I have what my kids and friends call 'attorney mode' and they seem amused, intrigued or intimidated by it, depending on the person. One friend gets really defensive and almost angry and told me once that I sound like I think I'm smarter than her when I'm in attorney mode. And my response was along with lines of, 'actually, when we're talking about law, much as I love you, I DO know more than you and you should stop f'ing arguing with me because you sound like an idiot.' Um. What I MEANT to say was, 'no, no, I don't think I'm smarter than you.'

I think most professionals have this to some extent or another. As attorneys, we are actively taught to detach emotions and run on sheer logic and intellect. Those of us who are dissociative already sit there and wonder why the others have to be taught this. LOL.