Legal Blog

Reach for your business suit instead of your jeans and polo – and definitely not your leather pants and cowboy boots – when you’re dressing for an interview, even if the company you’re meeting with is super-casual.

In a recent Accountemps survey, CFOs said that poor interpersonal skills are a leading obstacle to an employee’s advancement. Yet only one out of five firms plans to offer training in communication and interpersonal skills. It seems that "what we've got here is failure to communicate."

The skills and attributes that many great lawyers possess -- empathy for others, strong communication and analytical skills, negotiation, persuasion and conflict resolution skills, high ethical standards, vision and diplomacy -- often are a natural fit for senior management and leadership roles.

We surveyed attorneys in the U.S. and Canada to learn the most important attributes of a law firm or legal department leader. See the results.

Knowing how to read body language can help you better understand — and anticipate — the needs of your managers and coworkers.