Yes, sophists were trained at arguing both sides of an argument logically. Just as most debates,arguments,lawyers do to this day. They got a bad name because they’re intelligence in arguing and confusing and therefore easily taking advantage of people was found out and it was deemed an evil. Not all sophists took advantage of this, but enough did that it became persecuted against.

You can see in modern day lawyers how this is still a (necessary) evil in society.