Law Partners

How do you guys handle vacation? Have partners cover files? Associates? Monitor emails while away? I generally check emails once a week and use my partners \ senior associates to cover anything time s… more

How do you motivate your attorneys to contemporaneously bill their time and not wait until the end of the month?

I’m a junior NEP at an AmLaw 200 firm doing litigation. My comp. is ~$200K all in. 😓 No biz. of my own (I’m staffed on all institutional clients). I’d like to lateral to an AmLaw 100 firm as an assoc… more

I am a NEP considering a lateral move. My current practice includes work for personal clients that I have originated, but also institutional clients that my current firm has serviced for years. I ha… more

So… how long do I take for paternity leave?

First child. I have reasonable associate support, but all partners are so busy it is doubtful I can get them to fully step in on deals.

How do you split origination credit?

I'm a non-equity partner at a mid-size firm that typically does billable work. I've got a valuable plaintiff's case that's on a contingency fee and will likely be resolving pre-suit. I… more

How does your firm deal with underperforming associates? We are crazy busy but have a couple first-years on vacation, 50-100 hours per month, and thinking we are a "lifestyle" firm. I don't … more

Looking for a gut check for comp package (salary/bonus/commission/PTO) for paralegals and 1-3 year associates. Family law only. Small firm. Portland, OR. Inflation and labor market seem to be shifting… more

Funny question about life insurance. Our firm REQUIRES life insurance for partners, and I’m fine with it. But a new Muslim partner has an issue and is uncomfortable based on his deeply held beliefs. T… more

When does the big firm machine work? Or does it ever? The more you orginate, the more associates you need, the more you cost the firm, etc. Seems like more money more problems. Is there a sweet spot … more

I just made NEP and am beginning to think it was a mistake. I like doing the lawyer work. I’m no good at all this other stuff. Have you ever heard of someone asking to be returned to counsel after ma… more

I’m at an Am Law 100 firm, as an NEP. I recently learned that some equity (and maybe NEPs?) partners who have lateraled in are on contracts rather than in the normal comp process. I may be late to … more

Question for equity partners: I am an income partner at an AMLAW 200 firm and believe that I will be considered for equity in the coming year. What information would you suggest seeking out from the… more

My firm pays contract partners using a K-1. Is that normal? The taxes are crazy - we have offices in so many states and with the cap on the SALT deduction it is awful. Also do firms provide matching 4… more

Does anyone have recent experience with law firm valuations? I’m seeing a couple of different formulas, ie Revenues X (.5 to 1.5) or Net Earnings X (2 to 3). Thoughts?

Switching firms… should I be looking at buying malpractice tail coverage?

Hey — tell me how you handle inequity in the information flow between A and B shareholders in your law firm. If you have no equity shareholders who are also officers in the corporation, do you have b… more

Work in NYC. $5 million plus in origination. Feed other offices as well. Midsize national firm. 150 lawyers. Any good estimates on what comp should be?

Does your firm still give origination credit to the partner, if the client called the firm for help and that partner signs up the client?

Seeking comp/recruiter help! I am a first year non equity partner at a firm in the middle of the AMLAW200 in a midsize market. Comp at our firm is not formula based and my comp will be in the low 20… more

We are a two attorney firm in our second year of business. Thinking about whether we should change the structure for the new year. Right now everything is a 50/50 split and we take monthly draws. Thou… more

What is the general consensus on long term origination credit for basically “knowing a guy” at the client? More below

Junior litigation partner. Stuck trying to fix a dog of a case that was a mess before I got involved. I’ve managed to fix some things but not everything. Senior partner now wants to talk because he is… more

Any recommendations for recruiters that specialize in lateral partners in the California market? Southern California even better.

Anyone know which national platform law firms have strong products liability litigation groups?

Any advice on negotiating comp for a lateral move (equity, AMLAW100)? Should you always counter an initial offer even when it's on the higher range of the offers you receive? Should any counter be… more

What % salary increase is reasonably expected for recruiting an AmLaw 100 or 200 partner over to another firm? Obviously depends on how underpaid or overpaid a partner is currently - just on average.

Need advice. I have a client who just can't stop getting in their own way. They push us to turn a document quickly (in this case, an LPA for a new fund), and then take weeks to review, following u… more

My law firm and I were ranked as band 1 by Chambers and Partners in Afghanistan but I lost everything due to Taliban take over of the country. I had to flee the country and just moved to Canada. Any t… more

So when did we lose civility in law? This week I have seen the worst in our profession. Name calling, really rude emails and a lawyer who literally attacked a witness and called him names just because… more

Curious what is involved with lateraling as a partner financially from a nuts/bolts perspective. I don’t mean LPQs or negotiating comp, but the practical things like timing of exit and how that relate… more

Help! Looking for a good office chair fo help with the back pain from working from home sitting for hours at a time. Any suggestions?

I do most of the firm admin/COO type work for our 8 person firm. We outsource our book-keeping, billing and tax accounting. While I would prefer to hire an in-house firm admin, our recent efforts have… more

Does your firm maintain any benefits for retired partners? If so, what?

Need a salary check: 5 y/o firm, very young/green team, growing rapidly but trying to catch up and keep up with that growth. No billable hour requirement, approx 8:30-5:30 workday, laptops don’t go home with you, PTO m… more

Developing a partnership track / program at our boutique firm. We’re 5 years old and have some incredible talent that I’d like to retain - and offer growth opportunities.

The big firm models just don’t… more

Associates raises. Are you:
A. Must be nice.
B. How much is this going to cost me?
C. Day dreaming (if I made $200k at 25…)
D. I worked more, got paid less (even with inflation), and was pretty much ok about it. “Ex… more

Seeking suggestions for a fair compensation plan for “retiring” partners that still desire to work on a part-time basis. We’re currently on an eat-what-you-kill model. Thanks!