Average IQ of lawyers: Are you smart enough to be a good lawyer?

There are some occupations that require professionals not just complete their daily tasks. Employers are now looking for individuals who can analyze different situations think outside of the box, and come up with result-oriented strategies to help organizations grow. This is where IQ – intelligence quotient comes into play.

It is a common perception that the average IQ of lawyers is quite high as compared to other professionals. And it is true. Because lawyers need to study and recall volumes of information, use their analytical skills and abstract thinking, to present a case, they tend to have a higher IQ than most of professionals.

A research study has concluded that most lawyers score higher on IQ test rather than an EQ test. The fact is that it is quite easier to say that lawyers have a certain IQ level, but the reality is quite complicated. Do remember that every lawyer who passes the bar exam tends to have a higher IQ level, but using it as a metric to judge a lawyer’s ability is just not fair. It’s just like using a 40-yard dash to test the overall ability of a professional footballer.

It is important to note that some legal practices require individual lawyers to have excellent analytical skills. Some fields may require the lawyers to have good communication skills. In an ideal scenario, an individual’s intellectual abilities must match the requirements of the job one is doing. This holds true for lawyers as well.

If you want to become a lawyer, you are in for an exciting career. There are many lawyers who are playing their due role in the betterment of the society.

The average IQ of lawyers matters a lot as they should be aware of how to tackle different types of cases. However, what is the thing which determines the progress or the success ratio of a lawyer? Is it the number of trials he or she has won? Or perhaps the amount of revenue he/she has generated over the years.

Important factors of becoming a lawyer

If you want to become a lawyer, remember that you will have to go through a demanding academic career. It requires utmost dedication and effort to succeed in this challenging field. You can choose to become a corporate lawyer, tax lawyer, criminal lawyer, family lawyer, etc., but you have to have an above-average IQ level to become a successful lawyer in your field of interest.

However, without an accurate analysis regarding what type of intelligence is the most beneficial for lawyers, it is hard to conclude which individuals are cut out for the legal profession.

Characteristics required to become a good lawyer

It is difficult to judge anyone on their basis of intelligence whether they’ll be a good fit for the position of lawyer or not. To become a good lawyer, you need to possess the following characteristics.

Good communication skills

Being a lawyer, you should possess good communication and writing skills. You should be a good listener too. Good communication skills will help you present your case in a more articulate manner, thereby helping to convince the judge about your arguments. To improve your communication skills, you should participate in public speaking activities. As a lawyer, you should also be able to write clearly and precisely. It will help you produce a variety of legal documents to support their arguments.

As mentioned above, lawyers should also be good listeners. If the lawyers are not fit to understand what they are being told by their respective party, he/she won’t be able to fight the case properly.

Judgment

As a lawyer, you should be able to draw logical and reasonable conclusions from a case. You must also consider the critical aspects of judgement to anticipate potential areas of weakness in your arguments.

You should also be able to point out any weak points in arguments presented by your rival lawyer. Decisiveness is a vital part of judgment.

Analytical skills

At times, there may be multiple reasonable conclusions and precedents applicable to a case. Being a lawyer, you must know how to evaluate a case based on conclusions and precedents, and what is the best possible solution to the case at hand. Using your analytical skills to arrive at a concrete resolution of a case is one of the best assets you can have as a lawyer.

Research skills

Being a lawyer, you must have strong research skills. If you can conduct research quickly and effectively, it’s an added feather in your cap. If you are a lawyer, it is important for you to understand your clients and their needs. This will help you prepare a sound legal strategy to fight your case.

Conclusion

As mentioned earlier, the average IQ of lawyers should not be used as a metric to measure the intellectual ability of an individual. Most of the lawyers tend to score higher on IQ tests as compared to EQ tests. Sometimes, the bookish knowledge is not useful for the lawyer while fighting the case. A successful lawyer often uses his analytical skills and thought process to make result-oriented strategies to fight a case.