Traits of the Next Generation of Law Firm Partner [Mid-Market Report]
For most law firm associates, making partner is a career goal. The first step to achieving that goal is to understand the firm’s leadership culture, a partner’s responsibilities, and what it takes to make partner.
At this year’s Marketing Partners Forum hosted by Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute, GCs, managing partners, client development partners, rainmakers, and the senior-most legal marketing and business development leaders across the profession gathered to discuss a variety of topics, including leadership and the next generation of law firm partners.
During a program on coaching the next generation of law firm partners and cultivating leadership in the modern law firm, panelists explained that while some firms deploy a formalized structure to develop newly minted partners or associates, others embrace self-directed heuristics to determine the next generation of stars. Where there was definitive consensus was in defining the traits of attorneys who will make good partners.
In her article for Mid-Market Report, Rubel addresses:
- 9 Traits of the Next Generation of Law Firm Partner
- How to identify future law firm leaders
- How to measure the success of a law firm leader
She reminds readers that “while some law firms institute formal KPIs, others take an informal approach to measure the success of their attorneys. Consider asking others in the firm for honest feedback. Check in annually with equity partners and staff. Ask attorneys to review themselves and then compare that to the reviews of others. Ask: What did you do this year? Whom did you help? Who helped you? These questions remove the territorial nature of origination fees and billable hours, because leadership is not just about a book of business.”
Rubel said, “Remember, clients don’t care who owns the book of business. They care about the service and value the lawyers within the firm are providing.”
Originally published by ALM Mid-Market Report: https://www.law.com/mid-market-report/2019/02/25/traits-of-the-next-generation-of-law-firm-partner/ (subscription required)