How to Deal with Difficult People in the Legal Profession

Conflict is a part of everyone’s life, but especially so with lawyers. Conflict is even more vexing with people who are difficult to deal with.

This seminar is designed to provide a solid understanding of the issues, causes and characteristics behind the thinking, feeling and behavior patterns of difficult people. Learn simple strategies you can use to quickly and easily resolve issues before they escalate.

Understanding what drives difficult people and how to best react to outbursts, threats and intimidation is an essential skill for anyone in the legal profession. The key to successfully managing those relationships, whether they are with colleagues, adversaries or judges, is to focus on their behavior, not the person themselves. Often the perceived “difficulty” is simply a function of the other person’s demeanor or social style. Getting caught up in rude behavior can negatively impact your cases. However, there are methods you can employ that can help minimize their impact and maximize your opportunity for success.  

Avoid blaming the other person or labeling them as “bad.” Instead, this program will demonstrate how to disarm their aggressiveness in ways that will lead you to successful outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this program, you will be able to

• Describe the individual and relationship tensions that cause interpersonal difficulty.
• Explain the dynamics of difficult situations and behaviors.
• Understand the differences in people’s “social style” and how to adapt as needed.
• Use positive language, rational thinking and constructive dialogue to deal with difficulty in relationships.
• Use effective strategies for handling truly difficult people that will lead you to better represent your clients and have more constructive relationships with difficult colleagues.