Senior associate without a book… probably the toughest spot in a law firm. You can do all the sophisticated work, so it’s intellectually challenging, but it’s not enough volume to keep you busy consistently. You’re too expensive to do the regular, less sophisticated day-to-day work that’s given to more junior attorneys. And, you’re not a partner, so you can’t assign or manage your own workflow.

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

Agree. Hard spot. And I had no desire to do the relationship building. I went in-house. However there were some attorneys like that that stayed. And the work was shared and their books gradually grew naturally. Just took longer. The one became a go to situation for so many people. But he did a business litigation so his rates were high. His path was more a gradual slope than a curve. It’s possible to do it and grow that book but a much harder path

like

Well, OP, making junior partner doesn’t really help all that much either. For one, in my big law firm, I got a nicer office but had to pay all my own health insurance, still was (even more so) constantly harassed about “building” a book without a lot of support or the ability to cut hourly rates or take on flat-fee projects. (I eventually left to do my own thing.) What’s worse, large law firms are abandoning pure income/equity structures to a hybrid, so not only do you have to borrow money for a sliver of equity with no say in anything, once you leave it has to be paid back. Thankfully, I never had to do this. My point is, once you climb the mountain from associate to partner, you’re faced with even a higher peak to traverse. And I have first hand knowledge about how vicious equity partners often are to each other. Especially the underperforming ones. But it isn’t all sour grapes, as they say, you get an invaluable skill set. But the biggest hurdle to building a book is that you can’t (in my experience) cut rates or take flat-fee projects. So it is difficult. Now don’t know how those rarities in big law work: all equity partners with lockstep pay (we all know who they are), but I do know that that isn’t always the complete truth of the matter either. So as a senior associate, if you can’t build a book, at least show you have the potential to do so, which I did back in the day by growing relationships with existing clients. While that’s all behind me now, I don’t regret it for an instance. Basically wanting to be one of my clients led me to start the company I run today (and I still have a small law firm where I take select clients on the side for work I like that dovetails with my roll as GC of the company I co-founded).

like

The judge I’m clerking for had a similar story that he told me one evening while grabbing drinks. He was in this same spot at his firm, senior associate doing appellate work but always working for others and not having his own clients. Also, he billed to much to do the basic stuff and had to delegate a lot of work.

He told me he just worked really hard to network as much as possible for two years. It eventually turned around and he was able to build a book and made partner. Additionally, he was able to lateral to a judicial nomination a few years later because of the network he built.

It just takes time to network and work the channels, but never too late to start.

likehelpful

Junior partner is harder.

like

Will you be put up this year?

like

F

like

I was in the same boat 2 years ago as a Senior Associate with high billable rate and partners couldn’t justify the economics of sending the simple, repetitive grunt work that yielded steady billable work. I knew I could build my own network and contacts that could tolerate my rate based on personal relationship.

I lateraled as a junior partner and grinding 20hrs a day. I’m trending half-a-million in receipt this year already based on my own client base.

If you can sacrifice time and resources, it would pay off. At least, you’ll learn along the way. You’ll know yourself better and reveal possibilities for your future.

Good luck!

like

Related Posts

I’m potentially moving from a senior social role to an account management position. I feel I’ve capped my growth in social and want to explore other sides of the business. Any tips to set myself up for success?

like

How much % hike we can expect from IC2 to IC3 under stevemiranda org ?

likehelpful

Sap S/4 Hana , DLM in sap is having scope?

Please pour ur suggestions

like

Need 11 likes to unlock features

like

Dear Sharks

Has anyone got Bonus payment, Usually 30% bonus split into 7.5% will paid on the last month of each quarter right
Like March, June, September, December

I have joined August month
I have not got any variable pay bonus
Is my understanding correct
Pls guide

Deloitte folks, I’m starting with Deloitte mid November - what dates in November & December do you get paid on? Thanks!

like

@Bain folks - What is the salary for Associate Consultant (Experienced Hire) after the recent hike. Is it same as AC (Graduate hire)?

like

Hi Fishes, I have 2 YOE in data science and my current ctc is 11 lpa. How much hike can I expect while switching jobs? Thanks!

like

𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒂 𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝑨𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒚𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒔!

Live on most of the data centres

DC 2 : 4 : 8 : 12 (Non-Production instances are up and Production instances will go live by July 30)

#SAP #SuccessFactors #HXM #LMS #Analytics

Post Photo

which firm would most value a supply chain background? mck?

like

Need a quick help
While structuring the HRA if we give max limit for eg., 20k and I have rent agreement of 7500. Will this be a problem or will I just get an exempt of 7500?

like

How is it to join siemens technology and services pvt Ltd. Pune office. I am supposed to join next month

like

Anyone looking to move to southeast Austin soon?

like

Guys Could you please help me with a referral in PwC .. preferred Location Kolkata

YOE 1 YR 10 MONTH
Technology - Sql, FTL, Jira, jenkins, Bitbucket,Agile Methodologies , Htmlcss, bootstrap, angular (beginner level), Core java

*Ready to move to New Technology


currently in notice period 29days left ..if you have anything me , please help 😊

like

Will Feb bar exams be converted to online?

like

I’m a second year in general litigation. I’ve been drafting briefs, memos, letters, motions, etc. but I’m getting the documents back with a lot of redline. From what I see, majority of my research, thoughts, and substance is there but it doesn’t feel good seeing all those redlines. Is it normal to see all those redlines or am I doing something wrong?

like

I would like to take this time to sincerely apologize for calling people in there 30s old, I finally turned 30 and we are young af, unlike the old geezers in their 40s

funnylike

What's the pay range for a Director in Financial Crime and Compliance in any of the top consulting firms in New York?

like

Which burns bridges less with an organization you’re in interested in, but for which the timing isn’t great? (Con’t)

like

Additional Posts in Law

Is there anyway to tell if your work product isn’t measuring up? Would the partner straight up tell you that your work sucks? This is me running on the assumption that some comments are normal...

like

How long is acceptable to ask to decide on an offer, especially when another place you really want to work at is moving a bit slower? I know this question has been asked before but I feel like 2022 has been its own beast in the legal market and would appreciate any advice. Thank you!

like

It is in appropriate to ask what the compensation for a position is after a first interview if they want you to go on three more and the interviewers on my first told me that was above their pay grade to tell me?????

Seems kind of ridiculous for a business to want to waste so much time to find out after a handful of interviews that the pay isnt aligned with my needs ......

I can see in biglaw not bringing up knowing damn well if you get an offer itll likely be high, but this is a midsize

likesmart

What do you do in between meetings where you don't have enough time to get anything done but it's like too much time to do nothing.

like

7 year lawyer here. Been with the same big national firm all 7 years (not BigLaw) doing complex litigation. Been working remote a long time due to moving around for wife’s job. As a result of the moving was bumped off partner track. I’m looking at a great small firm that will be a practice change (but still litigation). I’m told they’re looking for someone with less experience and they’re skeptical because of my experience. It’s frustrating. How do I overcome this?

like

In the late stages of an interview for an in-house role and just got referred to my ideal role at Google. The hiring manager is very interested. I’m afraid I’ll be in a difficult position where I accept an offer and leave within two months or not accept the offer and not get the job at Google.

like

Random/odd question if anyone knows the answer: if you are a corporation in state A (California), can you operate as a sole proprietorship in State B (Massachusetts), and have your website list the name of your company and both states in which you operate? Asking for civil procedure purposes in Massachusetts and wondering if the State A Corp is an unregistered foreign Corp in State B that I can tattle on. Polling the audience!

like

I'm in a litigation, about 9 months in. Is it normal that I spend majority of my time making bundles for my partners (printing, binding, moving docs in a different order whenever there are new documents or he wants to add stuff) reviewing documents and making tables (e.g. dates, which documents are from where), and the only legal work is like notices of admission, list of documents, the occasional research? I'm so bored and I want to quit but I don't know if I have unrealistic expectations.

like

What is the lateral hire process like?

like

What’s the answer comrades?

Post Photo
likehelpful

I’m a 2016 grad making $120k in a small to mid-size regional firm. I’m based in Nashville. My firm’s management is trying to survey other small to mid-size regional firms to get a feel for where the comp is now, especially in light of the big law increases that are making headlines, and to see just how far below market we may have fallen. Any additional data points from smaller regional firms (especially if you have a presence in Nashville or across the SE) would be appreciated! TIA

likehelpful

I need an assistant/paralegal. Probably part time at first. I live/work in a small city in Oklahoma, solo practice. I would like approx 10 billable hours/week (if part time) from them. What do i look for in one? Pay amount? (Most here make around $12/hour). Incentives for bonus money?

like

Does anyone just wanna drink wine after work every night 😔

like

Second day in a row that I just want to respond to partners telling them to do whatever “it” is themselves. Stop calling me when you finish up your afternoon run when I’ve been rotting at my desk for over 15 hours a day every day this week. That is all.

like

Mid-level associate at a mid-size regional insurance defense firm practicing coverage litigation. Salary is capped b/c my firm only does I.D./coverage and has no direct-hire comm clients. Second round of interviews with a comm lit boutique where I would be the only associate with 5 partners. Other than partner track, salary/benefits, and switching from coverage to general comm lit, what qualities of the move should I be thinking about as I weigh my options? I've never worked at another firm.

like

Has anyone here moved from a high COL coastal city to low COL midwest/southern city and ended up completely hating/regretting it? If so, what do you wish you had known?

like

200k in student loans. Unmarried, no kids. If you had to choose - Would you prioritize paying them down/off or saving up for big ticket items like a house/retirement?

like

Any workers comp attorneys? Thinking of transitioning. What’s the job like?

like

Me. Every single day. Since I started practicing.

Post Photo
likefunnyuplifting

FLORIDA: can an attorney accept services as payment from a client? (E.g: drafting a demand letter for a client in exchange for web design services)

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal