The Attorney Work Styles Framework: What Kind of Lawyer Are You, Really?

January 8, 2026 Adrian Cea

In this special episode of Between the Briefs, Adrian Cea sits down with Dylan Ruga, Carly Savar, and Joe Stephens to unpack Steno’s new Attorney Work Styles Framework, a quiz that reveals whether you’re a Research Commander, Strategic Architect, Courtroom Dynamo, or Narrative Weaver.

What You’ll Learn:

How the four attorney archetypes work and why none of them is “the best”
Why a Research Commander’s strength in precedent can become a limitation without strategy
How Strategic Architects see three to four steps ahead and keep cases moving
The real-world pressure (and burnout risk) behind being a Courtroom Dynamo
Why Narrative Weavers win hearts and how to avoid falling in love with the wrong story
Where hallway settlements actually happen and why soft skills matter in court
How lawyers evolve across archetypes as their careers change
The value of pairing opposite styles to build stronger legal teams
Why the most effective lawyers blend story, law, preparation, and adaptability

The result of the quiz is less about personality typing and more about awareness, growth, and building better legal teams.

Want to watch this episode of Between the Briefs instead? Get the full video on YouTube.

About the Contributor

Adrian Cea

Adrian Cea is Steno's Social Media Manager, leading content strategy, audience engagement, and digital brand-building across platforms. He also produces and co-hosts Between the Briefs, Steno's podcast covering the intersection of legal technology, court reporting, and the future of litigation. With a background spanning content creation, field marketing, and sales at companies like Sell Better and Chili Piper, Adrian brings a multi-disciplined lens to making complex legal tech topics accessible and engaging.

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