Why partners lateral into career center, in house or state attorney? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have met many people who used to be a partner at a law firm (from mid-sized to biglaw) and moved into law school career center, in house or state attorney. They all say that they wanted a different life, blah blah etc but I think it's a BS.

Why is it, really?

[TheoO]

Maybe they are actually serious about wanting a different life or career? And the answer is: it varies and it would have to be determined individually. There are probably cases where they may be pushed out out of the firm after maybe losing a client or clout, as with any industry. But your question is kind of dumb.

[TheoO]

Maybe they are actually serious about wanting a different life? And the answer is: it varies and it would have to be determined individually. There are probably cases where they may be pushed out out of the firm after maybe losing a client or clout, as with any industry. But your question is kind of dumb.

accidental anon above.

[Anonymous User]

Maybe they are actually serious about wanting a different life or career? And the answer is: it varies and it would have to be determined individually. There are probably cases where they may be pushed out out of the firm after maybe losing a client or clout, as with any industry. But your question is kind of dumb.

No, it is a legit question. If a partner is easily pushed out of the firm as evidenced that there are so many people who lateral into other legal jobs after making partner, I want to change my career focus. I am trying to understand whether making partner would justify sacrificing my life.

[BigZuck]

Your chances of making partner are probably nonexistent anyway, I don't think that should really enter into the calculus at all

[Anonymous User]

Maybe they are actually serious about wanting a different life or career? And the answer is: it varies and it would have to be determined individually. There are probably cases where they may be pushed out out of the firm after maybe losing a client or clout, as with any industry. But your question is kind of dumb.

No, it is a legit question. If a partner is easily pushed out of the firm as evidenced that there are so many people who lateral into other legal jobs after making partner, I want to change my career focus. I am trying to understand whether making partner would justify sacrificing my life.

What are you asking? And why is this anon? Most partners are non-equity at big firms. They get burned out or want more time to spend with their family just like associates who leave. It's not like life gets a lot easier once you make partner. It is not some prize that you can just coast on once you make partner. Some partners probably do get pushed out, but they can always lateral to other firms if that's the case. The fact that your examples all left for less demanding jobs shows that they probably tired of the long hours. How will your career path change if you find out some partners are pushed out? Will you not go for a firm job or will you not try hard as an associate? Practically no one makes partner in biglaw, and you likely won't make it even if you try. This is a pretty dumb question.

[WinSome]

Sorry accidental anon in the immediately above post.

[Br3v]

Seems like a relatively easy 9-5 gig outside of OCI that pays well.
May not be much of a secret to the allure.

[PMan99]

Maybe they are actually serious about wanting a different life or career? And the answer is: it varies and it would have to be determined individually. There are probably cases where they may be pushed out out of the firm after maybe losing a client or clout, as with any industry. But your question is kind of dumb.

No, it is a legit question. If a partner is easily pushed out of the firm as evidenced that there are so many people who lateral into other legal jobs after making partner, I want to change my career focus. I am trying to understand whether making partner would justify sacrificing my life.

It varies from firm to firm in terms of how easy it is to push out a partner or de-equitize them. Some firms make senior or super-senior associates non-equity partners without an expectation that all of them will stick around. It's just the title they give people and you really don't have much security. Some firms have non-equity partners but expect them to stick around. In some rare firms, all partners are equity partners. In that case you're probably fairly "safe," though not always. Even in these firms partners will sometimes get pushed out, it's just harder to do so and less likely since those firms tend to be stingier with the title in the first place.

It's a simple fact of life in modern law firms that the only time you're truly safe is if you have a strong book of business. It's ultimately the only thing that matters.

[rpupkin]

I have met many people who used to be a partner at a law firm (from mid-sized to biglaw) and moved into law school career center, in house or state attorney. They all say that they wanted a different life, blah blah etc but I think it's a BS.

Why is it, really?

I don't think it's more complicated than the explanations you're getting from the former partners.

Partners burn out at all the time. Contrary to what many seem to believe around here, partners--especially junior and mid-level partners--generally work harder, and are under more stress, than associates. Some just can't take it anymore and move to a lower-stress job. Often, the move is precipitated by some major trauma--e.g., health scare, marriage trouble.

[BigZuck]

Dean of Career Services sounds like the #dream to me and someone who is most definitely winning at life

I'd totally make that my career focus if it were attainable but it's probably a lot more difficult to do than it is to make partner at a big firm

[Anonymous User]

Maybe they are actually serious about wanting a different life or career? And the answer is: it varies and it would have to be determined individually. There are probably cases where they may be pushed out out of the firm after maybe losing a client or clout, as with any industry. But your question is kind of dumb.

No, it is a legit question. If a partner is easily pushed out of the firm as evidenced that there are so many people who lateral into other legal jobs after making partner, I want to change my career focus. I am trying to understand whether making partner would justify sacrificing my life.

It varies from firm to firm in terms of how easy it is to push out a partner or de-equitize them. Some firms make senior or super-senior associates non-equity partners without an expectation that all of them will stick around. It's just the title they give people and you really don't have much security. Some firms have non-equity partners but expect them to stick around. In some rare firms, all partners are equity partners. In that case you're probably fairly "safe," though not always. Even in these firms partners will sometimes get pushed out, it's just harder to do so and less likely since those firms tend to be stingier with the title in the first place.

It's a simple fact of life in modern law firms that the only time you're truly safe is if you have a strong book of business. It's ultimately the only thing that matters.

Best answer. Then, non-equity partners probably lateral into a low-stress job after burnout, etc.

[Anonymous User]

1) Partner burn out
2) Realignment of interests (personal)
2) Realignment of interests (professional - "Always wanted be an AUSA/Law School Prof and now opportunity presented itself")
3) Pushed out. This comes in many forms depending on the firm's partnership structure but in my brief tenure in Biglaw (7 years) I have known at least a dozen partners who have been pushed out, All but one landed another respectable gig (inhouse or partnership at a lesser firm).

[rpupkin]

Best answer. Then, non-equity partners probably lateral into a low-stress job after burnout, etc.

I'm not sure that's right. I think the "burnout-lateral-to-low-stress-job" thing is just as common (if not more common) with equity partners.

[Anonymous User]

A lot of the partners I know (and I'm at a firm with all equity) work harder than senior associates). We also have a ton of institutional clients where the relationship is being managed by a senior partner who is not going anywhere. So these partners are basically waiting another 10-15 years to get a chance to become one of the partners who manage these relationships and they have no time to pitch for new clients because (a) that is really tough, (b) they are working just as hard as the senior associates. That road can look long and lonely.

[Mucho Maas]

The only thing worse than having to bill 2000 hours a year is converting those billables into actual accounts. Like, sure, it's not some micro analysis or terribly dull like doc review, but (I hear) it's just about the worse thing.

Imagine in your mind that quasi-acquaintance/friend who you see at the rec once a week, who works in your office. You see him maybe six times a month. You're friends, sort of. You see each other a lot, and not always necessarily for work, but it's work first. Now imagine going to him and asking him for money. Now imagine he says no... The sheer social awkwardness can, I hear, get quite high.

That's what many partners have to look forward to. They're billing all these hours and the future is, essentially, years and years of being the door through which all the law firm's shit has to fly through... A pie eating contest where the winner has to eat more pie.

[delusional]

This question is so TLS. In the TLS world, everyone is striving for success at one thing and defining themselves by success at that thing. The real world doesn't operate like that. People have conflicting and overlapping interests and unique situations. Some partners get pushed out. Others might genuinely want to serve the public. The "real story" is as varied as the people who do it.

[Anonymous User]

The GC I worked for last year had been a GC for 5-ish years for another company, left to become a partner at a biglaw firm, and promptly left to become GC of a client after a little over a year. He hated doing legal business development and didn't need the money at this point in his career. Also finds legal work much more interesting in-house where he can also help make business decisions.

[Good Guy Gaud]

Seems like a relatively easy 9-5 gig outside of OCI that pays well.
May not be much of a secret to the allure.

Basically what I was thinking