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Where is my career headed if I don’t make partner at my firm? It’s every loyal attorney’s worst nightmare: you stick it out as an associate with the same firm in the hopes of making partner, but when they are calling the names of people in your class, yours is notably absent. What do you do?
Question
partner, it would be highly unusual for a law-
years before, there still may be time to define
I have spent 7 years at the same law firm and
yer to spend his or her career with one firm,
what hurdles you need to jump to get where
I haven’t made partner. Where can I take my
and over the course of seven years, not get
the firm wants you to be.
career at this point? Do you leave? Are my
any feedback on whether the firm felt that
chances of making partner anywhere greatly
the associate was ‘on track’ for partnership.
Life Outside Partnership. In the event that
diminished? I really would like to continue
In essence, your path to partnership should
the firm’s management has made it clear
law firm work and not have to work at a
be fairly well defined both by you and by the
that you will never be a partner, should you
corporation.
partners at your firm. If you start considering
leave? That depends. Are you happy and
what the issues are surrounding the partner-
fulfilled at the firm? Are there alternative
Answer
ship track for the first time after 7 years, you
designations or titles that might make you
It is hard to tell based on your question
are coming a bit late to the game.
happy, such as ‘of counsel’ or ‘senior associ-
not making partner someday, or have actu-
You stated that whether a lawyer makes
every reason in the world to stay with your
ate?’ In that event, there may very well be
whether you are anticipating the possibility of ally been passed up for partner at your cur-
partner is not necessarily an indication of
firm. Many firms accommodate senior attor-
rent firm. Either way, you should remember
that lawyer’s abilities. Again, depending on
neys who are not partners, and those types
that the partnership track is different from
the firm, that is probably true. Some firms
of relationships are often quite successful.
firm to firm. You reference spending 7 years
hire many associates, and only intend to give
In fact, there are many attorneys who would
with a firm. Some firms do make decisions
a relatively small percentage of those associ-
rather practice in this sort of a role than as a
about partnership after 7 years, however,
ates offers of partnership. In these cases, it
partner of the firm.
many firms have partnership tracks based
is not unusual to not be elected partner, and
on 8, 9, 10 or 11 years. At a firm with a track
as such, is generally not an indication that an
However, if it is your goal to become a part-
of 10 years, it would not be at all unusual
attorney is not skilled.
ner at a law firm, and your current firm isn’t going to provide that opportunity, you may
to be a 7th year associate who was not yet up for partner. In that situation, the fact
Passed Up For Partner? Reevaluate. What
want to try to switch firms. Whether you can
that you aren’t a partner would not be any
do you do if you don’t make partner? Let me
readily change firms depends on any number
indication that there is something wrong with
answer your question in two ways. First, a
of factors, including your location, your prac-
your lawyering skills or your professional
lawyer who doesn’t make partner at 7 years
tice area, and your portable book of business.
development.
should immediately set about finding out
In our experience, a portable book of busi-
what his or her firm’s criteria are for making
ness is the single most important issue for
Preparing for Partnership. However, if the
partnership decisions. ‘What is it that I can
many firms looking to bring on a senior level
partnership track at your firm is 7 years (as
be doing to prove to you that I am worthy
associate. Without portable business, wheth-
I suspect it may be, based on your question),
of this position?’ should be the first line of
er you can readily move from firm to firm is
it may be an indication that the firm does
dialogue. It may be that a firm wants to see
really dependent on a variety of other factors.
perceive that there is something lacking.
more business development. It may be that
In any event, we believe that attorneys should
Your work may be excellent, but it may be
there are concerns about the lawyer’s work.
focus on partnership issues as soon as pos-
that you have not developed any business, or
In any event, it is not sufficient to sit back
sible. Most firms begin reviewing associates
have not shown enough management poten-
and simply wait to hear whether you will ever
4-6 years into their practice specifically with
tial. Of course, that’s entirely speculation.
become partner. Although you would have
respect to whether the associate is capable
Regardless of why an attorney does not make
ideally started dealing with these issues
of becoming a partner in the firm. You should
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