Big Law Life #61: Why Even Great Lawyers Still Fail to Make Partner
In today’s episode, I break down why even highly skilled, well-regarded lawyers can still fail to make partner—and what you can do to avoid that fate. If you’ve been getting great reviews, meeting your billable targets, and even bringing in business but still aren’t seeing a clear path to partnership, you’re not alone. I’ve served on partnership committees and evaluated countless candidates, and I’ve seen three common reasons why some lawyers don’t make the cut. From understanding the financial and structural realities of your firm, to identifying the right advocates, to assessing whether your firm is truly the right fit, this episode covers what you need to be thinking about now if you want to successfully navigate the partnership process.
At a Glance:
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00:00 Introduction – Why Big Law Life exists and what law school doesn’t teach you
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01:20 The frustrating reality: Why talented, high-performing associates can still fail to make partner
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03:03 The first critical factor: Understanding your firm’s financials, structure, and business needs
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06:00 Why great lawyering isn’t enough—you need to offer something the firm needs right now
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06:43 The second critical factor: You need internal advocates, and one key partner to guide you through the process
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09:09 How to find the right person to help you—and why the partner you work with most closely might not be the one
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11:11 The third critical factor: When failing to make partner has nothing to do with you and everything to do with your firm
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12:37 Why some firms have an unspoken “type” that makes partnership harder for certain lawyers
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14:29 Key questions to ask yourself before committing to partnership at your firm
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15:15 Final thoughts on strategically crafting your path to partnership
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Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? - here are ways to reach out to her:
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Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast