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Just made Junior Partner two weeks ago. My intake has been exceptional and I received a voting/equity share of the firm less than that of Senior Partners.

This week I brought in a case worth a significant amount. Prima Donna JP gripes because the case is some how associated with him (despite never speaking to client, or client even knowing who he is) that he should run the case. Gripes ensue. SPs decide on a division wherein I receive a significantly reduced minority stake in the case interest amounting to what is basically a finders fee.

Incoming Attorneys, or those considering the LSAT: Welcome to the Legal Profession. Sure you want in?

Like a finders fee, or like a tip?

SmokeytheBear wrote:Like a finders fee, or like a tip?

More like a "Hey thanks for bringing this monster in. Here, have a ten spot."

Anonymous User wrote:

SmokeytheBear wrote:Like a finders fee, or like a tip?

More like a "Hey thanks for bringing this monster in. Here, have a ten spot."

That's five chances at the powerball dude.

SmokeytheBear wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

SmokeytheBear wrote:Like a finders fee, or like a tip?

More like a "Hey thanks for bringing this monster in. Here, have a ten spot."

That's five chances at the powerball dude.

If given the chance between Powerball v. the take on this case....

Cool humblebrag bro.

ClubberLang wrote:Cool humblebrag bro.

+1

Calling BS on this topic.

What's more "prima donna?" The JP who "griped" about running the deal or the JP who ran to a forum to anonymously complain to Internet strangers about internal firm drama?

ClubberLang wrote:Cool humblebrag bro.

I don't really think it's a humblebrag. OP is complaining about a very legitimate problem with the partnership models. Partners fight tooth and nail at many places (e.g. big law, big4) to get their names on accounts, and it can be an awful experience. For instance, OP brought in some business, and another partner is trying to hijack it. That's a significant workplace stress. I know in some instances that X number of partners can be associated with/get credit for an account, and there is frequently an X+1 who gets snubbed, even though they may have done more work than others who got credit. There are professional stresses in every work environment from fry cook to associate to managing partner. There's no reason to rebuke OP for venting.

This is a useful point to make for those who think partnership is the end goal after which you simply roll around in cash. The politics of profit share are way more vicious than those of junior work assignment - and not nearly so clearly reflected in firms' public reputations. I've been at one firm generally considered to have a 'collegiate culture' where the partner comp battle was truly poisonous and another far more 'aggressive' firm where the system in fact worked much more smoothly and fairly.

From everything I've seen, being a junior partner is unquestionably worse than being an associate.

IMO it's a bit of a humblebrag, given the audience (mostly 2Ls/3Ls looking for jobs, along with a few associates).

That said, what happened is certainly ugly and wrong. But things like that can (and do) happen in any company and any profession. I've seen worse in the hallowed halls of academia, where tenured professors are supposed to be above such petty maneuvers. Having your credit stolen/being undercompensated for your work is something almost as inevitable in life as death and taxes.

This problem is not unique to law. This problem manifests itself in every business where origination credit matters.

The client was fine w this?

nouseforaname123 wrote:This problem is not unique to law. This problem manifests itself in every business where origination credit matters.

Yes. The more general version of the problem - having your credit stolen or diluted - manifests itself in every business period.

los blancos wrote:The client was fine w this?

Sounds like OP will still be involved with the client - the client couldn't care less about internal allocation of credit/compensation within OP's firm.