Top 12 Legal Consultant Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today's competitive legal landscape, standing out as a legal consultant requires more than just a solid education and experience. Highlighting a unique set of skills on your resume can distinguish you from the competition, showcasing your ability to navigate complex legal challenges and deliver exceptional results to clients.

Legal Consultant Skills

1. LexisNexis
2. Westlaw
3. Contract Negotiation
4. Compliance Management
5. Legal Research
6. Litigation Support
7. Intellectual Property
8. Corporate Law
9. Employment Law
10. Environmental Law
11. Mediation
12. Arbitration

1. LexisNexis

LexisNexis is a global provider of legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics, offering a comprehensive suite of research and data tools, legal resources, and databases for legal consultants and professionals to aid in legal research, case preparation, and business intelligence.

Why It's Important

LexisNexis is important for a Legal Consultant as it provides comprehensive legal research tools, access to a vast database of case law, statutes, and legal publications, enabling accurate and efficient legal analysis and decision-making.

How to Improve LexisNexis Skills

Improving your LexisNexis skills as a Legal Consultant involves a few key steps focused on leveraging its resources more effectively. Here’s a concise guide:

1. Enhance Search Skills: Master the use of Boolean search operators and segment searches to refine results. LexisNexis offers guidance on search techniques that can drastically improve your efficiency.

2. Utilize Practice Area Resources: Focus on the specific practice areas relevant to your field. LexisNexis tailors its resources to different legal practices, offering focused tools and documents.

3. Stay Updated: Use LexisNexis’ alert system to keep abreast of new developments in case law, statutes, and legal news. This ensures you're always informed on the latest in your field.

4. Engage in Training: LexisNexis provides training sessions and resources to help users maximize their use of the platform. Regularly participating in these can uncover new strategies and tools.

5. Leverage Analytical Tools: Explore LexisNexis’ Legal Analytics to gather data-driven insights into judges, courts, and legal outcomes. This can inform your strategy and research.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly enhance your effectiveness in utilizing LexisNexis for legal consultation.

How to Display LexisNexis Skills on Your Resume

2. Westlaw

Westlaw is a comprehensive online legal research service and database that provides legal consultants and professionals access to a vast collection of legal resources, including case law, statutes, regulations, legal journals, and more, facilitating efficient and in-depth legal research.

Why It's Important

Westlaw is important for a Legal Consultant as it provides comprehensive, up-to-date legal information, case law, statutes, and legal analysis, facilitating efficient legal research and informed decision-making.

How to Improve Westlaw Skills

To enhance Westlaw for a Legal Consultant, consider the following concise strategies:

1. Customization: Tailor your Westlaw interface and preferences to match your specific research needs. Organize frequently used resources, enabling quicker access. Personalize Westlaw

2. Advanced Search Techniques: Master boolean searches, use terms and connectors, and leverage the advanced search options to refine results. This precision saves time and improves result relevance. Westlaw Advanced Searching

3. Training and Support: Take advantage of Westlaw's training resources to stay updated on new features and tools. Regular training can significantly enhance research efficiency. Westlaw Training

4. Integration Tools: Utilize Westlaw's integration capabilities with other software (e.g., case management systems) to streamline workflow and improve productivity. Westlaw Integration Solutions

5. Feedback and Updates: Stay engaged with Westlaw updates and provide feedback for improvements. User input can lead to enhancements that benefit the broader legal research community. Westlaw Product Updates

By focusing on these areas, a Legal Consultant can significantly improve their efficiency and effectiveness when using Westlaw for legal research.

How to Display Westlaw Skills on Your Resume

3. Contract Negotiation

Contract negotiation, in the context of a Legal Consultant, involves the strategic discussion and amendment of the terms and conditions within a contract. The goal is to reach an agreement that aligns with the client's objectives, minimizes risks, and maximizes legal and financial benefits.

Why It's Important

Contract negotiation is crucial for a Legal Consultant as it ensures the terms are clearly defined, protects the client's interests, minimizes risks, and aligns expectations, leading to more favorable and legally secure outcomes.

How to Improve Contract Negotiation Skills

Improving contract negotiation as a Legal Consultant involves several key strategies:

1. Preparation is Key: Thoroughly understand your client's business, objectives, and the specific contract at hand. Research the other party to anticipate their needs and negotiation points. Harvard Law School offers insights on preparation.

2. Clear Communication: Clearly articulate your objectives, concerns, and concessions. Effective communication reduces misunderstandings. The American Bar Association highlights communication techniques.

3. Know Your BATNA: Understand your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement. Knowing your fallback position provides leverage. The Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School explains BATNA.

4. Build Relationships: Establishing a good rapport can lead to more favorable negotiations. People prefer to do business with those they like and trust. Forbes discusses the importance of building relationships in negotiation.

5. Flexibility and Creativity: Be open to alternative solutions that satisfy both parties' core interests. Creativity can unlock unexpected value in negotiations. The Harvard Business Review elaborates on creative negotiations.

6. Patience and Persistence: Some negotiations take time. Be patient but persistent in pursuing your objectives while remaining open to compromise. Negotiation Experts provide insights on patience in negotiations.

7. Utilize Technology: Tools like contract management software can streamline the negotiation process, keeping track of versions and changes efficiently. TechRepublic discusses the benefits of contract management software.

Remember, successful contract negotiation is a skill that improves with practice and continuous learning.

How to Display Contract Negotiation Skills on Your Resume

4. Compliance Management

Compliance Management is the process through which a Legal Consultant ensures that an organization adheres to relevant laws, regulations, and ethical standards to mitigate legal and regulatory risks.

Why It's Important

Compliance management is essential for ensuring that an organization adheres to legal standards and regulations, minimizing legal risks and potential penalties, thereby safeguarding its reputation and promoting ethical conduct within the industry.

How to Improve Compliance Management Skills

Improving compliance management, especially from a Legal Consultant's perspective, involves a strategic approach focused on thorough understanding, continuous monitoring, and effective communication. Here's a concise guide:

1. Assess and Understand Regulatory Landscape: Keep abreast of all relevant regulations affecting the business. Utilize resources like Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence to stay updated.

2. Risk Assessment: Regularly perform risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities. Tools like Deloitte's Risk Assessment can aid in this process.

3. Develop a Compliance Plan: Create a comprehensive compliance plan that includes policies, procedures, and controls. The Compliance Management System guide by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a good starting point.

4. Training and Education: Implement ongoing training programs for employees at all levels. Resources like ComplianceOnline offer a range of training options.

5. Monitor and Audit: Regularly monitor compliance and conduct audits to ensure policies are followed. Software like MetricStream can automate this process.

6. Report and Rectify: Establish a transparent reporting mechanism for compliance issues and take immediate action to rectify them.

7. Leverage Technology: Utilize compliance management software to streamline processes. Explore options like NAVEX Global’s Risk & Compliance Software.

8. Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and update compliance processes and training to adapt to new regulations and business changes.

By following these steps and leveraging available resources, Legal Consultants can significantly improve compliance management within their organizations.

How to Display Compliance Management Skills on Your Resume

5. Legal Research

Legal research is the process of identifying and retrieving information necessary to support legal decision-making. For a legal consultant, it involves systematically finding and analyzing laws, statutes, regulations, case law, and legal precedents relevant to a specific legal issue or case to provide well-informed, accurate legal advice.

Why It's Important

Legal research is crucial for a Legal Consultant as it enables them to accurately interpret laws, precedents, and regulations, ensuring informed, effective, and compliant legal advice, strategies, and solutions for their clients.

How to Improve Legal Research Skills

Improving legal research involves honing your skills in efficiently finding and analyzing legal documents to support legal arguments or understand the law better. Here are concise tips tailored for a legal consultant:

1. Start with a Plan: Clearly define your research question or objective. Knowing exactly what you are looking for helps streamline the search process.

2. Utilize Reliable Databases: Depend on reputable legal databases for accurate information. Examples include Westlaw, LexisNexis, and Google Scholar for case law and legal publications.

3. Practice Boolean Searches: Learn and apply Boolean logic to refine search results. This involves using operators like AND, OR, NOT, and phrases within quotes to get more precise results.

4. Stay Current: Legal landscapes evolve constantly. Use services like Law360 or Jurist to stay updated on the latest legal developments and research.

5. Understand Citations: Master how to read and use legal citations to find cases, statutes, and other legal documents efficiently.

6. Consult Secondary Sources: Begin with secondary sources like treatises, law reviews, and encyclopedias for a foundational understanding before diving into primary law. This can provide context and help interpret complex legal principles.

7. Leverage Legal Analytics: Use platforms offering legal analytics, such as Lex Machina, to gain insights on judges, courts, and the outcomes of similar cases.

8. Network and Collaborate: Engage with other legal professionals through forums, online communities, or associations like the American Bar Association. Sharing insights and strategies can unveil new research methodologies or resources.

9. Review and Organize: Keep meticulous records of your research process and findings. Tools like Evernote or legal-research-specific software can help organize your materials for easy access and reference.

10. Continuously Learn: Stay open to learning new research tools and techniques. Participate in webinars, CLE courses, or workshops focused on legal research skills, many of which are offered through legal associations or law libraries.

By actively refining your research strategies and keeping abreast of new tools and resources, you can significantly enhance the quality and efficiency of your legal research.

How to Display Legal Research Skills on Your Resume

6. Litigation Support

Litigation support refers to the specialized assistance provided by legal consultants to attorneys in managing and navigating the complexities of legal cases. This includes tasks such as research, document review, case preparation, and technology support to effectively present a case in court.

Why It's Important

Litigation support is important for a legal consultant because it provides essential assistance in managing and analyzing data, preparing for trials, and formulating legal strategies, thereby enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness, and outcomes of legal cases.

How to Improve Litigation Support Skills

Improving Litigation Support as a Legal Consultant involves enhancing both the technological and procedural aspects of case management. Here are concise strategies:

1. Stay Updated with Technology: Embrace the latest eDiscovery tools and litigation support software to manage documents and evidence more efficiently.

2. Continuing Education: Regularly update your skills through courses and certifications from recognized bodies such as the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS).

3. Effective Communication: Develop clear communication channels with attorneys and clients. Use project management tools like Trello or Asana for better task organization and updates.

4. Data Security: Implement stringent data security measures to protect sensitive information. Refer to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines for cybersecurity best practices.

5. Collaboration and Networking: Join professional networks such as the Association for Legal Professionals (NALS) to exchange knowledge and best practices.

By focusing on these areas, Legal Consultants can significantly improve their litigation support services.

How to Display Litigation Support Skills on Your Resume

7. Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names, and images used in commerce. It is protected by law through patents, copyrights, trademarks, and related rights, allowing individuals and businesses to earn recognition or financial benefit from their inventions or creations.

Why It's Important

Intellectual Property (IP) is crucial as it protects creations of the mind, granting legal rights to inventors, artists, and businesses to exploit their creations for economic benefit. This fosters innovation, competition, and investment, ultimately contributing to national and global economic growth. It also ensures creators can control and receive compensation for their inventions and works, encouraging further creativity and development. For a Legal Consultant, understanding IP is essential to advise on safeguarding these rights, navigating complex legal frameworks, and maximizing the value and impact of intellectual assets for individuals and organizations.

How to Improve Intellectual Property Skills

Improving Intellectual Property (IP) management involves several key steps tailored for legal consultants to ensure their clients' assets are well-protected and optimized. Here's a brief guide:

1. Conduct IP Audits: Regularly assess your clients' IP assets to identify and evaluate their scope, status, and potential risks. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) provides guidance on conducting IP audits.

2. Strengthen IP Portfolio: Advise on acquiring new IP rights and maintaining existing ones. This includes filing for patents, trademarks, copyrights, and designs in relevant jurisdictions. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) offer resources for registration.

3. Implement IP Strategies: Develop strategies for the commercialization of IP, such as licensing, franchising, or selling IP rights. Guidance can be found through resources like the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI).

4. Ensure IP Compliance: Assist clients in adhering to IP laws and regulations, including copyright law, patent law, and trademark law. The International Trademark Association (INTA) provides updates on IP compliance and best practices.

5. Educate on IP Protection: Provide training and resources to clients on how to protect their IP from infringement or theft. The WIPO Academy offers courses on various aspects of IP rights.

6. Monitor IP Infringements: Use IP monitoring services to detect unauthorized use of your clients' IP and take appropriate legal action. Tools like Thomson Compumark offer monitoring solutions.

7. Negotiate IP Agreements: Draft and negotiate IP-related agreements, including non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), licensing agreements, and assignment agreements, to ensure the client's interests are protected.

By following these steps and utilizing available resources, legal consultants can significantly improve their clients' IP management and protection strategies.

How to Display Intellectual Property Skills on Your Resume

8. Corporate Law

Corporate law is the body of law governing the formation, operation, and regulation of companies, focusing on the legal aspects of business activities, such as incorporation, mergers, acquisitions, and the rights and duties of stakeholders.

Why It's Important

Corporate law is crucial as it provides a legal framework for companies to operate effectively, ensuring rights and obligations are clear among stakeholders, facilitating economic transactions, and safeguarding against malpractice. It enables legal consultants to guide corporations in compliance, risk management, and strategic decision-making, fostering a stable business environment.

How to Improve Corporate Law Skills

Improving corporate law requires a multi-faceted approach, focusing on regulation, transparency, and adaptability. Here's a concise guide for legal consultants:

1. Enhance Regulatory Frameworks: Stay abreast of global best practices and advocate for the adoption of regulations that ensure fairness, accountability, and transparency. The World Bank's Doing Business reports can offer comparative insights.

2. Promote Transparency: Encourage companies to go beyond the minimum legal requirements in disclosing financial and operational information. The Transparency International provides resources and standards for promoting corporate transparency.

3. Facilitate Adaptability: Legal frameworks should evolve with technological advancements and changing business environments. Engage with initiatives like the Stanford Law School's Corporate Governance Research Initiative for insights into emerging trends.

4. Strengthen Corporate Governance: Advocate for robust corporate governance practices that ensure the rights of all stakeholders are protected. The OECD Principles of Corporate Governance serve as a global benchmark.

5. Foster Ethical Business Practices: Work towards embedding ethical considerations into corporate decision-making processes. The Business Ethics Resource Center offers tools and guidance for developing ethical guidelines.

By focusing on these areas, legal consultants can play a pivotal role in shaping a more equitable, transparent, and responsive corporate law framework.

How to Display Corporate Law Skills on Your Resume

9. Employment Law

Employment Law is the branch of law that governs the rights and duties between employers and workers. It covers a wide range of matters, including but not limited to, employment contracts, wages, workplace safety, discrimination, and termination of employment.

Why It's Important

Employment law is crucial as it ensures fair and safe work environments, protects against discrimination, and balances power between employers and employees, essential for maintaining workplace harmony and legal compliance for businesses.

How to Improve Employment Law Skills

Improving employment law requires a multifaceted approach, focusing on enhancing clarity, adaptability, and fairness to address the evolving nature of work environments and workforce needs. As a Legal Consultant, consider these concise strategies:

1. Strengthen Anti-Discrimination Measures: Implement clearer regulations and stronger enforcement mechanisms to combat workplace discrimination. EEOC's Guidelines can serve as a foundation for developing robust anti-discrimination policies.

2. Enhance Worker Protections: Update labor laws to offer better protection for gig economy workers and those in precarious employment situations, drawing insights from the ILO's recommendations.

3. Promote Flexibility and Work-Life Balance: Encourage laws that support flexible working arrangements, such as telecommuting and flexible hours, to reflect modern work practices. The OECD's Policy Brief on Work-Life Balance provides valuable guidelines.

4. Ensure Fair Compensation: Advocate for laws that enforce fair pay, including equal pay for equal work and livable minimum wages. Reference the Pay Equity Best Practices for strategies to achieve compensation fairness.

5. Foster a Safe Work Environment: Push for stricter safety regulations and compliance checks in workplaces, utilizing OSHA's standards as a benchmark for safety measures.

6. Support Continuous Learning and Development: Encourage policies that mandate or incentivize ongoing employee training and development, to keep pace with technological advancements and changing industry needs. The World Economic Forum's Insight Report on the Future of Jobs offers valuable data on skills development.

7. Enhance Transparency and Accountability: Promote laws that require greater transparency in employment practices and decisions, facilitating accountability. The Corporate Accountability Index offers insights into promoting transparency in corporate practices.

By advocating for and implementing these strategies, employment laws can be more effectively aligned with contemporary work environments, promoting fairness, safety, and flexibility in the workforce.

How to Display Employment Law Skills on Your Resume

10. Environmental Law

Environmental Law is a body of legal statutes, regulations, and agreements that govern the interaction between humanity and the natural environment, aiming to protect and preserve natural resources and ecosystems from harmful human activities. It encompasses laws related to pollution control, waste management, conservation, and sustainable use of natural resources.

Why It's Important

Environmental law is crucial as it provides a framework for protecting the health of our ecosystems and, by extension, public health. It ensures sustainable development by regulating human activities that impact the environment, mitigating climate change, and conserving natural resources. For legal consultants, it offers a specialized field for advising clients on compliance, navigating complex regulatory landscapes, and addressing liability issues related to environmental damage.

How to Improve Environmental Law Skills

Improving environmental law as a legal consultant involves several key strategies focused on enhancing the effectiveness, enforceability, and adaptability of legal frameworks to better protect the environment. Here are concise recommendations:

1. Strengthen Enforcement Mechanisms: Advocate for the implementation of more rigorous enforcement mechanisms. This involves working with governmental agencies to ensure there are adequate resources and political will to enforce existing environmental laws. Environmental Law Institute provides resources and discussions on enhancing law enforcement.

2. Promote Public Participation: Encourage laws that facilitate greater public involvement in environmental decision-making. This can lead to more transparent and accountable governance. The Aarhus Convention is a key international instrument that supports public participation.

3. Incorporate Scientific Advances: Legal frameworks should be adaptable to incorporate the latest scientific findings. This ensures that environmental regulations remain relevant and effective in addressing current and future challenges. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) offers scientific insights that can inform legal standards.

4. Foster International Cooperation: Environmental issues often transcend national boundaries. Promote laws that support international cooperation to address shared environmental challenges effectively. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is a platform for fostering global environmental cooperation.

5. Enhance Legal Education: Advocate for improved environmental law education among legal professionals to ensure they are well-equipped to deal with complex environmental issues. The IUCN Academy of Environmental Law provides educational resources and forums for environmental law scholars and practitioners.

6. Support Innovative Legal Solutions: Encourage the exploration and adoption of innovative legal mechanisms such as environmental impact bonds and green taxes. This can provide new tools for environmental protection and sustainable development. The Environmental Defense Fund often explores innovative environmental solutions that have a legal component.

By focusing on these strategies, legal consultants can play a crucial role in strengthening and improving environmental law to better address the pressing environmental challenges of our time.

How to Display Environmental Law Skills on Your Resume

11. Mediation

Mediation is a confidential, voluntary dispute resolution process where a neutral third party, the mediator, helps the disputing parties find a mutually acceptable solution to their conflict.

Why It's Important

Mediation is important because it offers a cost-effective, confidential, and faster resolution to disputes, reducing the need for prolonged litigation, and allowing parties to control the outcome through mutual agreement, thus preserving relationships and providing a more satisfying resolution.

How to Improve Mediation Skills

Improving mediation, especially from a legal consultant's perspective, involves enhancing communication, preparation, and strategy. Here are concise steps to follow:

1. Advance Preparation: Understand the case thoroughly. Utilize resources like the American Bar Association’s preparation guide to structure your approach.

2. Skill Enhancement: Improve negotiation and communication skills through specialized training. The Harvard Program on Negotiation offers advanced courses and resources.

3. Strategic Use of Information: Master the art of when to hold back or disclose information. This guide on strategic disclosure can be insightful.

4. Building Rapport: Establish trust and rapport with the mediator and opposing party. The International Mediation Institute provides insights into interpersonal skills for mediation.

5. Technology Utilization: Leverage technology for efficient mediation. Platforms like Modria offer online dispute resolution tools.

6. Ethical Practice: Adhere strictly to ethical guidelines as outlined by entities like the Mediation Ethics Advisory Committee to maintain professionalism and credibility.

By focusing on these key areas, a legal consultant can significantly improve the effectiveness of mediation processes.

How to Display Mediation Skills on Your Resume

12. Arbitration

Arbitration is a dispute resolution process where an impartial third party, known as an arbitrator, makes a binding decision to resolve a conflict outside of court.

Why It's Important

Arbitration is important because it offers a faster, more flexible, and often less expensive alternative to court litigation, allowing parties to resolve disputes confidentially with the guidance of an expert arbitrator. This process helps maintain business relationships and provides a legally binding resolution, which is crucial for a Legal Consultant in advising clients effectively on dispute resolution strategies.

How to Improve Arbitration Skills

Improving arbitration, particularly from a legal consultant's perspective, involves a few key strategies aimed at enhancing efficiency, fairness, and satisfaction for all parties involved. Here are some concise tips:

1. Pre-Arbitration Agreement: Ensure clarity and fairness in arbitration clauses to prevent misunderstandings. Drafting Effective Arbitration Clauses provides insights.

2. Selection of Arbitrators: Advocate for a transparent and mutually agreeable process for selecting arbitrators. The AAA's Guidelines can help in understanding criteria for selecting competent arbitrators.

3. Preparation and Presentation: Streamline case preparation and presentation, focusing on key issues to avoid unnecessary complexities. Effective Preparation for Arbitration offers strategies.

4. Technology Use: Embrace technology for document management, hearings, and communication to increase efficiency. The ICCA’s Guide to the Interpretation of the 1958 New York Convention provides insights into technology's role in international arbitration.

5. Communication: Maintain clear and open communication with all parties involved, including the arbitrator(s), to ensure a smooth process. Effective Communication in Arbitration highlights the importance of this aspect.

6. Continuing Education: Stay informed about the latest developments in arbitration law and practice. Resources like Kluwer Arbitration Blog provide updates and insights.

By focusing on these areas, legal consultants can significantly contribute to the effectiveness and fairness of the arbitration process.

How to Display Arbitration Skills on Your Resume