

Unexpected challenges can crop up during these presentations. If a curveball is thrown your way, don’t falter, maintain your composure and deal with the problem head on. This could make the difference between a good presentation and a great one.

Navigating complex legal concepts: a must-have skill

One of the big things firms are looking out for in your presentation is your ability to simplify complex legal concepts for a broader audience, for example, a client. Put yourself in the client’s shoes when preparing your presentation. Break down the complex legal issues into digestible information, but be careful not to oversimplify things.

Visual aids might make a good addition to your presentation, helping to convey a complex legal scenario. Perhaps a graph could show the growth you’re talking about or maybe a pie chart could demonstrate how a business’s shares are divided up.

Be careful to strike a balance between brevity and detail. You want to be concise and brief, but not at the expense of necessary detail. Practice writing summaries of legal scenarios that get the point across without labouring it.

Navigating Q&A sessions and client interactions

Be ready for questions! There will almost certainly be a Q&A section of your presentation and you may also be asked questions during your presentation. Be prepared for common questions but also be aware that you may get asked something you haven’t prepared. You need to be able to think on your feet in these situations and give thoughtful responses.

It also pays to take a client-centric approach to your presentation – tailor your presentation to address client concerns and expectations. As a trainee solicitor, you’d be making presentations like these to enhance the overall client experience, so a law firm wants to see how you handle that sort of task.

Practical tips for presentation excellence

Practice makes perfect, so take the time to rehearse your presentation over and over again. It’s really important to try to get some experience as close to the real thing as possible, so try to do some trial runs in front of friends or mentors and ask for their feedback.

You should also make use of technology to make your presentation as engaging as possible. Are there some multimedia elements you could incorporate to make it more interesting and help get your points across?

Always be ready to adapt and grow. If your friends or mentors give you feedback, learn as much as you can from it and use it to inform how you tackle the real thing. With enough practice, your presentation skills will really improve.

Conclusion

From a confident outlook to using technology to your advantage, these are the tips and tricks to help you nail your presentation. Making the effort to understand and apply the strategies laid out in this article will give you the skills you need to make your presentation a triumph!

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