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Career Center: Do You Want to Make Partner? Or Go In-House?

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Even in the economic heyday of a few years ago, making partner at a law firm was never a guaranteed outcome for every associate.  But at large law firms today, partnership prospects look worse than ever. Whether you want to pursue that elusive partnership goal or opt out to work in-house, one thing is certain: you can’t just expect everything to fall into place; you have to take control of your career.

Last month, the Career Center’s Miami Professional Development Panel provided insider perspectives on how associates can increase their chances at making partner or landing an in-house job.  Panelists included:

  • Adolfo Jimenez – Partner, Holland & Knight
  • Tiffani Lee – Partner, Holland & Knight
  • Albert Dotson, Jr. – Partner, Bilzin Sumberg
  • Jonathan Jaffe – Director & Associate Counsel, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

What did they have to say?

Tips on Making Partner

1.  Develop a good reputation – and keep it that way.  Associates who want to make partner have to devote several years to building a good reputation inside and outside their firms.  This usually entails consistently doing good work, earning the respect and praise of the more junior associates they manage and the partners and clients they work for, joining firm committees, staying active in their local bar associations, and publishing articles on relevant legal issues.  You don’t want to throw it all away by making small mistakes that can kill your reputation.

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2.  Think strategically about how you will meet your firm’s partnership criteria.  Associates often think that being a “good lawyer” will be enough to get them into the partnership ranks.  That may be one component, but firms typically have several metrics for partnership by which associates are measured.  Find out what the partnership criteria are early on, then develop a game plan.

3.  Demonstrate your ability to generate business.  A partner is more than just a glorified associate.  A partner’s lifeblood is generating business for the firm.  One way for associates to get a head start on generating business is by developing relationships with the more junior attorneys who work in-house for their firm’s clients.  Having strong relationships with these in-house attorneys will help you to develop business with them in the future as they become more senior.

For the panelists’ tips for going in-house and their advice on common mistakes to avoid, read the full article in the Associate Resources section of the ATL Career Center.

This article was prepared by Lateral Link. For more information regarding this article, or if you have questions about your job search, please contact T.J. Duane at tjduane@laterallink.com.

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