Finding a Legal Specialty Appealing to the Core of Your Personality

Finding a Legal Specialty

Appealing to

the Core of Your Personality

Yale Law School

March 2010

Presenters:

Lisa L. Abrams, J.D.

Author of The Official Guide to Legal Specialties:

An Insider’s Guide to Every Major Practice Area, NALP and Harcourt Legal, 2000 and

Director of Career Services, The University of Chicago Law School

E-mail: [email protected]

Lois T. Casaleggi, J.D.

Senior Director of Career Services, The University of Chicago Law School

E-mail: [email protected]

Finding a Legal Specialty

Appealing to the Core of Your Personality

I. There is a specialty for everyone: what we learned from our research

Though qualified to pursue (and succeed in) many legal jobs, some are likely to

provide greater satisfaction and natural motivation

II. Why you should start thinking about fit now. . .

Long term payoff

Credibility with employers

III. The three keys to lawyer satisfaction and making them work for you

1. Passion for and sincere interest in the subject matter

2. Enjoy the daily rhythms of the job

3. Work appealing to the core of the personality (secrets of functional pairs)

IV. Four critical things to know about legal specialties

1. Legal specialties overlap and are constantly developing

2. Career paths aren’t linear, but your path should show planning and thought

Serendipity abounds!

3. Don’t feel pressured to choose a specialty

. . . .But do know your strengths and talents and how they match up

4. The skills/traits lawyers value the most

V. Secrets of motivation: Personality Type and Functional Pairs

Jobs that appeal to the core of the personality (attached pink mouse handout)

The what and why of functional pairs

ST Preference:

Facts/details/logic/puzzles

SF Preference:

Practical impact on people

NF Preference:

Possibilities for the betterment of people

NT Preference:

Theoretical analysis and problem solving

Tasks, environment and setting influence motivation

Surprises abound!

VI. Advice: Where to start in considering a specialty

Use your functional pair as a starting point

Gain practical experience while in law school

Talk to practicing lawyers: guest speakers, professors, alumni, family contacts

The two best questions to ask

The magic of informational interviews: build credibility, provide reassurance

VII. Think broadly as you consider specialties. . .

Revisit the three keys to lawyer satisfaction and your source of motivation

YLS March 2010

Skills Most Valued by Lawyers:

A Checklist for Law Students

Analytical skills

_____Good judgment _____Comfortable seeking advice from

_____Problem solving skills supervisors

_____Read and analyze vast amounts of information _____Ability to remain objective

_____Ability to think on your feet

_____Reading and understanding complex material, including statutes and legislation

Organizational and administrative skills

_____Attention to detail _____Prioritize projects and tasks

_____Time management _____Organize team efforts

_____Project management _____Organize personal work product

Interpersonal skills

_____Relationship building _____Counseling skills

_____Effective oral communication _____Working effectively across cultures

___with individuals _____Ability to work with wide range of

___in group settings personalities

_____Empathy for clients

Research and writing skills

_____Legal research _____Legal writing

_____Factual research and investigation _____Legal drafting

_____Writing to colleagues, clients, and individuals with no legal training

Specialized knowledge/interests

_____Business _____Economics

_____Accounting _____International issues

_____Science, medicine, engineering _____Foreign language skills

Character traits

_____Flexibility _____Good team player

_____Sense of humor _____Resourcefulness

_____Patience _____Tenacity

_____Ability to work under pressure _____Sensitivity to organizational politics

_____Ability to remain calm during crisis _____Creativity

_____Ability to adjust to change _____Leadership

_____Ability to learn from experience _____Diplomacy and tact

_____High level of energy

This information was gathered during interviews with 130 attorneys in 30 different practice areas as part of research

for The Official Guide to Legal Specialties: An Insider’s Guide to Every Major Practice Area, by Lisa L. Abrams,

J.D., published by National Association for Law Placement (NALP) and Harcourt Legal Publications, 2000,

available at NALP.org, Gilbertlaw.com, or Amazon.com.

THE BIG FIVE:

The Skills Most Valued by Attorneys

in Every Practice Area

1. Sound legal analysis

2. Creative problem solving

3. Excellent communication skills

4. Good judgment

5. Passion/sincere interest

*Build on these while in law school

*Use this information in cover letters

*Provide persuasive examples during interviews

Compiled by Lisa L. Abrams, J.D., author of The Official Guide to Legal Specialties, Harcourt, 2000.

Finding Satisfaction in The Law:

Careers and Specialty Areas

Appealing to the Core of the Personality

ST: Facts/details/logic/puzzles in the present

(30% of U.S. population; 32.9% of lawyers*)

* Concrete analysis of problems using facts and rules

* Expertise with details and technical knowledge

* Task oriented

* Enjoy hands-on involvement

SF: Practical impact on people here and now

(43% of U.S. population; 10.6% of lawyers*)

* Make a tangible difference in people’s lives

* Use facts and details to make things happen

* Organize and craft procedures that solve problems

* Build consensus

NF: Future possibilities for the betterment of people

(17% U.S. population; 19.7% of lawyers*)

* Possibilities for people

* Making a difference in the world

* Fostering communication

* Chance for personal growth: self and others

NT: Theoretical analysis and solutions for the future

(10% of U.S. population; 36.9% of lawyers*)

* Intellectual challenge

* Exercise competence and show excellence

* Theoretical vision

* Creative problem solving in systems

Lisa L. Abrams, J.D., Author, The Official Guide to Legal Specialties, Harcourt, 2000, [email protected]

*Numbers from MBTI Type Table for Occupations, page 137, Mountain View, CA, CPP, Inc., 2008.

Guarantee You’ll Find

the Perfect Specialty:

Informational Interviews

How can you make sure you’re exploring the right legal specialties? Take the time to conduct

informational interviews. They’re the best way to make sure that a specialty is exactly (or close

to!) what you’re looking for.

Here is the list of questions used to interview attorneys for The Official Guide to Legal

Specialties. Use these questions as a starting point in your own informational interviews. Use

the answers that you acquire to shape your job search strategy, your cover letters and your

approach to interviews.

The introduction (pages ix through xvi) of The Official Guide to Legal Specialties provides

detailed information about how to use the information you gain in informational interviews to

market yourself in job interviews.

1. Where do attorneys in your practice specialty work?

2. Who are your clients and what types of cases/issues do you work on?

3. What daily activities are involved in your practice?

4. What do you find rewarding about your field of practice?

5. How do people generally enter your field of practice?

6. What skills are most important to your area of practice?

7. What classes and law school experiences (externships, summer work

experience) do you recommend to students?

Common Workplace Motivators

for the Four Functional Pairs

Reported motivators for those with ST preferences:

• Clear instructions

• Clear goals; orderly plan

• Job security

• Interesting work, intriguing puzzles, measurable results

• Opportunity for self-satisfaction

• Hard work recognized

Reported motivators for those with SF preferences:

• Opportunity to help others

• Seeing tangible results to work efforts

• Feeling needed and important

• Feeling valued by clients and/or colleagues

• Opportunity for increased responsibility

Reported motivators for those with NF preferences:

• Accomplishing something good for everyone; make the world a better place

• Feeling included and valued by a group

• Ideas, opinions and impressions are listened to

• Chance to be creative

• Positive reinforcement; big picture contribution is valued

Reported motivators for those with NT preferences:

• Big intellectual challenge

• Freedom in terms work style, schedule, approach

• Independence

• Encouraged to think outside the box

• Chance to learn new things

• Opportunity to show competence

Lisa L. Abrams, J.D., based on NALP workshop results 1/10

INTERVIEW SUMMARIES FROM PILOT RESEARCH CONDUCTED IN SPRING 2007

Pilot Research Project on Functional Pairs and Job Satisfaction Among Lawyers Conducted by Lisa Abrams and Lois Casaleggi

Facts/details/logic/puzzles

in the present (5)

Practical impact on people

here and now (1)

Future possibilities for the

betterment of people (4)

Theoretical analysis and

solutions for the future (4)

MOST SATISFYING:

Solving problems

Feeling competent – “mastery”

Analysis

Intellectual challenge

Solving puzzles

Mastering new technology

LEAST SATISFYING:

Intense time demands lower life quality

Difficult personalities make litigation

inefficient

Motivating associates to work

Tedious, repetitive work lacking

intellectual challenge

Explaining unfavorable verdicts

WHAT GIVES JOB MEANING:

Solving problems

Intellectual challenge/satisfaction

Earning the trust of clients

Bringing law breakers in line

Fast pace

“Doing good work and supporting my

family”

ADAPTIVE STRATEGIES:

Choose my projects carefully

Delegate liberally

Tend not to delegate

Take on more responsibility – “do it

myself”

Become an expert on topics

The job “is what it is” and “I do what

the firm asks me to do

MOST SATISFYING:

“Real estate is all about relationships”

“Managing the department is all about

relationships.”

LEAST SATISFYING:

Petty administrative issues

WHAT GIVES JOB MEANING:

Enjoy the relationships

Great lifestyle – “I never miss a

family event.”

ADAPTIVE STRATEGIES:

Hire attorneys and staff carefully; “no

jerks allowed!”

MOST SATISFYING:

Communicating with clients

Developing long term relationships

Variety of tasks

Learning new things

Making a difference in society

LEAST SATISFYING:

A lack of planning by other attorneys

and/or staff

Drafting documents – requires no

people interaction

Isolating nature of writing

WHAT GIVES JOB MEANING:

Learning something new

Mentoring I receive from partners

Corporation values me as a person

Work with a great group of people

Making a difference in the world

Interesting colleagues

I can think about other things than my

job, like my family!

ADAPTIVE STRATEGIES:

Try to get as much variety in

assignments as possible

Get other attorneys on the team to do

the work I don’t enjoy

Consciously build in more chances for

personal interaction

MOST SATISFYING:

Creative problem solving

Intellectual challenge

Setting up new systems

Forming a new firm

Creative thinking

Developing case strategy

LEAST SATISFYING:

Litigation schedules make life difficult

Nitty gritty, “pain in the ass” issues

The drudgery of litigation –

“slogging through discovery”

Billing

Secretarial issues

WHAT GIVES JOB MEANING:

Solving client problems

Intellectual fascination

Public policy implications for change

Setting up a business and maximizing

profits

“Doing a good job.”

ADAPTIVE STRATEGIES:

Taking on a business management role

in the firm

Getting on cases at an interesting stage

and then coming up w/creative ideas

Staff cases w/attys. w/complementary

skills

Seek intellectual engagement in an

editorial board/write articles

Conduct internal training seminars

The ST Lawyer

ESTJ In-House Corporate Counsel (male)

Senior Counsel for insurance company

Most satisfying:

"I enjoy all three of the main components of my job. I especially enjoy managing outside counsel in litigation

matters. I enjoy it, and I'm good at it. I know what to focus on, how to handle the litigation. I also enjoy giving

advice regarding pre-litigation claims handling, as this involves ADR or mediation – I like the problem solving

involved. The third component of my work, which I also enjoy is providing advisory coverage opinions to claims

professionals. This involves developing creative solutions to problems and analyzing what paths to take."

Least satisfying:

"Least enjoyable are time demands by claims clients who want quick answers. I want to focus on quality, and it's

hard to do that in a short time span. Bureaucratic reporting can also be a pain. It's necessary, but it takes away from

the more interesting parts of the job."

What gives the job meaning:

"I get satisfaction from solving problems. I also get appreciation of a job well done from my in house clients (a

claims person) that I didn't get in private practice."

Adaptive strategies:

"I try to get the underwriters who create the policies involved to clarify and change policy language from the

beginning. This helps eliminate stupid problems."

ISTJ Patent Litigator (male)

partner, IP department of large firm

Most satisfying:

"I enjoy the intellectual challenge of the analysis and evaluation of the issues. The cases involve complicated

problems. The cases are like puzzles."

"I enjoy constantly learning about new technologies. Every case is a new arena – whether the case involves

pharmaceuticals, a medical device, software, a product or a process."

Least satisfying:

"The contentiousness of lawyers on the other side is frustrating. There's a tremendous amount of 'we're not going to

do that' – an unwillingness to cooperate to move the case forward. They think that being a lawyer means making

things difficult for the other side, and think that by doing this they are 'hardball litigators.' This makes litigation

inefficient."

"It's difficult to motivate associates to take ownership of tasks and to get them to produce."

What gives the job meaning:

"The intellectual challenge and the intellectual satisfaction."

Adaptive strategies:

"I have choices in terms of the projects I take on, and I select them carefully, and select the team I'm working with

carefully. I often take on more responsibilities in cases – rather than delegating, I do it myself. I know I can make

a plan and get it done."

Excerpts from interviews conducted by Lisa L. Abrams, April 2007

The ST Lawyer

ESTJ Insurance Coverage and

Licensing Technology Litigator (male)

large firm, counsel (post associate, pre-partner)

Most satisfying:

"I enjoy working with clients to find solutions to problems, and it's especially rewarding when you can help clients

solve problems so they can avoid litigation. I especially like matters that I can handle independently and figure out

the issues rather than getting involved in a huge electronic morass of document production."

Least satisfying:

"Dealing with unreasonable opposing counsel."

"It's frustrating when I'm working on a trial team and information is given out on a need to know basis. It creates a

disconnect between the work you're doing and the purpose you're doing it for."

What gives the job meaning:

"I'm especially motivated when working with smaller clients and it's rewarding when they put their trust in me. I

would be frustrated to only work for Fortune 100 companies. When I'm working for those clients I'm motivated by

doing good work and supporting my family."

Adaptive strategies:

"The job is what it is. I try to get involved in cases where I get to work on new products and new subject matter. I

prefer smaller, less document intensive cases, and I have some flexibility in avoiding the big document cases. But in

the end you do the job the firm asks you to do."

ISTP Employee Benefits Lawyer (male)

partner, large firm

Most satisfying:

"About 50 % of my work is counseling clients, and the other 50% involves working on transactions such as mergers

and spinoffs. I like the counseling clients part of the work more because of the challenge of the problem solving it

requires and the chance to interact with some really decent people."

Least satisfying:

"The processing part of the transactional work is my least favorite. Some clients are willing to pay for compliance

review – the audit of an employee benefits plan – and that's extremely tedious. There's no challenge to it. There's a

mindless review of records and you miss that feeling of accomplishment."

What gives the job meaning:

"The problem solving aspect of the job is the most meaningful – finding a solution to a client's problem or a way to

avoid the problem."

Adaptive strategies:

"I am attentive to the type of work I take on. Executive compensation, stock options, and employment agreements

are especially interesting subjects and more interesting than health insurance privacy protection issues. I work on

developing strong relationships with people in the firm to have a chance at the most interesting work. When it

comes to the less interesting things, such as compliance review, I delegate it to more junior attorneys."

Excerpts from interviews conducted by Lisa L. Abrams, April 2007

The ST Lawyer

Excerpts from interviews conducted by Lisa L. Abrams, April 2007

ISTJ Assistant State's Attorney (female)

Prosecutes sex crimes – adult and child victims

Most satisfying:

"Jury trials. I can present the information in an organized way and present the theory of the case in such a way that

the jury can understand it and agree with it. It gives me great satisfaction when I can educate the jury as to the law

and how the law applies to the facts."

"I also enjoy the initial phases of the investigation of the cases, in which I review the police reports and do the

charging. It's intellectually challenging and requires keeping up with the elements of law and the penalties."

Least satisfying:

"Delivering bad news and explaining a not guilty verdict to crime victims and their families."

What gives the job meaning:

"I hate bullies and people who take advantage of other people, whether it's physically or emotionally. These people

need to be brought in line with the rest of the population or separated from the rest of society."

"My job is not boring ever. There's a very fast pace that keeps it exciting. As prosecutors, we get to become experts

on certain topics, such as DNA or different aspects of engineering, or particular scientific principles or medical

issues, so I am always learning something new."

"I do crime prevention seminars in the community, and I greatly enjoy these. I feel a moral commitment to work

with law abiding members of the community to make sure that crimes don't occur."

Adaptive strategies:

"I enjoy controlling things. I personally handle the details involved in my cases from the very beginning. I could

delegate this, but I type my own documents and do my own paperwork. This helps me remember the details of the

case and helps me maintain control. I consider it helpful to work on even the smallest things myself from the

beginning of the case to the end."

The SF Lawyer

ESFP In-House Corporate Real Estate Lawyer (male)

Vice-president of large retail corporation

Most satisfying:

"Managing the real estate department of the corporation (15 attorneys and staff of 35) is 100% of my job. It's the

relationships – with my attorneys and staff and with outside entities with whom we're doing real estate deals – that I

enjoy. Real estate is a verbal business. It's all about comfort level and developing relationships. As we expand the

number of the stores, we're the public face of our store, so it's all about relationships."

Least satisfying:

"Discipline aspects of being a manager are my least favorite part of the job. I sign off on those issues. But

fortunately most of the administrative issues are petty – like complaints about the office refrigerator."

What gives the job meaning:

"I just enjoy the relationships, and that gives the work meaning. I've done this for 19 years. I'm well respected;

there's really no position to advance to but general counsel, but I wouldn't leave the company even if I were not

selected for that position. I have a nice place to work, and a good lifestyle – I never miss family events."

Adaptive strategies:

"I hire carefully. I surround myself with outgoing, friendly and nice people who have good values. There are no

jerks! I decided to manage my department attorneys as I wanted to be treated. I'm an upbeat person, and so far I

haven't yelled at anyone, ever."

Excerpts from interviews conducted by Lisa L. Abrams, April 2007

The NF Lawyer

INFJ Public Finance Attorney (female)

Associate, large firm

Most satisfying:

"I especially enjoy interacting with clients and municipalities to set up approval schedules for the bonds. Interacting

with the municipalities is especially enjoyable – I work with the city clerks and people in a city's administrative

offices. These people have a different perspective from lawyers, and they are so appreciative of even the smallest

things. As an associate, I can respond more quickly to their questions than a partner can, and they find that helpful."

"I enjoy drafting documents because of the challenge of figuring out what makes each deal different from the last."

Least satisfying:

"It's frustrating when a deal isn't well planned out. Attorneys have different styles and things happen at the last minute,

and there is last minute scrambling. This causes lots of stress and sometimes causes you to be up all night."

What gives the job meaning:

"I'm motivated by learning and becoming proficient. It's rewarding when I develop a greater sense of comprehension.

When a partner quizzes me at each level, and I can see what I've learned and see what I can do to go even farther, that's

meaningful. These mentoring relationships are important to me."

Adaptive strategies:

"I vocalize my interest in a wide range of deals. There's a tendency in the firm to specialize, but I try to work on

cross departmental details. I think this will help make me a better attorney, because I like to see the big picture of

what everyone is doing and how bond practice fits into the financial practice of the firm."

ENFJ In-House Corporate Real Estate Lawyer (female)

Senior staff attorney, large retail corporation

Most satisfying:

"My favorite parts of my job are coordinating real estate deals – in which I acquire or lease property and work with

developers – and negotiating leases. Both aspects involve talking to people, and talking about the development

concept. I like creating relationships with the other lawyers and business people involved. Often, I work with same

developers repeatedly, and the relationship becomes a long term relationship."

"I have a lot of things on my desk at one time – there's lots of variety. I can work on lots of different things. I'm not

bound by billable hours and can manage my time as I need to. I always answer my phone – I like interruptions!"

Least satisfying:

"I hate drafting the documents (generally leases). I hate having to think about each individual word and what it

means. The drafting generally involves no contact with people and I have about a ten minute attention span when

I'm dealing with just the document and don't have any people interaction!"

What gives the job meaning:

"Knowing that I work with a great group of people keeps me motivated. I like talking to people, and I develop great

relationships with people within and outside of the company. I feel like the corporation values me as a person and

values me not just for the job I do. I feel like the corporation is loyal to me. And I like that the job doesn't have to

be my whole life – I can do this job and still think about other parts of my life."

Excerpts from interviews conducted by Lisa L. Abrams, April 2007

The NF Lawyer

Excerpts from interviews conducted by Lisa L. Abrams, April 2007

Adaptive strategies:

"I dislike drafting documents, and I've developed ways to minimize it. I've learned to get the developers' attorneys

to do the drafting. Or, I do the first draft and then forward it to the other attorneys involved and ask them to send a

redraft and then tell them that then we'll get on the phone and review it. I really like talking with people, and it's

helpful to me to talk through the document."

ENFP Judicial Law Clerk (female)

Staff attorney for federal district

Most satisfying:

"I really enjoy the research and writing. I've always loved writing. The research is interesting. I'm constantly

learning new things – it's never boring and constantly changing. It's pretty intellectually challenging, too, but not so

much that you have to devote your life to it."

"Now I do research and writing on a variety of district cases, and I also work on prisoner civil rights and habeas

cases. In the nine years that I've worked for the court, I've been involved in the granting of twenty habeas decisions

where the prisoner has been released or granted a new trial, and that's been very rewarding."

Least satisfying:

"Sometimes the work is isolating. When I worked at the firm, I had lots of colleagues, and this job offers few

chances for that kind of interaction. A lot of the judges aren't that approachable."

What gives the job meaning:

"Previously I worked for a firm. But I wanted a job with social significance I wanted to make a difference in

someone's life. The habeas work gives me a chance to do that."

"I'm motivated by the fact that I enjoy my work and that it's intellectually interesting. The group of judges I work

with are great people – incredibly smart, really interesting people – and I respect their personal work ethic."

Adaptive strategies:

"I try to build more chances for personal contact into my work. The level of security in the courthouse makes that

difficult – every chamber and every office is locked. You have to get buzzed in. I've made an effort to try to get to

know more people."

"I have very flexible hours and, though I work full time, I telework on Mondays. This gives me more time to be with

my son."

The NT Lawyer

ENTP Commercial Litigator (female)

Partner, large firm

Most satisfying:

"My greatest satisfaction comes through my personal interactions with my clients (Fortune 500 companies). I like

the problem solving and working through the problems with them. My specialty in insurance coverage means that

it's a plaintiff's practice. My clients see our representation as an asset and not a liability, and they appreciate the fact

that we provide a service to them. The challenge lies in helping the clients find creative solutions that will allow

them to recover more money."

Least satisfying:

"My least favorite thing is billing, having to record every second of time spent and how it's divvied up and then

going through the bill with the client."

"I dislike dealing with secretarial issues. As the administrative head for our section, I deal with the secretarial

problems, and I hate it. Everyone involved is very emotional and no one is happy. It's just no fun."

What gives the job meaning:

"Solving the client's problems."

Adaptive strategies:

"I've actively managed my own career from the beginning. When I was an associate, I went directly to partners and

told them that I wanted to get involved in their cases, and actively sought out work. I only went to the assignment

coordinator twice! Now, as a partner, I love it when associates come to me and say, 'I want to work on this.'"

"Actively managing my career means that I've been able to work with people I 'click' with, people that I like. It's

given me control over who I work with at the firm and which clients I work with. I try to seek certain people out –

when I hear, 'you'll love working with so and so, he's a genius and you'll learn so much from him,' or 'this person is

just great to work with,' then I've sought those people out.

"I've been active on firm committees from the beginning, and I'm not afraid to speak out on issues that are important

to me. I rally for change when it's something I believe in."

ENTJ Government Trial Attorney (female)

Department of Justice, Torts Division

Most satisfying:

"About 30% of my work is drafting motions and memoranda and another 20% is writing internal memos and

reviewing U.S. Attorneys' settlement requests. The writing is what I like best. There's a lot of intellectual challenge

involved. It's challenging to write in the most concise way, and I enjoy looking at the way other people write things

and analyzing that as well."

"I enjoy being in the courtroom and I like oral arguments, but arguments involve so much detailed preparation. You

might prepare three weeks for one twenty minute argument, just to make sure that you're ready for any questions

you might face."

Least satisfying:

"Litigation makes scheduling your life difficult. It's very hard to go on vacation. You have a lack of control over

your personal schedule because of the litigation schedule, and that makes traveling difficult."

Excerpts from interviews conducted by Lisa L. Abrams, April 2007

The NT Lawyer

What gives the job meaning:

"The law is intellectually fascinating, and there are profound public policy implications with my cases. The public

policy implications give me great passion for the way I'm defending the arguments. There's great intellectual

satisfaction in drafting motions and working on jurisdictional issues. I love doing the fact development on my

cases."

Adaptive strategies:

"Because I've had two kids in four years, I've scaled back on the extra hours I put in. I'm doing damage control to

keep up with the work I have. If not for the kids, I could pick a resource knowledge base to develop and really chart

a path of expertise."

ENTP Commercial Litigator (male)

Managing Partner of mid-size firm

Most satisfying:

"A group of us from a large firm formed our own firm in November of 2004. We set out to form a our own firm

because of the management incompetence we found in running the previous firm. I'm the managing partner.

Forming the firm and setting things up has been a great challenge and has been immensely satisfying."

"As far as practicing, I like the good depositions, the good arguments, and preparing briefs and arguments that lead

to resolution."

Least satisfying:

"The nitty gritty issues are the least satisfying. Now that the systems at the firm are up and running, I have to be

involved more in the 'pain in the ass' management issues, such as disputes with our phone providers, or hearing from

our landlord that the bathrooms on one of our floors will be closed for eight weeks due to remodeling."

"In litigation, there's a fair amount of drudgery and document work."

What gives the job meaning:

"It's been exciting to be able to set up a business from the beginning and to grow the financial pot for everyone who

works for us. There's been a lot of challenge – both intellectual challenge and practical responsibility. It's been

fascinating to develop practical strategies for maximizing firm compensation."

Adaptive strategies:

"I enjoy the management of the firm and the stuff that I have to do in connection with that. I am the most junior

partner, and my status at the firm derives from handling the management issues. I'm the person who works with the

accountant, who looks for a new lease, etc. I distill the options and provide a range of options to the partnership."

"When it comes to handling litigation, I'm above the associates and can thus cherrypick the issues that I want to

work on. I can handle the better, more exciting depositions, etc."

INTP Commercial Litigator (male)

Partner, large firm

Most satisfying:

"I like developing case strategy because of the creative thinking and proactive nature of it. I also enjoy writing legal

briefs because it is very intellectually engaging, and skills and experience matter."

Least satisfying:

"What I like least about litigation is discovery and the development of facts. You get no feedback for years. You

have to slog through it all – it's the part of litigation with no feedback and it can go on for an indefinite time."

Excerpts from interviews conducted by Lisa L. Abrams, April 2007

The NT Lawyer

Excerpts from interviews conducted by Lisa L. Abrams, April 2007

What gives the job meaning:

"I like to have a task and do it well. Some people like to beat the other side; I prefer to do a good job at the task.

Although this type of litigation is not the most socially meaningful, I do feel that I'm on the right side of things. I

get personal satisfaction in a job well done."

"Because I'm on the policyholder side in our dealings with insurance companies, we have the attitude of plaintiffs

lawyers with the resources of defense lawyers – that's the best of both worlds and allows for great creativity. I like

tasks where I can come up with creative results and get feedback for those results."

Adaptive strategies:

"As a partner, I can get on cases at the stage in which I most enjoy them, and if it's my own case, I can staff the case

with associates with complementary skills. I enjoy working on cases, but the best part is that I don't have to do it all

– I can come up with creative ideas."

"I'm on the editorial board of the Insurance Coverage Law Bulletin and write articles twice a year. I'm also working

on updating a treatise on insurance coverage. These opportunities reflect the chance that I've had to seek out

intellectual engagement."

"I do internal training seminars for our practice group. I try to take on roles where I get to do things that I enjoy, but

things that help out the whole group."

POTENTIAL PRACTICE AREAS TO CONSIDER BASED ON FUNCTIONAL PAIRS*

* Compiled from responses during an exercise considering practice areas and functional pairs at the Finding Job Satisfaction Using Personality Type presentation at the 2006

NALP Annual Education Conference, facilitated by Lisa Abrams and Lois Casaleggi. Many practice areas are suitable for people with different type preferences. This list

represents ideas from a brainstorming session and is not intended to “match” people to practice areas without considering numerous other factors related to job satisfaction.

Facts/details/logic/puzzles

in the present

Practical impact on people

here and now

Future possibilities for the

betterment of people

Theoretical analysis and

solutions for the future

Admiralty

Antitrust

Appellate Practice

Banking & Commercial Finance

Bankruptcy

Corporate

Derivatives

Family Law

Government Contracts

Immigration

Insurance

Insurance Defense

Intellectual Property

JAG

Labor & Employment

Litigation

Mergers & Acquisitions

Municipal Finance

Personal Injury

Real Estate

Regulatory

Securities

Tax

Telecommunications

Bankruptcy

Criminal

Environmental

Ethics

Family Law

Health Care

Immigration

Labor & Employment

Litigation

Personal Banking

Public Interest

Residential Real Estate

Solo Practice

Tort Law

Trusts & Estates

Victims’ Rights

Appellate Practice

Criminal

Environmental

Family Law

Health Care

Immigration

International

Legislative

Litigation

Public Interest

Trusts & Estates

Antitrust

Appellate Practice

Bankruptcy

Entertainment & Sports

Environmental

Government Practice

Intellectual Property

International

Legislative

Policy

Public Interest

Solo Practice

Tax

Teaching & Scholarship

Telecommunications