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1. Posted by TrumpTower - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 18 hours, 25 minutes ago

   I’d comment but I’m too shy to do so.

2. Posted by A - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 18 hours, 24 minutes ago

   This explains alot

3. Posted by Introverted lawyer - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 18 hours, 21 minutes ago

   I’d wager that that’s true only for corporate lawyers.  An introvert would not make for a happy litigator.

4. Posted by Wood-yee - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 17 hours, 57 minutes ago

   I think law requires both introversion and extroversion.  You have to be able to sit there and do research and writing for hours and think about every way your opposition can attack your case.  Then you have to be able to go out and be a talking head- proclaiming to the world that your client surely is in the right.  It’s fun stuff.

5. Posted by Brian - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 17 hours, 53 minutes ago

   As an introvert, I usually play the part of an extrovert in litigation situations.

6. Posted by Scout - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 17 hours, 27 minutes ago

   It’s been said that introverts actually make the best litigators, contrary to popular belief.

7. Posted by Not so fast - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 17 hours, 21 minutes ago

   It depends what you mean by “best.” Sure, introverts may be suited to law, but at what cost?  Take an introvert with their powers of analysis, including self-dissection, an teach him to refine and grow those powers through legal training and what you often end up with is a miserable, overly self-critical individual prone to depression, substance abuse, etc., etc.  Law may not be the “best” for an introvert by all definitions of the word.

8. Posted by INFP - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 16 hours, 43 minutes ago

   "Introvert” doesn’t really cover the territory.  If you subscribe to the Myers-Briggs approach, the other three personality dimensions contribute a lot to how an introvert does in various areas.  There’s a book called “Type Talk at Work” that discusses how the various personality types do at different jobs.  For an INFP like me (Introverted-iNtuitive-Feeling-Perceiving), “Lawyer” is supposed to be a bad choice .  But we’re good counselors/advisors, so after surviving 8 years of BigLaw Kabuki theater (we can be pretty good actors too), I found my niche providing advice in-house.

9. Posted by Scout -- still smiling - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 16 hours, 17 minutes ago

   Kabuki theatre--that’s brilliant. Thanks for the Friday laugh.

10. Posted by INFJ - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 16 hours, 11 minutes ago

    Introverts are great litigators. It’s not that we can’t stand people, it’s that we need some recharge time between crowds. This means we enjoy our time prepping cases and getting the real work done a lot more than someone who’s dying to leave the office and can’t be left alone for more than an hour without talking or bothering someone else who’s trying to get some work done. I have no idea how extroverts get anything done, they’re so busy socializing.

11. Posted by mIKE - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 15 hours, 54 minutes ago

    The problem with being an introvert lawyer is that even though you may be good at doing the job, you’re not so good at GETTING the job.

12. Posted by SoCalIP Lawyer - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 15 hours, 46 minutes ago

    If you look at the actual list all the top paying jobs are in states like Wyoming and the Pacific NorthWest.

    I think this list is a crock and is just an advertisement to get suckers to go to med school.  Everyone knows that the malpractice insurance takes all of their income.  No thank you.

13. Posted by best commentator ever - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 15 hours, 43 minutes ago

    Actually, 6th place for lawyers is not what the article says. When ranked for earnings, projected growth and number of openings, lawyers do come in at #6 for introverts; when ranked for earnings alone, lawyers come in at #2.  READ THE ACTUAL STORY UNTIL THE END, PLEASE BEFORE RETYPING IT.

    Thanks, Debbie for inaccurate reporting once again. Go ahead, Molly remove my comment.

14. Posted by lala - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 15 hours, 39 minutes ago

    oh yeah, she did say that. what do you know. goodbye please don’t emal me.

15. Posted by INTJ - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 15 hours, 37 minutes ago

    I agree with 11.  This personality type may create some obstacles in that regard.  Also, I wonder how true this is for all types of lawyers—from the in-house counsel to the biglaw associate to the solo practicioner to the government agency lawyer—does this really apply to all?

16. Posted by JAD - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 15 hours, 35 minutes ago

    A happy litigator? Since when does being “happy” in any way relate to a litigation practice?

17. Posted by Peter L. Wanger - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 13 hours, 54 minutes ago

    I am an introvert who has practiced transactional law for 32 years. I think introversion is better for transactional lawyers and extroversion is better for litigators. But I agree that getting a job and getting clients is harder for an introvert because of our lesser degree of social skills.

18. Posted by Introverted Lawyer - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 13 hours, 39 minutes ago

    I think there is some truth to that finding. Introverts may be more analytical.  I don’t believe being an introvert and being a lawyer is an oxymoron or for that matter being a litigator and being introverted. With litigation, introverts may be more detailed oriented. Plus, I don’t think being introverted is synonymous with being shy or timid.  Introverts merely draw more energy by being by themselves or in solitude (e.g., doing research and working hours in solitiude on a case) then when they go to court they feel more confident and unleash themselves.

19. Posted by Matt - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 13 hours, 21 minutes ago

    As a computer engineer and a lawyer, I feel like this list is based more on stereotypes and high-school-level “classism” than reality.  Lots of programmers and lawyers are extremely outgoing, and lots of sales people, accountants, doctors, etc. can be very introverted except in certain capacities of their jobs.

20. Posted by R - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 13 hours, 11 minutes ago

    I like No. 9: “Medical scientist (EXCEPT EPIDEMIOLOGIST).”

    Because we all know how those epidemiologists are the life of the party!!!

21. Posted by The Captain - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 13 hours, 4 minutes ago

    Funny. I’m a part time law student and my current job is accounting software.

    I’ve never thought of myself as an introvert, but maybe I should ask others. I tend to agree with #18. I was surprised at many of the similarities with legal work and writing software - some of the things my colleagues struggle greatly with are a breeze for m.e

22. Posted by I. P. Attorney - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 12 hours, 32 minutes ago

    Astronomers earn more than lawyers!  Has anyone ever met one to find out?

23. Posted by Julie - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 12 hours, 23 minutes ago

    I am an introvert of long standing. I am also a family law lawyer. I find my profession draws me out of myself and makes me more social. I may not be the most scintllating litigator, however my true interest is in collaborative law and mediation.

24. Posted by jokepatrol - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 3 hours, 3 minutes ago

    LOL at coment #1.

25. Posted by mythoughts - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 2 hours, 54 minutes ago

    #3 (and perhaps others as i have not read all the responses).  I had a trial methods class in law school wherein a very successful criminal trial attorney taught the class.  We took the Myers-Briggs test and he explained it.  He said he is an off the charts introvert, most introvert rating you can get.  And, he is AN AMAZING TRIAL ATTORNEY.  He gave an impromtu closing argument in our class (yes it was impromptu because I asked him to on the spot and he was shocked).  He was INCREDIBLE.  He also was an amazing teacher and very successful trial attorney.  He explained it very well.  He said introverts don’t mean you are shy.  Being an introvert means that you reenergize yourself through yourself (and not others).  Meaning at the end of a hard day, you draw upon your inner resouces to regain your energy.  Extroverts do the opposite, in that at the end of the day they draw upon other people to reenergize yourself, which is why extroverts are considered more social from the surface.  But you can have an extremely shy extrovert.  Interestingly, my sister is a shy extrovert.  She always has to surround herself with people (to avoid feeling lonely) but she is very awkward in social settings.  I’m the opposite.  I need to take a break from people from time to time, which makes me an introvert.  I’m so glad someone explained this to me well.  Because I’m a trial lawyer and yes I’m an introvert.  Before someone explained this to me I always felt I had to say I’m and extrovert becuase I speak in public but that in actuality has nothing to do with it.  Hope this makes sense.  :)

26. Posted by lightbulbmoment - 4 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 2 hours, 30 minutes ago

    I just realized. that introverts may well make better litigators or trial attorneys because they probably don’t care too much what other people thing, which is good in litigation.  Whereas, extroverts tend to look at life as a popularity contest or seeking reassurances from other people, which is detrimental in contentious litigation matters.

27. Posted by NCLawyer - 4 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 14 hours, 32 minutes ago

    #25, I’d say you’re right on the money.  In the long lonely hours building up to trial it’s better for you if you don’t need constant input or affirmation or attention from others.  There is only one extrovert attorney in our firm and he is a stellar negotiator (way way better than I am).  During trial preparation or preparation for a hearing on an important motion, however, he drives the introverts (and all of the staff) crazy with “what about this? have you seen this? where is the ___? i changed my mind, can you get me this?” Admittedly not all of that is due to extroversion, some of it is due to a shorter attention span. But the need to talk to other people in order to get work done is anathema to the introverts in our building.

28. Posted by BuzzKillington - 4 months, 2 weeks, 2 days, 16 hours, 12 minutes ago

    I agree with #25.  Generally speaking, introverts are comfortable in public speaking situations because those situations lack intimacy.  Where introverts (at least like myself) struggle is in the more intimate settings of small groups and conversation like cocktail parties and dinners.  Obviously, this doesn’t bode well for the introvert when it comes to marketing!