What lawyers need to know
Communication always goes two ways. What we say may not always be what someone else hears. And whether we like it or not, how well we communicate is deeply affected by gender.
A growing number of studies show again and again that most women and men have different styles of talking and of listening. Your gender makes a huge difference in how others hear and perceive you and can lead to misunderstandings and missed opportunities. This can have consequences for your legal practice, your reputation for professionalism, and even your career.
Presenting a proposal to clients, talking to partners, interviewing a witness, questioning the defendant on the stand—all of these can be affected profoundly by the gender of the participants. When we speak to others—in a firm meeting, before a legislature, to a judge, or to a public gathering—how the audience hears us will most likely be based as much on whether we are men or women as on what we say.
Neither “male” nor “female” communication style is better, and each can be modified to make it more effective. But unless you understand these profound differences, your communication skills will suffer. This multi-media, multi-disciplinary program will give you fascinating, useful, and practical tools for understanding how gender affects communication and dozens of tips to help you in your daily life both as a lawyer and as a public speaker.
This seminar will teach you:
• how to use your own natural style to your advantage, and how to minimize what might seem to be disadvantages
• how the nature of the legal profession exaggerates gender differences
• oral and legal advocacy
• the do’s and don’ts of public speaking
• how gender affects interactions in the courtroom and how to deal with the issue
• how to defuse gender conflicts in the office
• why many lawyers turn off potential clients of the opposite sex
Law Society of BC CPD Hours: 6.5 hours (a minimum of 2 hours will involve aspects of professional responsibility and ethics, client care and relations, and/or practice management)
Registration includes workshop materials. These materials are not available for sale separately. Note: You will continue to receive a print copy of the materials at the course. In addition, you will receive an email with a link to the online version of the materials approximately one day before the course.
Course Presenters
Steven D. Stark — Boston
Sarah Wald — Boston
Pricing
EARLY BIRD (Register by May 18, 2011 and SAVE)
Regular/Live Webinar: $545 | Student: $275 (live course only)
After May 18, 2011
Regular/Live Webinar: $625 | Student: $315 (live course only) | Webinar Archive: Call Customer Service.
CLEBC Program Coordinator
Elaina Mauro
emauro@cle.bc.ca