Making Law Firm Partner

Making Partner at Your Law Firm

When you are hired by a law firm, almost always the goal is to make partner. Yet, over the years, I have been amazed at the number of associates who just work, wish and hope that it will happen. “If I do good legal work, if I have enough billable hours, if I work hard and don’t step on any toes I will make partner.” No, not necessarily, and more often than not, not likely. We live in a very competitive legal climate and that climate has become even more competitive with the economic downturn and resulting decline in legal business. The smart associate will have a written plan to make partner and follow it religiously.

So what’s a law firm partnership plan?

A law firm partnership plan is a written plan that sets out the criteria for partnership, breaks achieving each criterion into specific steps, then schedules and executes each step for maximum timeliness and political impact on the partnership determination.

Some firms have a published set of expected performance milestones and accomplishments for partnership candidates. Others do not share this information with associates. With or without a list, the wise associate makes a determination of what would give him or her the best chance for partnership and acts accordingly. Some factors that may influence the firm’s partnership decision are:

• Billable hours
• Marketing Efforts
• Pro Bono commitment
• Public/Community Service
• Leadership activities within the law firm
• Client feedback
• Specific criteria for individual practice areas such as:
  Number of cases tried, pleadings drafted, depositions taken, briefs written, contracts drafted, business transactions closed, etc.
• Professional accomplishments:
  Articles written
  Speeches given
  Bar involvement
• Firm Politics:
  Who’s rooting for you?
  Who might give you a negative recommendation?
  What’s your competition like?
  Who on the partnership committee do you not know?
  What will your practice area leader say about you?

At Coaching for Lawyers.com we will help you determine what you need to accomplish before the firm makes its partnership decisions, help you schedule the actions necessary to achieve these goals and keep you on track. When the partnership determination comes you will be confident that you have done your very best to maximize your chances to make partner.