In oral and written advocacy, he or she must be capable of communicating ideas convincingly and concisely. The lawyer must be able to grasp the exact meaning of factual statements, legal reasoning and argument, and to comprehend the technical materials that constitute the body of the law. Foremost among language skills is writing. Much of a lawyer's time is spent drafting legal documents such as briefs and contracts. Legal writing must be precise and to the point.
Many law schools use essay tests exclusively and have only a single test per course each semester.
As such, students can prepare themselves for law school by selecting coursework which helps develop their writing. No amount of writing preparation can ever be too much. Students should choose coursework which overtly assists with writing development such as technical writing and grammar, and also seek out courses which require essay exams and analytical term papers taught by professors who are know for their rigorous attention to written work. A second critical language skill is that of oral communication. Lawyers and law students alike must be able to state their positions effectively using concrete and correct language.