Introduction
What if we told you that your personality type could be the key to unlocking your full potential in law school? From time management strategies to study techniques, as well as tips for socializing, understanding your MBTI preferences can give you a significant advantage in navigating the challenges ahead.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is not a new thing to be heard. It is a widely used measure of different personality types that was developed in the 1940s by Katherine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers. If you are familiar with MBTI, the scoring profile shows our persona in four scales:
1. Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I)
2. Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)
3. Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)
4. Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)
The first scale indicates whether an individual derives energy from the outer world of people and activities or the inner world of thoughts and emotions. The second one reflects whether an individual pays more attention to facts and data or the abstract concept in information receiving while the third scale is important in understanding communication as it evaluates two distinct approaches for reaching conclusions, either objectively or subjectively. The final scale relates to an individual's preference in dealing with the outer world, some keeping their options open and some will be more decisive.
Dr. Larry Richard concluded that most of the lawyers are represented by ISTJ (17.8%), INTJ (13.1%), and ESTJ (10.3%), in contrast, only few are ENFP (5.2%). This article will reach out to several law students with ISTJ, INTJ, and ENFP personalities and reveal how they act out in law school, within the realm of study technique, time management, life attitude, and ways to deal with the people around them.
INTJ
Contrary to popular belief, being an introvert doesn't necessarily mean you'll struggle in law school. INTJs excel in the logical and conceptual aspects of legal studies. An INTJ expressed that, “I really enjoy doing law because I love to delve into theory-based subjects, especially the abstract ones. However, a technical one, like Contract Law, worn me out.” INTJ’s methodical nature leads them to a more organized way to cope with the substantial learning demand in law school. “I tend to have a sense of control over my routine,” she said. “I’d plan every single task for every week, and even for a whole month beforehand, and strictly go with the plan.”
With that being said, life is always full of uncertainties, and when plans don't work out, they start to doubt themselves and fall into a deep pile of anxiety. “I will feel very stressed before I do something out of my control, as I usually plan and assume every possibility beforehand,” shared an INTJ. She further asserted that she enjoys engaging in intellectual pursuits such as reading, researching topics of interest, and exploring new ideas, which are the ways to cope with intense pressure.
Although INTJs prefer to find mental stimulation from within, they are drawn to volunteer programs that offer a greater sense of fulfillment, steering clear of meaningless networking events. A compassionate INTJ insisted, "I acknowledge that the legal profession necessitates social engagement, but I would rather spend my time reaching out to the needy and elderly or attending thought-provoking forums and speeches while allocating less time to purely social events.”
ISTJ
Practical, responsible, and detail-oriented, ISTJs are seemingly well-suited for legal studies. However, they can be afflicted by harsh self-demanding tendencies. One ISTJ shared, "I've struggled to effectively finish my revisions within my self-imposed deadlines due to the sheer volume of information to absorb." Another remarked, " I faced a tough time in group assignments when I realized it is difficult to ensure everyone adheres to the internal deadlines."
ISTJs' drive for efficiency and productivity is also reflected in their life priorities. They often focus more on practical achievements and tangible pursuits. "I will eventually prioritize my coursework over anything else. I find it is meaningless to balance my personal life with my studies since it is not going to contribute to better academic performance. I will plan my time to join networking sessions which could tone up my CV, " expressed an ISTJ. On the other hand, another interviewee struck a more balanced tone, "I prioritize my studies, but I balance my life with it to maintain productivity." In short, their judging preference makes them thrive on having structured schedules and goals. Also, they tend to take a task-oriented approach, focusing on efficiency and discipline in doing group work.
ISTJs prefer more intimate one-on-one relationships, and their social circles are typically close-knit, potentially finding excessive socializing draining. "It is significantly helpful to work in a group, especially when I'm inattentive, as it helps draw my attention back to the work. But most of the time, I prefer to accomplish tasks independently. I am more focused when working by myself, without needing to derail my thinking." Additionally, some may afflict social anxiety, as an ISTJ shared, "My natural reaction to eye contact is to shy away, which can be seen as impolite.
ENFP
The legal field attracts relatively few ENFPs because the core of law practice demands analytical thinking. However, ENFPs prefer a more gradual approach to grasping abstract concepts, which could be inefficient and unrealistic for exam preparation. “I enjoy studying law, finding relationships between the facts and the meaning behind it, but I couldn’t find practical study measures to balance my interest and effectiveness,” expressed an ENFP.
ENFPs typically enjoy socializing and engaging in stimulating conversations, allowing them have a large network of friends. According to one ENFP, “I could not survive in law school without help from my friends.” The other affirmed “I enjoy meeting new people and building connections with them. Periodically hanging out with my close friends is what I look forward to, pulling me away from the hectic routine.”
ENFPs possess a strong perceiving nature, rendering them spontaneous, open-minded, and adaptive. However, these mood-motivated individuals often struggle with rigid schedules. “I just go with the flow, which makes it tough to stick to revision schedules. But since I'm scatterbrained, I can't fall behind a set schedule anyway,” stated an ENFP. “I try not to procrastinate, but I only get motivated when the deadline is right around the corner. I make plans, but the plans constantly change when new ideas pop into my head,” affirmed the other one.
Despite that, ENFPs did have their way of keeping track of bulky tasks in law school by adopting a flexible approach. They frankly do better with externally imposed deadlines than self-imposed ones. “I use Google Calendar all the time for affairs, and to plan my study. Even if I don’t strictly follow it, a daily reminder is enough to motivate me. I also schedule my day on an hourly basis, avoiding long breaks that would demotivate me. Studying at different places like cafés or libraries helps refresh me and drives my attention back,” an ENFP shares her study tips.
Analysis
From the discussion earlier, it’s not hard to conclude that INTJs and ISTJs are similar in the way of planning their time and socializing. Their judging preference helps them to manage their time methodically and effectively adhere to it. However, INTJs may also be open to adapting their plans based on their intuition while ISTJs prefer pragmatic and task-oriented approaches. On the contrary, ENFPs thrive with external accountability rather than inner discipline, and thereupon, enlist the support of friends like study groups or utilize reminding tools like reminders, to-do lists and calendars to help stay on track with deadlines.
In light of socializing, INFJs and ISFJs can take the first step by attending smaller chit-chatting sessions or study groups, where they can share insightful perspectives and build deep, meaningful relationships. Socializing is not a significant problem for ENFPs, as their inherent enthusiasm and charisma attract a wide network of connections. However, ENFPs should limit the time they spend socializing and focus more on effectiveness to avoid piling up tasks until the last second.
Even though INTJs and ISTJs seem alike, they did show up with their different traits. In the way of pursuing their goals, INFJs are more similar to ENFPs, they value personal growth and strive to find meaning in their work, which can contribute to a sense of fulfillment. On the other hand, ISTJs find satisfaction in achieving tangible goals and maintaining a sense of order and stability in their lives. Therefore, INTJs and ENFPs can find engaging ways to learn and apply legal concepts. Seeking real-world examples and exploring practical applications of the material are intuitive ways to help understand the broader implications and ethical considerations of legal concepts. ISTJs who naturally possess superb logical thinking and attention to detail might leverage their strengths in memorizing legal principles, and precedents and analyzing detail.
Conclusion
On a final note, taking the MBTI test is useful for clarifying our values, identifying our strengths and weaknesses, and fostering closer bonds with group members or classmates. Not everyone is well-suited or prepared for law school when they arrive. By gaining greater self-knowledge, we can discover the right way to balance our studies and life. It is also important to be able to put ourselves in other’s shoes by respecting their personality preference.
Written by: Kee Yi Gin
Edited by: Ho Jia Xuan
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