Any INTP Lawyers?

[jgreensp]

Just wondering how INTP's perform as lawyers in comparison to their counterparts. I would imagine that the "P" is the weakness while eveything else fits ok.

[Claverhouse]

Crule81 is a lawyer...



Claverhouse :ph34r:

[int]

There was a guy who used to hang out in the irc room a few months ago that mentioned (to me) how great law school was but the practice kinda stunk. Fwiw.

[Geoff]

I know one, but with strong J tendencies.

To a certain extent as a tax adviser I am often a tax lawyer (I interpret legislation and review caselaw).

-Geoff

[Arioch]

I know a INTP who's studying to be a lawyer... really it's the field that matters.

[Edmond Zedo]

I guess I'm a lawyer de facto, since I'm always acting as my own defense in court. Well just once, over a "failure to stop" ticket. I'm the man.

[mgb]

Lawyers are a funny bunch, they can be pretty hit and miss. I wouldn't want an I/P lawyer. I would take E/J any day.

Although, suing people/companies can be fun. Ok, winning is fun.

[PsiKik]

I guess I'm a lawyer de facto, since I'm always acting as my own defense in court. Well just once, over a "failure to stop" ticket. I'm the man.
How did you do in this epic case of the law versus the small guy?
Bet ya got a fine.

[crule81]

Crule81 is a lawyer...


Regrettably, that is correct. I do litigation work, so I'm basically a trial lawyer in training. At times, I believe I have difficulty advocating for my side because I am able to see the weaknesses of my side and the strengths of the opposition. I also had problems in law school because I would focus on novel arguments rather than the obvious. However, the method used to grade exams takes away points if you neglect discussion of even the obvious points. For some reason, I could never get that fact through my head. The only way I'm going to remain practicing law is if I get a job doing solely appellate work, and that has been difficult to find.

MacGuffin is an attorney also. He seems to enjoy it much more than I do.

[Edmond Zedo]

Yeah, it stuck, but my motive was more to show defiance.

[mgb]

Regrettably, that is correct. I do litigation work, so I'm basically a trial lawyer in training. At times, I believe I have difficulty advocating for my side because I am able to see the weaknesses of my side and the strengths of the opposition. I also had problems in law school because I would focus on novel arguments rather than the obvious. However, the method used to grade exams takes away points if you neglect discussion of even the obvious points. For some reason, I could never get that fact through my head. The only way I'm going to remain practicing law is if I get a job doing solely appellate work, and that has been difficult to find.

MacGuffin is an attorney also. He seems to enjoy it much more than I do.

My litigation lawyer was one of the funniest ones I had. Do most cases even go to court?

[songbird36]

I am a lawyer. But I'm guessing everyone knows that from my previous posts

[MacGuffin]

I works for the gubment. I never see the inside of a courtroom, except for hearings.

[songbird36]

I work for government too.

[jgreensp]

Do you enjoy it? What kinda law?

[Shai Gar]

Martin Vail, Defence attorney, District Attorney, Attorney General

[Sugaraddict2702]

I'm planning on stydying law next year, but I don't see myself as a lawyer. but you never know...

[Shai Gar]

sorry he is a intj

[Ghosteh]

How the fuck can you be a good lawyer as an 'I'

Really

[Shai Gar]

intraverts make the best actors and that is what litigators need to be. extraverts want people to take them for who they are and what they say, intraverts hide themselves and their knowledge from the world and only show what they want to be seen. hence the best lawyers

[lab88]

I'm an INTP law student. I plan on either getting into real estate or working for the government.

I also share the problem of wanting to go for novel arguments on law exams. I am learning to make checklists of things to cover on exams (a trick I learned from a good prof), and doing ok. There seem to be all types in law school with me. I did well during oral arguments, but I am a total nerd and prefer to spend time with the written word rather than be "on stage." I am quick at addressing arguments and knocking holes in opponents' reasoning, which helped me do well in oral argument.

This link gives info about lawyers and law students and personality type - http://academic.udayton.edu/legaled/online/study/mbti01.htm

[MacGuffin]

There is nothing wrong with novel arguments as long as you cover the basics first.

[kendoiwan]

Taking the LSAT 10/1, don't think that will be to difficult (just gotta work on getting my time down on the Logic games) But I have all kinds of doubt about what I'll ultimately end up doing. Will I be a good law student? Will I get it? Will something call out to me or will I just settle on something? What if I hate it? What if I can't make a living? :shock: :shock:

[lab88]

I had all the same questions. There are many people in my law classes who do not want to be lawyers and are doing law school by default. I don't recommend that. Lawyers mostly only get big money if they spend all their waking hours working, and you need to graduate near the top of your class to get the privilege of even working at that (for me) awful job. I'm pretty sure I would absolutely hate being at a large firm. Talk to some other lawyers, look at law specializations, and make sure you actually want to use your law degree before you spend $100,000 to get one. Think about how much money you could make just by wisely investing $100,000 instead of flushing it down the toilet for a law degree it turned out you never used.

I really, really love doing research, reading, and writing. I love complex things. I'm bad at math, so although I love science, a career in science is out of the question for me. I find law interesting, and it never gets boring to me. I want a career in real estate law, or failing that a government job in education or some kind of prosecutorial work. So, it was off to law school.

Some people hate law and think it's sooo boring to read the case books. You could try reading some of the case books, and see if you like it. Torts cases are always pretty entertaining for me. If you hate reading cases, I suggest you think of a different career. Your local law school librarian will probably help you find a case book to look through.

MacGuffin, the basics are so obvious...I'm sure I don't even need to mention those, since of course it's assumed that everyone understands those thoroughly. ;)

[MacGuffin]

MacGuffin, the basics are so obvious...I'm sure I don't even need to mention those, since of course it's assumed that everyone understands those thoroughly. ;)Yeah, you would THINK...

[PromiscuousMind]

Poking at an older topic here… but I’m thinking of getting a law degree after I finish my (biotechnology-applicable) Ph.D. and then going into IP law. Anyone have any comments about that branch of the law?

I’m thinking it’ll provide more variable-topic work and more opportunities for profitable upward mobility then sticking with academia (where I’d still have tons of administrative stuff to look forward to at probably lower pay) or going into industry research where all the business guys and lawyers would have ultimate power.

[meshou]

Poking at an older topic here… but I’m thinking of getting a law degree after I finish my (biotechnology-applicable) Ph.D. and then going into IP law. Anyone have any comments about that branch of the law?

I’m thinking it’ll provide more variable-topic work and more opportunities for profitable upward mobility then sticking with academia (where I’d still have tons of administrative stuff to look forward to at probably lower pay) or going into industry research where all the business guys and lawyers would have ultimate power.Traffic court. Stick it to the poor!

Ooh! Or prosecute homeless people for doing drugs!

Or you could be the person my mother hired to try and decalre me mentally incompetant to be an adult!

Lawyers are good people. *nods*

[PromiscuousMind]

Heh. Being perceived as a “good person” isn’t exactly on my agenda.

But no – I’m not interested in being a trial lawyer or dealing with “the masses”. It would be stupid to get a bioscience Ph.D. and not use it to my advantage. That’s why I’m specifically interested in biotech-related IP/patent law, not law in general. Although I can imagine corporate law and international law may also come in handy if I fancy venturing into the business world in the future.

[MacGuffin]

Biotech IP law is pretty hot, and probably will be for a long time.

I will blame you for any genetic mutants that rise up and kill us all.

[PromiscuousMind]

I will blame you for any genetic mutants that rise up and kill us all.

Duly noted. (My, what a responsibility to have!) :lol:

[JazzTulip]

Poking at an older topic here… but I’m thinking of getting a law degree after I finish my (biotechnology-applicable) Ph.D. and then going into IP law. Anyone have any comments about that branch of the law?



I'm training to be a European Patent Attorney and I love it. It attracts scientists and engineers with strong analytical skills who have an interest in law and who have a love of language and communication (at least it does in Europe, I can't speak for the US). The work is varied, although that depends on where you work. What I do at the moment is mainly a combination of understanding, analysing, describing and defending inventions, but there are patent attorneys who concentrate mainly on licensing and there are some differences depending on your jurisdiction. It's a very challenging and absorbing area of work.

[kuranes]

I would think IP law would have the potential to be both interesting and lucrative. But I'm not in either field. I'm just living vicariously, imagining working with bio-tech start-ups. It could be just a lot of cross-referencing precedents and incremental claims. At least in the beginning.

[JazzTulip]

IP is very interesting, and yes it can quite lucrative for those who indulge. The sum total of what is protected covers a wide range from wholly new 'breakthrough' inventions to small developments in existing technology, and pretty much everything inbetween. What can I say? It keeps me off the streets. And I have to say it really is such an INTP profession, I feel right at home in it.

[Dumpy]

I'm a lawyer for a U.S. government agency.

[jgreensp]

How do you like your job? Do you feel it is a good fit for your INTP self?

[PromiscuousMind]

What I do at the moment is mainly a combination of understanding, analysing, describing and defending inventions ... It's a very challenging and absorbing area of work.

This sounds a lot like what I hoped the job would entail. The idea of getting to constantly peruse (and understand!) literature about cutting edge research/inventions is very appealing.


I would think IP law would have the potential to be both interesting and lucrative. But I'm not in either field. I'm just living vicariously, imagining working with bio-tech start-ups. It could be just a lot of cross-referencing precedents and incremental claims. At least in the beginning.

Heh, similar to my own thoughts... (Am oscillating between the images of exciting-chaotic striding about and reading of Spiffy Things as opposed to being cooped up in a musty back-cubicle filling out repetitive and uninspiring paperwork.)


IP is very interesting, and yes it can quite lucrative for those who indulge. The sum total of what is protected covers a wide range from wholly new 'breakthrough' inventions to small developments in existing technology, and pretty much everything inbetween. What can I say? It keeps me off the streets. And I have to say it really is such an INTP profession, I feel right at home in it.

This is very encouraging to hear! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, JazzTulip. :)

One more thing I am curious about… do you have any comments on the apparent usefulness/benefits of having both an advanced degree and a law degree? Or even a sense of how common it is to have both as far as IP is concerned? Part of why I’m asking is because I’ve been curious if a Masters is really just as good as a Ph.D. if IP law is my eventual goal. (Though I’m pretty sure I’m set on staying the few extra years for a Ph.D. – I’d hate to have to look back later and kick myself for not sticking it out.)

[MacGuffin]

One more thing I am curious about… do you have any comments on the apparent usefulness/benefits of having both an advanced degree and a law degree? Or even a sense of how common it is to have both as far as IP is concerned? Part of why I’m asking is because I’ve been curious if a Masters is really just as good as a Ph.D. if IP law is my eventual goal. (Though I’m pretty sure I’m set on staying the few extra years for a Ph.D. – I’d hate to have to look back later and kick myself for not sticking it out.)Having an advanced degree can help you in the IP field, at least in the U.S. Esp. for those top-tier jobs.

[Dumpy]

How do you like your job? Do you feel it is a good fit for your INTP self?

I have no idea, and since I got the results from the Myers-Briggs last week, I'm reasessing everything.

[Rajah]

Here's a really interesting article on lawyer burnout and career shifting. Enjoy!

http://www.careerjournal.com/columnists/thebigpicture/20030908-bigpicture.html

[kendoiwan]

http://forums.intpcentral.com/showthread.php?t=6107