Why learn to negotiate

For trainee solicitors, the question of why learn to negotiate is simple. It strengthens client trust, accelerates career growth, and equips you to handle complex situations with confidence.

Negotiation is one of the most valuable skills a trainee solicitors can develop (in my opinion). While much of early legal training focuses on black letter law and procedural knowledge, the reality is that success in practice often hinges on how well you can influence outcomes, manage client expectations, and build consensus. For trainee solicitors, learning to negotiate effectively isn’t just an optional extra, it’s essential for career growth and client success.

Building Client Confidence

Clients don’t just hire solicitors for legal expertise. They want someone who can secure results. Even at the start of your career, you may find yourself representing a client’s interests in settlement discussions, commercial contracts, or day to day workplace disputes. Demonstrating confidence in negotiation shows clients you can protect their interests beyond drafting documents. It builds trust, credibility, and lasting relationships.

Career Advancement

Partners and senior solicitors value trainees who can handle difficult conversations with professionalism and tact. A trainee who can hold their own in negotiations brings immediate value to a team. Whether you are negotiating with opposing counsel, vendors, or even internally with colleagues about workload, your ability to reach fair and practical outcomes will set you apart.

Developing Emotional Intelligence

Negotiation is not about being aggressive. It’s about listening, understanding motivations, and finding common ground. Trainee solicitors who learn to balance assertiveness with empathy develop emotional intelligence that translates into stronger advocacy and better client care. This skill is particularly useful when working with difficult opponents or managing sensitive client matters.

Protecting Your Client’s Interests

Poor negotiation can cost clients time, money, and opportunities. By contrast, effective negotiation can unlock creative solutions that litigation may never provide. As a trainee solicitor, the earlier you start practising these skills, the more natural it becomes to think strategically and anticipate the other side’s moves.

Why Learn to Negotiate

A Practical Checklist: First Steps for Trainee Solicitors

If you want to start sharpening your negotiation skills right away, here are some small but effective actions you can take:

• ✅ Shadow a senior during a negotiation call or meeting, observe their tone, pacing, and approach.
• ✅ Practice mini-negotiations in your daily life (e.g., agreeing on deadlines with colleagues).
• ✅ Prepare three things before any negotiation: your ideal outcome, your fallback position (alternative), and what the other side likely wants.
• ✅ Ask for feedback from mentors after contributing to a negotiation, even in a minor role.
• ✅ Keep a journal of what strategies worked (and didn’t) to build self-awareness over time.

By treating every interaction as an opportunity to practice negotiation, you can steadily build a skill set that will serve them throughout your career. The earlier you begin, the stronger and more confident you’ll be when the stakes are high. Read how to negotiate your trainee salary.