Drafting and negotiation: Skills at the core of lawyering
A great deal of what lawyers do involves transactions and settlements. Whether you are going to be a “litigator” or “deal” lawyer, work in civil or criminal law, take a job in the private sector or the public interest, you need to know how to negotiate and draft various types of agreements. Drafting and negotiating are interrelated skills, and you cannot be a good lawyer without proficiency in both.
At Mitchell Hamline, you’ll learn the skills needed for transactional work including interviewing, counseling, negotiating, and drafting. “Lawyering” in this context is about brainstorming options, creating value, managing risk, counseling clients, and using language accurately and strategically.
You’ll have the chance to focus on negotiation skills, which are fundamental to the practice of law. Lawyers play a critical role in many of society’s negotiations, including business transactions, policy-making, international peace initiatives, and other important agreements. In addition, the vast majority of legal disputes do not end in courtroom verdicts but rather settle through some form of negotiated resolution.