On lawyer personalities

Would you describe yourself as pessimistic? Resilient? Introverted?

Your answer might be a good predictor of your area of practice — and your likelihood of leaving the legal profession altogether, according to a new study by Right Profile – a talent development and data analytics firm – and JD Match, a legal recruiting service.

From a survey of 1,432 people, including practicing and non-practicing attorneys, law students and non-lawyers, the report concluded that certain personality traits indicate that an attorney is more likely to leave the law: namely, higher levels of resilience, empathy, initiative and sociability.

The study also suggested that lawyers in specific practice areas may share certain personality traits, Bloomberg reported. For example, bankruptcy lawyers tend to be more empathetic and curious than other attorneys.

While it might be interesting that trust and estate attorneys are often introverted and dislike teamwork, what’s the practical application? A person’s resilience or sociability certainly doesn’t dictate their future plans, but those personality traits matter, since hiring someone who doesn’t fit the firm’s culture can be costly.

According to the report, it costs a firm an average of $250,000 to recruit a first-year associate — but it costs $400,000 when an associate leaves.

Almost half of entry-level associates — 46 percent — leave their law firm within 3 years, the report states. It might be impossible to predict exactly who will stay and who will go, but the study suggests firms that match lawyers to practice areas based on their personality traits and personal preferences might see greater loyalty in the long-term.