I do good work, but I’m clearly not one of the “chosen ones.” There’s another associate who bills way less and still gets praised for existing, looped in on everything, getting face time with all the partners. I’ve been told to “just keep doing what I’m doing,” but honestly? It’s starting to feel like a waiting game I’m not even playing. Is there a way to earn trust and visibility when you’re not the golden child, or do you just wait and hope someone notices?

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You’ll die waiting. Law firms run on favoritism as much as merit, play the politics or stay invisible.

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Honestly you have to find a way to stand apart and usually that means elevating your business development efforts.

I was always a solid biller but never the highest. I did great work with relatively quick turnaround and developed a rapport with partners as a reliable associate.

My BD efforts - writing, lecturing, pitching and landing paying clients - is what got me to partner while the other folks who may have been better associates on paper got passed over.

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