How Myer-Briggs Can Tell You What Sort of Lawyer You Should Be

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The Myers-Briggs personality types that dominate so many people seeking new jobs, but knowing about the sort of person you are can also help you as a lawyer professionally – and personally.

The Myers-Briggs test is designed to bring order to apparently random behaviour or thought patterns. You can see an overview of how it works here.

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16 Personality Types

The system establishes 16 personality types across four categories, being –

1.Introvert or Extrovert? Preference for a focus on the inner world (Introversion, “I”), or the outer world (Extroversion, “E”);

2. Sensing or Intuition? Focus on basic information as it’s taken in (Sensing, “S”), or on interpreting and adding meaning to the information (Intuition, “N);

3. Thinking or Feeling? Preference for logic in decision-making (Thinking, “T), or on people and special circumstances (Feeling, “F”);

4. Judging or Perceiving? Preference for getting things decided (Judging, “J”), or being open to new information (Perceiving, “P”).

One, Short Test – and 16 Numbers

The test is short – just 12 minutes or less, but it can shape your life, your job and your future in many ways.

It can also shape what sort of lawyer you are best suited to being.

By way over overview, we can do no better than thank Forbes and career advisor Ashley Stahl for her overview of what the numbers actually mean:

Ready to count to 16?

1. ISTJ

People with this personality type are practical, factual, organized, and logical. They’re great problem-solvers who thrive in careers that are heavy with facts, numbers, and data. They make excellent accountants, engineers, air traffic controllers, and security guards.

2. ISFJ

ISFJ’s are warm and sympathetic, but also detailed, organized, and thorough. They are natural protectors, so they tend to thrive as health care professionals or working with children, but because they are so detail-oriented, they also do well in positions that work closely with money, like bookkeeping.

3. INFJ

Sensitive, creative, and intense. They thrive with language and symbols. They long for meaning in their careers, and because they are adept at reading people, they do best in the arts, medicine, education, and science.

4. INTJ

Decisive, innovative, insightful, and logical. They’re able to apply their big-picture thinking along with their problem-solving skills, which makes them best-suited for work in very technical careers like architecture, science, and engineering.

5. ISTP

People with this personality type are very hands-on and are analytical, practical, and exacting. They are natural troubleshooters and problem-solvers, so they do very well in careers with computers, electronics, and technology, but they also thrive in the outdoors so are well-suited for farming and ranching as well.

6. ISFP

This personality type is gentle, adaptable, observant, and loyal. They’re sympathetic and reflective and love to help others. Your team leader?

7. INFP

INFP’s are creative, empathic, and inquisitive. They’re natural helpers and are deeply caring. They tend to have excellent communication skills. Legal writing? Legal academics?

8. INTP

Individuals with this personality type are intellectually curious but also analytical, objective, and conceptual. Intellectual property? Complex corporate and securities? Antitrust and regulatory work?

9. ESTP

Smart and energetic, they make great entrepreneurs. They’re realistic, analytical, and efficient. They have solid people skills, so they’re awesome in sales, and they’re best-suited for careers that don’t require a lot of routine. Managing partner? Business development for the firm?

10. ESFP

Energetic, caring, resourceful, and adaptable. Hands-on. They’re enthusiastic and seek excitement, so they make fantastic performers. They thrive when helping others and working closely with people. Property law, domestic or family law? Media and sports law?

11. ENFP

Individuals with this personality type are imaginative, creative, insightful, and caring. They’re very service-oriented and have great communication skills. They do best in careers where they are helping others and/or being creative. Family law? Elder law?

12. ENTP

This personality type tends to be energetic, analytical, enthusiastic, and theoretical. They are adept at solving problems creatively. Because they work so well with others, they make great leaders. Law firm management, litigation?

13. ESTJ

People with this personality type are logical, assertive, decisive, and results-oriented. They’re critical and tend to take charge, so they’re natural-born leaders. Management, corporate work?

14. ESFJ

ESFJ’s are sociable, caring, and very people-oriented. They’re most successful in roles that enable them to serve others and fulfill their needs. Legal recruitment, litigation?

15. ENFJ

ENFJ’s are passionate and charismatic. They’re sociable, warm, empathetic, and imaginative. Born leaders, they have strong humanitarian values and do best in positions that allow them to help and support others. Litigation?

16. ENTJ

Individuals with this personality type are organized, critical, and logical. Organizers and planners, they’re strong leaders and very career-driven, so they thrive in the corporate world. They’re exceptionally hard workers and do very well in the following industries: legal, engineering, scientific, sports, and even the arts.

Myers-Briggs is a hugely helpful tool to help lawyers and just about anyone and everyone else to establish their personality type and career prospects – ideal for lawyers seeking the opportunity that best suits them.