Career Center: Can You Make It to the Top?

Welcome to the latest post in our series on the results of the 2010 ATL/Career Center Associate Satisfaction survey.  We’ve used the survey results to revamp the Career Center, powered by Lateral Link, with completely updated profiles and each week, we are highlighting insider information that Members shared about their firms in the eight key areas of associate satisfaction covered by the Career Center.

Today, see if you have what it takes to make it: Partnership Prospects.

  • At this "elite" California firm, which does not have non-equity partners, while “hours,” “work ethic,” and “client retention” are important factors in making partner, Members report that it ultimately comes down to being a “hellaciously good lawyer.”
  • At this firm, known for its high-tech and IP practices, there is one partnership track and no up-and-out policy: the firm does not consider a deferral in consideration unusual or a sign that the associate will not ultimately make partner.
  • This employment-law only firm bills at a lower rate than its Big Law counterparts, and in 2010, several partners defected from DLA Piper to the firm, in part because of this perceived competitive advantage.
  • This "smart and small" firm, with just two California offices, has no set time for when associates will be considered for partner, but generally considers associates for partnership after anywhere from four to seven years at the firm, a "refreshingly brief partnership period" compared to most Big Law firms.

Additional highlights, after the jump.

  • This "friendly," New York-based firm has one partnership track, and while the firm does make partners directly from the associate pool, associates are often first made Counsel, as part of an unofficial "feeder
    program" to partnership.  
  • One of California’s oldest firms, this firm added more than 30 partners to its ranks last year from the defunct Heller Ehrman.  
  • Known for its "cutting-edge" work, this firm’s equity partner headcount increased slightly in 2009, in contrast to the significant decrease in associate numbers due to layoffs of 190 associates.
  • With 69 offices in 39 countries, this ever-expanding firm has two partnership tracks, with senior associates eligible for National Partner at the end of their eighth year and nomination to Principal at the end of their tenth year.
  • This Washington, D.C. boutique trial and litigation firm has one partnership track and a "strong preference" for homegrown over lateral partners.
  • This New York firm, known for its finance and M&A work, remained in good financial health during the recession, in part because of its work on Lehman Brothers and Bernie Madoff-related  matters, and did not lay off any partners in 2009. 

For more on compensation and everything else you wanted to know about Big Law firms, visit the Career Center, powered by Lateral Link.

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