While all litigators are lawyers, not all lawyers are litigators. The key difference lies in their specialization. A litigator is a lawyer who specializes in taking cases through the court process, while a lawyer may specialize in other areas of law and may not necessarily appear in court.
Litigators possess qualities such as negotiation, observational skills, communication, and adaptability. A good litigator should be able to think on their feet, articulate their client’s position clearly, and negotiate effectively.
The skills of a litigator are important in any legal proceeding whether or not the case goes to court. Almost every case has the potential to go before a judge or jury and it is important to be able to properly evaluate a case and begin preparation from the first consultation. The thorough and continual preparation and analysis of any case can actually result in successful negotiations and a successful result for the client. If negotiations fail, then the litigator has the expertise to take the case to a trial to help obtain the best result for the client.
