Big Law Life #86: What Your BigLaw Firm Really Means When It Says You’re Not Ready for Partnership
Making partner in BigLaw is rarely a straightforward path and the feedback you get from your firm can be really cryptic. In this episode, I break down common things firms say to explain why they’re holding off on your promotion and what they really mean. We go deeper into three of the most frequent partnership “holding patterns”: the need for more visibility, more business development, and more leadership.
I share exactly how each one shows up in day-to-day practice, the actions that actually move the needle, and the questions you should be asking to turn vague guidance into a clear plan. If you’re on the partner track—or wondering why you’re stalled—this conversation will help you decode the signals and take targeted action that matters in your firm’s decision-making process.
At a Glance: 00:00 Why partnership feedback is often vague and how to read between the lines 02:28 The need to be "more visible” and why this may mean leaders don't know your value 04:06 Specific ways to build visibility in the right rooms 05:14 Three questions to assess whether you have a visibility problem 06:02 “We’d like to see more business development” and the different forms it takes 07:20 Value-driven business development that goes beyond landing big new clients 08:32 How to maintain relationship velocity with existing and potential clients 09:15 The five stages of business development progression for lawyers 10:29 Questions to ask when feedback on business development is unclear 10:50 “We’d like to see more leadership" and what that really looks like in BigLaw 11:30 Behaviors that show you’re shaping strategy, not just completing tasks 12:16 How cultural fit and internal leadership roles influence partnership decisions 12:57 Asking for specific examples to strengthen your leadership profile 13:17 Final advice for clarifying vague feedback before your next partnership conversation
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Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast