Public Speaking for Lawyers: It’s Not Just About the Wig and Gown
The law is not a game of hide and seek; it is a search for the truth. But if you can't articulate that truth, it doesn't matter how right you are.
When people think of "legal public speaking," they usually imagine a barrister in a dusty wig, standing in a wood-panelled courtroom, dramatically saying to a witness, "I put it to you!"
However, it does not matter if you are aiming for the Bar or planning to become a commercial solicitor at a Magic Circle firm, public speaking is your most valuable weapon. And no, you don't need a wig and gown to use it.
If you think you can skip the advocacy practise because you "just want to do corporate law," I have some news for you. You’re going to be doing more public speaking than most actors, just with fewer costume changes.
The Myth of the "Silent Solicitor"
There’s a common misconception among law students that if you choose the solicitor route, you can hide behind a desk, bury your head in contracts, and never have to speak to a crowd.
In modern legal practice, this is not the case. As a solicitor, you will need to:
Brief your supervisors on complex files.
Lead client meetings.
Negotiate with opposing lawyers.
Pitch for new business alongside partners.
If your voice shakes every time you have to explain a clause in a Share Purchase Agreement, your brilliant legal mind is going to be overlooked. Public speaking isn't about drama; it's about influence.
1. Client Communication: The Art of the Translation
Whilst some client may be impressed by how many Firsts you obtained in various modules at university, many care much more about how much they can trust you.
When a client comes to you, some are usually stressed, confused, and looking for a way out of a mess. Public speaking skills give you the ability to "translate" the law.
If you ramble, use too much jargon, or look at your feet the whole time, you lose their confidence. Public speaking teaches you how to structure information so it’s digestible.
2. Negotiation is Just Advocacy Without a Judge
If you’ve ever taken part in one of our Speed Mooting events, you know the feeling of being "on the spot." You’ve made your point, and suddenly the judge interrupts you with a question that completely dismantles your logic.
That is exactly what a negotiation feels like.
When you are on the phone to or across the table from another lawyer, you are advocating for your client’s position. You need to be able to:
Think on your feet when the other side makes a point about the strength of your case.
Maintain a calm, authoritative tone even when you’re losing.
Use persuasive language to make your "ask" seem like the only logical conclusion.
If you haven't practised the art of persuasion in a controlled environment like a moot or other advocacy competition, your first "real" negotiation is going to feel like being thrown into a shark tank without a cage.
3. Team Collaboration and Internal Advocacy
In a department meeting, you might be asked to give an update on a case. This is public speaking. If you can deliver a punchy, confident update, the partners will notice. If you mumble through your notes, you become "the quiet one."
In the legal world, being "the quiet one" is rarely a compliment. It’s often interpreted as a lack of confidence.
By sharpening your general public speaking skills, you're building career confidence. You’re telling your firm, "I am a leader. I can handle the pressure."
4. The SQE2 Advocacy
For those of you on the solicitor path in the UK, the SQE2 is the big hurdle. Guess what one of the core assessed skills is? Advocacy.
Even if you never plan to step foot in a court for the rest of your life, you must pass an advocacy assessment to qualify. The SRA wants to see that you can stand up, present a case, and handle oral communication professionally.
Many students panicking about this. They’ve spent three years learning the law but zero hours learning how to speak it. Don't be that person. Start practicing now, so when the SQE2 rolls around, it’s just another Tuesday for you. Check out our Legal Skills Academy if you want to get ahead of the curve.
5. Networking and the "Elevator Pitch"
Legal careers are built on relationships. At some point, you’re going to find yourself at a law fair, a networking dinner, or a pupillage fair.
Walking up to a partner at a top firm and introducing yourself is a form of public speaking. It requires:
Body language control (no fidgeting!).
Projection (they need to hear you over the noise).
Conciseness (don't bore them to death).
The skills you learn in mooting, learning how to present, where to put your hands, and how to control your breathing, are the exact same skills you need to nail a networking conversation.
Why Mooting is the Ultimate Sandbox
You can read all the books you want about "How to be a Great Speaker," but until you’re standing there with a set of facts and a timer ticking down, you haven't actually learned anything.
Mooting is the ultimate sandbox because you are allowed to fail. You can trip over your words, lose your train of thought, and get a "judicial intervention" that leaves you speechless. And it doesn't matter! Because you are not in a real courtroom.
When you do it with us at Speed Mooting, we keep it fast-paced and friendly. We want you to lose that "brain freeze" feeling here, so you don't have it in front of a client or a future employer.
Confidence isn't the absence of nerves; it's the ability to function while your heart is hammering against your ribs.
3 Simple Ways to Start Improving Today
You can start small:
Record Yourself: Pick a legal topic you're studying. Set a timer for 2 minutes. Explain it to your phone camera. Watch it back. It will be painful, I promise. But you’ll see exactly where you use "um," "ah," and "like."
The "Explain Like I'm Five" Test: Try to explain the rule in Rylands v Fletcher to a non-law student friend. If they look confused, you're being too technical.
Take any opportunity to practise: In your next seminar or tutorial, make a point of turning your answer into a short 1-2 minute speech.
Wrapping Up: Your Voice is Your Value
Whether you end up in a wig and gown or a tailored suit in a glass-walled office, your voice is how you deliver your value.
The law is a profession of words. If you can master the art of speaking those words clearly, persuasively, and confidently, you will always be in demand.
So, don't wait for a "courtroom moment" to start working on your public speaking. Start now. Your future career (and your future clients) will thank you.
If you’re ready to get some practice in a low-pressure, high-energy environment, come and see what we’re doing at the Legal Skills Academy. It’s the best way to develop you skills (public speaking, debating, commercial awareness and advocacy) in a low-pressure environment.
Keep practicing, keep speaking, and I’ll see you at the next moot!
