Before this collection of intelligent, opinionated and gregarious lawyers merged, they wanted to make real sure they could coexist.

Each of the six partners of the new Barrister Law Group in Bridgeport took the Myers-Briggs personality test, popularized in corporate America. They found out who the natural leaders were, identified the emotional types, the big-picture folks and the ones who are detail-oriented. Lawyers Margaret Addo, R. Jeanese Cabrera, Kyle A. Harrell, Cynthia R. Jennings, Sharon A. Jenkins and Eroll V. Skyers set a state precedent in August when they made their partnership official. The Barrister Law Group, located on State Street, is believed to be the largest African American law firm in Connecticut and one of the biggest in New England. And, four of the six partners are women.

The significance carries even more weight when you understand that about 5 percent of the nation's lawyers are black, and that whites make up about 80 percent of law students enrolled in the United States. Somewhere, Dennis Archer -- the former Detroit mayor who next year becomes the American Bar Association's first African American president -- is nodding affirmatively.

When he was in New Haven a few months ago to talk to the Connecticut Bar, Archer lamented the lack of lawyers of color in the industry. He said increasing those ranks would be his top priority.

The legal system has a more profound impact on African Americans and Latinos, who see too few that look like them in courts and among the lawyer ranks. The group's partners can trace their roots to Africa, Jamaica, Haiti, Barbados and Canada.

As a ``black firm'' the Barrister Law Group knows its successes and failures will be magnified. It's pleased that so far white clients are seeking their business as well.

"We're not trying to market ourselves as a `black firm,' but we still are a black firm, so we do have to go the extra mile to be more excellent than similarly situated counterparts,'' Jenkins, 34, of Bridgeport, says. Her forte is immigration and family law. She is married to Harrell and is the sister of Skyers. The three had their own firm prior to the new venture.

Before they merged, the new partners had worked together on a malpractice case last year, so they were becoming comfortable with each other's personalities and work style.

Each lawyer has a specialty, including criminal, immigration, real estate, tax law and environment. The firm wants to be a full-service enterprise whose expertise and results transcend race.

"We all bring different resources and strengths to the table, and we recognize that,'' says Jennings, 54, of Windsor. "We recognize that the synergy of us working together goes way beyond just individuals working out there. The most important thing is good case management. We use technology to maintain and manage our cases.''

Jennings is known in Greater Hartford for her political activism in decrying "environmental racism,'' the proliferation of toxic waste dumping in Hartford. She also ran unsuccessful races for state representative in 1996 and 1998.

Another familiar local name at the firm is Femi Bogle-Assegai, the former regional manager for the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. Bogle-Assegai manages the office.

I talked with the partners last week in a conference room at their office. Though they're a serious-minded bunch, it's obvious that having a sense of humor was another criteria for the merger. When I asked who makes the decision when there's a 3-3 stalemate, a couple of them shot back at the same time, "I do.'' The group burst out laughing. They explained that tie votes are tabled, until the next meeting. But there can be intense lobbying behind the scenes, which usually involves one partner buying lunch for another and practicing their power of persuasion.

I asked who sat at the head of table during their conferences. The women replied that the two men -- Skyers and Harrell -- have that honor. "Oh, so the fellas are running the show,'' I replied.

"Actually, they think it's the head of the table; we consider it the `foot,''' Jennings cracked. The women howled.

"In terms of internal competition, we all knew that we had varying areas that we had different levels of competencies in,'' says Cabrera, 43, whose niche is business and commercial law and civil litigation.

The partners have a strong sense of purpose for their business and what they see as their mission.

"We're going to do a lot of good ... a whole lot of good,'' says Skyers, 40, a trial lawyer. "We haven't forgotten where we come from. We now become a resource for people who may not have been able to relate to the majority [population], but have no choice but to go to the majority professionals and do the best they can to relate to them.''

Stan Simpson's column appears Mondays and Saturdays.