Unable to Make a Partner in Your Firm? What are Your Options?

These are questions that a sizeable majority of associates faced in pre-recession periods, but as the reality shows, close to two-thirds of associates don't even have the target of making partner in a law firm – but the questions are still faced by a sizable minority. Let's accept that you belong to that select group of people today, who still believe in the up-or-out motto of working in a law firm and have refused to consider other options than being an 

equity partner

. So, what are your options if you do not make partner?
 

First, know the world is not at an end, but would end if you allow it. If you are in a good law firm, chances are the management already knows that the majority of associates today are not keen to become an equity partner. There would be alternative positions available within your law firm like

“senior associate,” “counsel,” “director,”

and so on and so forth. Chances are, if your firm thinks that you are a good lawyer, but not a good salesman, and wants to retain your talent, such offers would already be there. It's time to think seriously of such alternatives if you like practicing in law firms.

If you did not make partner after a sufficient number of years, it can be due to two reasons: First, you are not a good salesman, read “rainmaker,” and were unable to develop a sizable and portable book of business. Second, the personalities of existing management are in conflict with yours, and while they do not want to let you go (otherwise you'd have been intelligently nudged out long ago) they also do not want to bring you in-to management.

Assess yourself. If you did not make partner because you are not a rainmaker, then it is time to consider alternative positions within the law firm, or time to seek alternative careers like in the government or nonprofits. You can also think of becoming an

in-house counsel

with clients you know without letting go of your law firm contacts and maintaining peace all around. It would increase your income security, though decrease income prospects.

If you did not make partner despite having a sizable, considerable, and portable book of business, your best option is to make lateral moves for other law firms, or try to become a founding partner of a new boutique law firm – there are enough out there coming up with small groups of partners leaving big law. Going solo is of course a last option, simply because clients of a law firm like the support of an organization and not a single person. They are more likely to stay on with you if you move into another law firm, or open a new law firm with partners from other law firms included. Businesses like their matters to have alternatives, and the involvement of multiple people reassures them of sufficient collateral in terms of legal intellect and care.

Lastly, if you like your firm so much that you do not want to leave the comfort zones then talk it out with the management and find ways to stay. That you did not become a partner now, does not mean it would always remain that way. It is quite possible that the persons in control of decision making, who rejected your choice as a partner, would leave the firm tomorrow or change their attitudes about you. Anything might happen in the future, so if you like your firm and its people, not making partner is insufficient to make alternative decisions immediately. Rather, sit down and find out ‘why you did not make partner.' See what you can do to change the situation and improve yourself. The parameters of making a partner are quite similar in most law firms. If your rejection is not due to personality conflict or inability to be a rainmaker, it would be difficult for you to be a partner in other law firms as well.
 

• See The Only Seven Reasons a Law Firm Will Ever Make You a Partner for more information.