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You have to find partners (with significant books of business) that actually take an interest in you. It’s hard, but it’s doable. For me, it started with working with the guy’s deputies, then I started to work more closely with him as I got more senior. Also, do great work, but also do the other things (internal/external marketing, etc.). You have to try to make it as close to a shoo-in as possible when the time comes.
If your work is not celebrated or appreciated and you aren’t getting substantive work, find a new team or find a new firm. And fast.
Must be 2-3xs as good, the younger generation think pieces about why we shdnt do this is just wrong; your educational creds must be better than theirs to get in the door, stay or be promoted in or up; while moving a lot may help others, in our field, it is often a reason to pass Us up; flawless writing is key and you need filed substantive work that you can seamlessly discuss to show you know the law (again, this is the higher standard we are held to, they can have numerous glitches & it’s just a learning curve, even one that lasts 20 years; your writing glitch is magnified, multiple ones mark you. On this you must be real with yourself: if you don’t write like James Baldwin humble yourself and complete grammar worksheets until you do. Remember, they are looking for a reason to discount you, if you fall short in any of these areas, overcompensate in the others. Apply widely for Partnership positions until you land one. You will. It may not be in Big Big Law, open yourself to Am200 Law as well. Trying to hitch to a particular Partner, I’ve found is not really an avenue for Us.
I’m transactional so I don’t write.
Also, don’t just “keep your head down and do good work” make the effort to connect with people outside your office, especially non-lawyers. Go for tech / business conferences…make contacts and follow up afterwards to schedule coffees where you really just connect with them and have a good time. This is a great way to start building ur network early on. Most things can be taken away from you by your firm…but your book of business will ALWAYS be yours!
Enthusiast
💯^
Too many black mentors set their black mentees up for failure parroting “keep your head down and do good work”—it just is not good enough.
As a junior, the goal is to be perceived as teachable and likable. As a middle level, capable and likable. As a senior, indispensable and likable. I was operating in a junior partner capacity before I was even eligible. I also made sure that clients and partners with influence liked working with me and trusted my judgment. The final piece for me was picking a practice area in which I was very talented and few people could do. This is a business. There has to be a business case for making you partner.
There is always a bit of chance and luck in all of this that can’t be overlooked, but there are ways to increase the odds. I’m sure there are also firm size, regional, and practice group variables at play which should not be discounted.
I used to sit in partners’ offices and ask them what they liked about being a partner. I used to volunteer to co-write thought leadership or present on topics at meetings. I acted like I liked my job and my coworkers (This is a lost art from my observation.) I showed them my investment, and they invested in turn. Those same partners made sure I made it.
It's not easy. Lots of grit, knockdowns, tears, and some luck, too. It can be done.
With that said, you need to be excellent at all levels. You don't have to know everything but be responsive; send emails early am and late nights so people know that you're working; research throughly; tell people when you dont have time to do things but give them the option of you doing it later; go to conferences; talk to people; be open to learn new things. Always ask about getting to the next level. Find a sponsor; have several mentors.