partner(s) who are absent most/all the time Forum

[Anonymous User]

what do you think of this firm?
it has three partners - all with stellar credentials.

what seems strange is that only one partner (the oldest and most experienced) seems to be a regular at the law office. one goes to the office intermittently. One seems absent all the time and is not readily reachable by email even. I have never seen him.

Is this very common? the associates seem to have a lot of work and seem occupied all the time.

(PS I am interning there and hope to get a full time offer upon graduation - I am thinking whether this is a healthy firm and whose opinion matters most when it comes to a hiring decision)

[LawIdiot86]

Can you figure out who is getting all of the work the associates do? If it is coming only from the one guy in the office, the other two are probably lazy and out having fun. If they're generating work though, they're probably just out drumming up work and networking like crazy to stay well-known in the market.

[Anonymous User]

of the three partners, I guess one is lazy and non involved.
one is seldom seen but hes bright and gave a talk to harvard which was videotaped (the talk was about this firm)

the one who's always at office is also the rainmaker and is very involved in a number of community activities.

[NotMyRealName09]

Unless you have information to the contrary, the absent one is either slowing down in his practice and easing into retirement, or very possibly is also a rainmaker, and is absent because he is out and about visiting clients or handling matters in distant jurisdictions. Why don't you just ask an associate what the deal is? That's not an unusual question. Just ask, "I've noticed partner X is rarely in the office. What's his story?"