A study assessed the communication skills of practicing lawyers in order to determine whether they had needs that could be met by the speech communication discipline. Specifically, the study investigated (1) the importance lawyers attached to certain communication skills, (2) how proficienty they considered themselves to be in using those skills, and (3) the extent to which they felt their undergraduate and law school education had prepared them to use those communication skills. Questionnaires were completed by 99 practicing lawyers. Results showed that regardless of type of practice, years spent in practice, or sex, lawyers agreed that many communication skills were important to their work. The lawyers also agreed that their college and law school training did not adequately prepare them to use the communication skills investigated. (FL)