Photo by August De Richelieu at Pexels
By Murray Gottheil | August 27, 2025
Becoming a partner in a law firm is easy enough. You pay your money, you take your chances. But what exactly have you bought into?
We all know that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Partnership meetings are much the same. Partners can disagree, but when you leave the meeting room, everyone supports the decision. As far as the associates and staff are concerned, every decision is unanimous. That is the theory. Of course, theory does not always align with reality.
In the real world, people talk. They don’t only talk, but they advocate. They not only advocate, but they criticize. And politic.
And so it came to pass that, in one firm with which I am familiar, some of the associates not only knew what was being discussed in the partners’ meetings, but they also knew who was on which side of the issue, who respected whom, and who despised whom. Unsurprisingly, it was the brightest and most personable associates who knew the most. The type of associates that the partners wanted to have join the partnership. The sort of associates who politely declined because they knew that the partnership was dysfunctional. And yet, the partners did not see that coming or recognize their part in it.
In another firm, one of the founding partners, whom I will call Tom, was so controlling that the firm had a history of young partners who would rise through the ranks, develop a strong client base and reputation, and eventually leave to escape his influence. At one point, some of the partners became so disenchanted with Tom that they proposed a merger with another firm, simply to dilute Tom’s control. Of course, the proposed merger partner figured out their motivation and declined because they wanted no part of Tom. And of course, Tom would never have let it happen.
To be sure, there are great firms with wonderful partnerships out there, and my intent is not to besmirch all firms. My point is that being admitted to partnership is the beginning of a journey, not the end of a journey. Young lawyers looking to join a partnership have to determine what type of pool they are jumping into. Will it be a peaceful tide-pool, a turbulent whirlpool, or a stinky cesspool?
Law firm cultures are famously difficult to change. This is because the partners who establish them are notoriously averse to change. Lawyers seeking a law firm partnership would be well advised to study the culture, which means studying the partners, and be certain that they know what they’re getting into.
Murray is a happily retired lawyer who lives in the country, drives a pick-up truck, writes, teaches and mentors. You can reach him at murray@murraygottheil.com or see what he is up to at lawanddisorderinc.com.
RELATED ARTICLES
Partnership – Not The Holy Grail, Part Three: The Disadvantages
Partnership – Not The Holy Grail, Part Two: The Advantages
Partnership – Not The Holy Grail, Part One: Introduction
Aren’t Non-Equity Partners Really Just Glorified Associates?