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At what point do associates generally start thinking about whether or not they have a shot at making partner (and what does that entail)? I imagine people start being more intentional about setting themselves up to have a chance/make their case in years like 5th year and more senior (or maybe later)?

I'm starting to get more senior (don't want to be too specific to out myself) and have all good reviews (but I wouldn't consider myself necessarily an all-star) so just curious what others' experiences have been.

For those that you've seen that have been successful, do firms generally give any signals as it becomes closer? Do associates start talking to mentors and making intentions known and then generally just trying to pack in as many hours as possible in the years running up to potential partner promotion?

It varies from firm to firm but generally fifth year. If you know that you don't want to be partner and/or you think there's a chance you could get driven out somewhere down the line, then it's in your best interest to start looking for exit options starting around the fifth year.

In my case, I was told repeatedly "you'll definitely make it" starting maybe three years from when it happened. I took that with a grain of salt, though. Maybe within a year of going up I was told the same thing by one of the people on the committee that actually decides.

I'm a fifth year and I'm starting to make my intentions known with the partners that like me. I'm not phrasing it as "will you support me" - it's more of an "I like working here and would like to long term, so what advice do you have for me?" sort of thing. Sure, I'm implying I want to make partner, but I'm being more proactive than that. Some partners give good advice, others just say a bunch of sweet nothings.

I think the biggest question in your mind should be what the process is like. How would you get nominated? By whom? Who makes the decision and when? What do they look at? Do hours count? Client development? Is there one partner in your group who basically makes the decisions?

My friend's parents put Harvard's admissions application on his desk when he started his freshman year so he could find a way to fill every slot with something good. You want to be doing the same now.