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You get way more work than the others. Aside from that, there’s more trust and respect, partners are more willing to shoot the sh*t and share gossip I guess. But yeah, way, WAY more work.
I want the goss
Yup. The prize at the hot dog eating contest is more hot dogs.
I don’t like hotdogs
They’ll introduce you as superstars to the client and then go off to lunch, leaving you with a pile of work. Totally worth it.
More work, but also more client contact and trust. Partners will let you see the business side of things and will also gripe to you about associates and other partners. You get less pushback on expensing things and less pushback on your hours when on vacation. The best perk is that you get to pick and choose the work you want. When you're constantly in demand, you can work on the high profile stuff with the nice partners. I can always tell which associates are in the doghouse because they get put on matters with tough personalities.
The downside is that you're expected to ALWAYS be on. The expectations are sky high. It can be overwhelming.
V50 nyc lit FWIW
A6, I’m a 6th year, 2400+ billables (does not include any pro bono, d&i, cd, etc.). Transactional
Agreed with everyone else. Not sure if I’m a superstar but something like that. I get a lot of responsibility often verging on abandonment and I have only myself to blame when I occasionally fail/drown. It’s good and bad. People now just expect I’ll respond at all hours of day and night and pull all nighters to get shit done, never drop the ball, never make mistakes etc. It’s also frustrating because I have raised the bar high so even though I know I’m above average I can’t drop in performance or I get “I’m not angry I’m just disappointed” type talks.
It’s also a bit terrifying when my boss says shit like “counsel is one of our experts on x at this firm” and I’m like “shit, I am?!” and then I have to try and live up to it somehow.
Perks are I work whatever hours I want, can take vacation, pick and choose deals/partners etc. If I wanted to do reduced time etc. they will accommodate (I’m thinking about it).
But honestly as you get more senior, everyone who either isn’t good at and/or doesn’t like biglaw leaves so the ones left are mostly all v good. I was a superstar junior/mid. Now I’m average/above average as a senior because the competition is stiffer. And I’m still not a shoe-in for partner for various reasons.
Transactional.
I get an inordinate amount of high fives and fist bumps.
Loll do you get that from older partners too?
I’m at a black box firm, and the expectation is that I would always be paid the highest and first among associates my level. I’m told information other associates aren’t privy to, and I also get more input on things like lateral or staff hires, random events, or things that affect associate life. But to echo the above, the workload and expectations are absolutely insane, and somehow you’re also expected to feel like it’s all normal.
I am more willing to take a “no I am too busy” or “no that isn’t interesting to me” much more from that kind of associate than from others
I want the best work product I can get. Strong associates who are not overwhelmed and think the work is interesting will be happier and produce better work. And I think by doing well they have earned something beyond gratitude
They fight for you and treat you more as a peer.