Public speaking is an art, and mastery of rhetoric contributes to the success of politicians, lawyers and the like. As a (court) lawyer, you will encounter many situations when you have to speak in public. Your job demands that you master the art of public speaking: the speeches lawyers make determine the fate of people like many momentous speeches politicians deliver change the course of history. Knowing the law and legal practices is not enough to become a successful lawyer, your success largely depends on your ability to speak well in public. No one is born a great and eloquent speaker, some have more talent for public speaking than others, but it is an acquired skill like the skill of playing the piano, and the following tips can help you improve your public speaking skills.
- Watch talks and speeches. There are a lot of (TED) talks with greatest speakers, watch them get the feel of what a good speech should be like. Pay attention to details: the way speakers move, their gestures, change of voice and tone. Observing others speak is the first step on your way to becoming a good speaker.
- Find a role that fits you; like an actor has to fit the role he/she plays, you need to fit the role you will assume in court. Do not try to sound and speak like others, find your style, be yourself. Find the style that suits you best so that you feel comfortable when delivering a speech.
- Practice and rehearse. Practice makes perfect. Practice when you are alone in the room, practice in front of the mirror, record your speech, and replay it. Once you are satisfied with your speech, practice in front of others. It can be a friend or a family member, somebody who will give you an honest feedback. Do not be discouraged by negative feedback. There is always room for improvement and knowing your weak points will only help you improve.
- Be confident, look confident, sound confident. Even if you are not very sure that your words and reasoning will work in a particular situation, never show you doubt about your own words, inspire confidence, never let anyone sense you are not confident enough. The same speech delivered with and without confidence will have a different effect. To convince others, first you need to be sure of what you are saying and be able to display your confidence.
- Improve your language skills and learn to use rhetorical devices. Eloquence and figurative language make your speech much better. Do not use simple words and short sentences but do not use complicated language either. Improving your language will take time but it is worth it. Read, watch, and repeat. Take time to prepare your speeches, read relevant literature, study precedents, and similar cases, write your speech properly, read and reread it to refine it, use synonyms, repetitions, metaphors, etc. Bare facts and succinct texts will hardly impress anyone. Your task is to impress in order to convince.
- Respect your audience by showing it in your words and gestures. Never say anything that might hurt people in the audience. Always be respectful. Maintain eye contact. While talking to people, look at people.
- Be flexible and ready to debate. Things do not always go as you have planned. Be ready to adapt your speech while delivering it. Be ready to dispute, even if you disagree with what is being said. Never show emotions – defeat your opponents not by your anger but by your confidence and reasoning. Believe in your success in order to succeed.
Take every opportunity to speak. Practice is the key to success but nothing compares to real speeches. The floor is yours.
