Lazy Partners? Forum

[peoplearehungry]

Another thread got me wondering, what's the laziest partner you've ever seen that still got paid the big bucks?

Pretty much all of the partners I've worked with have been workaholics, but I know there's some guy (or gal! we can be inclusive here!) out there crushing it while doing little to no actual work. I want details...

[Anonymous User]

At my old firm, the head partner literally did no actual legal work. Associates drafted his e-mails and talking points for calls and he was just a figurehead that participated in a lot of calls and marketing. Did not review or comment on any legal documents, ever, and made a shitload of money. Great work if you can get it.

[Anonymous User]

At my old firm, the head partner literally did no actual legal work. Associates drafted his/her e-mails and talking points for calls and he was just a figurehead that participated in a lot of calls and marketing. Did not review or comment on any legal documents, ever, and made a shitload of money. Great work if you can get it.

He probably did a shit ton of legal work to get to that spot though, so maybe not that enviable.

[Anonymous User]

Partner at my firm checked out 2-3 months ago. Always traveling, can never join calls. Doesn't really review documents. Think they got their big payday this past February and said eff it.

[Anonymous User]

At my old firm, the head partner literally did no actual legal work. Associates drafted his/her e-mails and talking points for calls and he was just a figurehead that participated in a lot of calls and marketing. Did not review or comment on any legal documents, ever, and made a shitload of money. Great work if you can get it.

He probably did a shit ton of legal work to get to that spot though, so maybe not that enviable.

My old firm had a similar partner. Although not a name partner, he supposedly put in tons of work for decades prior and brought in a huge amount of business that was now serviced by the other partners and associates. All he did was putz around the office and laugh with a few old clients and that was it. Reminded me of Bert Cooper from Mad Men.

[Anonymous User]

With respect to the practice area of taxation & tax law, this widespread problem of lazy partners led to the departure of at least 8 non-partners from m&a related teams of about 30 to 40 over a period a year or so from a Big 4 Washington National Tax Services office. Biglaw abuse at accounting firm level pay.

For JD/LLMs, if given the choice between a Big 4 and a law firm, take the law firm offer as one can always take a significant pay cut & work for a Big 4 while the reverse is much more difficult.