5 Reasons Why Becoming an “Expert” Won’t Make You a Law Firm Partner

I remember it well. That time I closed my door at night in the firm and cried. Real tears. I was billing 3000 hours per year – yes, it can be done – and I was the golden boy. Running multiple deals at once for several years in a row. Marriage in the dumps. The head partner yelling at me, “If I tell you to jump, you ask ‘how high?’” So much for being the golden boy.

Things have changed since then. But not necessarily for the better. Making partner isn’t the holy grail anymore. In fact, you might work harder as a partner than you did as an associate. If you’re not pulling your weight – zip – you’re gone.

Let’s look at the 5 things you can do to protect yourself and evaluate your odds of making equity partner:

• Do you feel lucky?
• Build up your subject matter expertise
• Build relationships with clients
• All it takes is one client
• If your firm doesn’t value you, move on

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