Words as a tool for protection: advocates learn effective communication

For avocats, the art of words is not a luxury, but one of the key components of professional skills. A defender must be able to convey their position to those around them from the moment they meet the client until the final court decision is reached.

During the workshop «Mastery of words – the key to success for an advocate», advocates had the opportunity to improve their memory, get rid of bad speaking habits, and discuss important aspects of speech.

The event, which brought together about fifty lawyers, was organized by the UNBA NextGen in the Vinnytsia region and the Vinnytsia Regional Bar Association.

Deputy Chairman of the UNBA, BCU Oleksiy Kukhar, who took part in the event, recalled the history of the creation of UNBA NextGen, and regional representatives of the committee Yulia Oliynyk and Maksym Menchuk shared their own experiences.

They expressed their conviction that success in the profession is not limited to winning in court. It also includes client trust, reputation among colleagues, the ability to listen and be heard, and a willingness to learn and share knowledge.

The keynote speaker was Olga Solvar, president of the All-Ukrainian Association of Speakers and public speaking coach.

To provide a general understanding of the mechanisms of speech, she described the triune brain model proposed by American neuroscientist Paul MacLean. According to this concept, the brain was formed by three evolutionary layers: the reptilian brain, which is responsible for instincts, rituals, dominance, and survival; the limbic system, which is responsible for emotions, memory, and motivation; and the neocortex, which is responsible for language, logic, abstract thinking, and self-awareness.

O. Solvar also introduced participants to Miller's law, according to which an adult can simultaneously hold 7 ± 2 units of information in short-term memory — that is, from 5 to 9 elements (numbers, words, concepts, etc.). This should be taken into account when formulating document titles or publication names.

A well-chosen tone and pitch of voice help listeners to better understand the advocate, understand the legal consequences of decisions, and exercise their rights. On the other hand, filler words, stuttering, pauses, and sounds that clutter speech create a barrier, regardless of who is in front of you: a client, a judge, or an opponent.

To make your position convincing, the trainer recommends using the following pattern: there should be no more than three main and important arguments. Start with the second, then add the third, and only at the end — the key one. But in a critical situation, when time is short and no one wants to hear you, it is worth starting with the most important thing — the “icing on the cake” — to attract attention and be remembered.

O. Solvar named storytelling as one of the powerful criteria for mastery of speech. It is the art of telling stories for the purpose of teaching. In legal practice, this method allows the client to understand that the same situation, circumstances, or story has already happened and that the advocate has an effective algorithm of actions.