Pressure to Give Others Work

that are discussed below. In most cases, a in a given practice area and phase it out. I partner’s compensation is always less than he have seen this happen with practices such as or she believes it should be. patent prosecution, labor and employment If a partner has an extraordinarily good year, the law firm may pay that partner the same as Sometimes this is a result of economic shifts, it did the previous year with the promise that if or different management agendas, or other the partner has a slow year in the future, his or reasons, but it can be very stressful for her compensation will be kept the same. But partners to constantly worry that the practice such promises are not always honored. There area they have cultivated and spent years are very few instances when partners receive developing can get tossed aside because it is as much money as they believe that they are not the current flavor of the month. entitled to. 10. Pressure to Help in Recruiting. Moreover, I have seen some major American law firms compensate partners without Many partners are expected to assist business less than those same firms law firms with recruiting, whether it is compensate senior associates. It is all over interviewing people in the office, traveling the board and something that causes stress, to law schools, or going to various events uncertainty and resentment among many law in the summer and throughout the year. firm partners. Most of this work "Many partners are expected to does not involve Associates in large assist law firms with recruiting, billable hour credit, law firms are paid whether it is interviewing people in and most of it is not a large salary regardless of whether or not they generate the office, traveling to law schools, or going to various events in the that enjoyable for partners. Answering questions about what business. summer and throughout the year." differentiates the firm 9. Pressure to Have a Relevant often something that gets old very quickly. Practice Area to the Firm. 11. Pressure to Find Clients Where Some practice areas in large law firms There Is No Conflict. become completely irrelevant and on the and others. culture and more is way out. Many large law firms are trying to Many partners in large law firms spend a few get rid of labor and employment work, or decades, or more, cultivating relationships certain kinds of labor and employment work with large clients and then when they bring (defending class actions, for example). Some them in have various conflicts that prevent the law firms simply decide at various points in firm from accepting those clients. Sometimes time that they no longer have an interest partners are even asked to eliminate certain