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How to Have a Successful Career as a Personal Injury Lawyer

By Hugh Fort in News Stories, posted November 28, 2022

Choosing a career is not the simplest of undertakings.

There are a great many viable career options for the career-minded school leaver or graduate, that run the gamut of fields and disciplines. For the school leaver seeking an engaging and bountiful career with significant opportunities for progression, the field of law could well be the most robust option.

But even the field of law is a relatively broad church, from law firm analysts to solicitors and front-line barristers. Which field should you consider as a budding law student? Here, we will examine one field in particular – personal injury – and how to excel in it.

What is a Personal Injury Lawyer?

A personal injury lawyer is a specific kind of legal professional, that represents or otherwise counsels individuals who have experienced an accident or injury through no fault of their own. These professionals specialise in specific legal niches – including those of liability, insurance and negligence – in order to effectively win positive financial outcomes for victims who have experienced financial or emotional loss through their injury.

Personal injury lawyers often seek compensation on behalf of individual victims or relatives in civil court, arguing the case that a given individual, business or enterprise is responsible for a given injury, and the ensuing costs incurred through recovery, loss of income and emotional burdens.

As an example, a factory worker may suffer a permanent physical injury as a result of interaction with ill-maintained equipment. A personal injury lawyer would advocate for a commensurate compensation payment in court, based on the company’s responsibility to their staff to provide a safe working environment and failure to uphold said responsibility.

Necessary Qualifications

In order to practice as a personal injury lawyer, you will first need to qualify with a relevant degree. The most common route to qualification is through the acquisition of a Bachelor’s in Law, otherwise known as an LLB. LLBs are typically four-year courses, though there are shorter accelerated courses for students with the aptitude.

There is also a post-degree diploma that can qualify individual students for further legal training. After an undergraduate degree, graduates can undertake a Graduate Diploma in Law to round out their knowledge. Following either approach, the candidate must then take a postgraduate Legal Practice Course (LPC) in order to gain the opportunity to work in law.

Skills to Cultivate

But working as a personal injury lawyer is not merely about the qualifications. You must also demonstrate a number of key skills in order to excel in your field. People skills are highly valuable, as you will spend much of your time speaking and listening to potential clients. An eye for detail is crucial to properly attending to the needs of complex claims and cases, while negotiation skills can help your clients avoid the stresses of court and enjoy immediate positive outcomes.