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I've always been curious as to how partners bring in business for the firm.

Is it through referrals from current and past clients? Do partners have to actively go out to the state bar events, or other group events?

Also, in a lot of legal dramas the partners typically go out and golf with clients, or potential clients. Does that translate to reality?

Most of the discussion in law school is about being an associate. That makes perfect sense, but, does anyone here know more about the business side of a law firm?

Many of them worked in house for a corporation for many years before becoming partner. This is one way. Other than that, you pretty much have to become quasi-famous in your field of specialty. I suppose there are some partners with family/friend connections who use good ole fashioned nepotism.

Reputation and relationships. Build a reputation as an expert by doing good work for clients, publishing, and other stuff that gets your name out there. Relationships are built through networking. Networking can include family, friends, classmates, clients, coworkers who leave to go in-house, etc. Nobody expects you to go out as a 25 year old and become best buddies with the 60 year old General Counsel of a Fortune 500. But 20 years from now your LS classmate or fellow associate might go on to be Senior Bigshot Counsel at XYZ Corp, in which case they would be happy to do business with you.

rogermurdoch wrote:Reputation and relationships. Build a reputation as an expert by doing good work for clients, publishing, and other stuff that gets your name out there. Relationships are built through networking. Networking can include family, friends, classmates, clients, coworkers who leave to go in-house, etc. Nobody expects you to go out as a 25 year old and become best buddies with the 60 year old General Counsel of a Fortune 500. But 20 years from now your LS classmate or fellow associate might go on to be Senior Bigshot Counsel at XYZ Corp, in which case they would be happy to do business with you.

TCR

It's partly networking/connections, partly referrals, partly phenomenal reputation.
Networking means keeping in touch with potential clients and/or potential decision makers. This could be golfing, or going on ski trips, or just reaching out with a phone call from time to time.

Real life isn't like The Apprentice. People do business with people they like to do business with. If you have a good relation with someone, you do business with them. That's why when a partner goes to another firm, her clients often go with her.