Big Law: Does anyone turn down a partnership opportunity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I walked away from my partnership with a large law firm for a position with the Federal Government. Do not regret it.

But you made partner before leaving, right? (That's how I read your post, but it isn't completely clear.) I don't think anyone is saying OP needs to stay at the firm long term, but we are saying if she really that close, she should make partner and then move to something else like government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former big law lawyer. Sadly, I dont know any female partners with kids who love their job, if you do, then stick it out. if not, move on to government or in house, where you can actually get some time with your kids.

Do not put yourself up if you arent staying at least three to five years, it will burn bridges.

I have a BFF who is one who does, though I'll add that she's in the Midwest at a firm with a "lifestyle" focus, and her dh has a flexible job in IT.

[Anonymous]

I was in a similar situation but had been partner for two years and hated it with a burning passion. I love practicing law, but being a biglaw partner has little relation to law practice.

I joined a virtual law firm and it fits great with my practice (regulatory advice). I work from home and pick my kids up from school. I work 30 hours a week, and I make the same as I did in biglaw.

Of course if I work less, I make less. DH has a stable job so I was able to take that risk.

[Anonymous]

There are other jobs! I am partner in a small firm with flexible hours, less billable requirement and make good money (not big law but a lifestyle changer for sure). Find another job if you don't think this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm now a in a counsel position (non-equity). The firm plans to put me up for partner at the end of the year. I'm considering turning it down. Life has been so stressful the last few years, attempting to "balance" a big law career with the needs of two pre-school/elem. kids and DH. I sleep 4-5 hours/night. I'm constantly stressed, constantly behind on client work, leading to more stress. My practice area is very strong right now and we are understaffed, so the pace is more frantic than it should be if we were better leveraged with a team of capable associates. But Big Law is always stressful and there is always a client emergency, no matter how well-staffed your practice area is. I am currently "part time" billing 1700-1900 hours (+bus dev and admin work). I've already made clear to the firm that I will not commit to 2600+ hours/year and it seems as though the powers that be are quite happy for me to create a custom partnership position with lower billable / bus dev expectations - probably in line with my current hours expectations. I realize this flexibility is not usually offered to junior partners and I should be thrilled, but I am the opposite. Life feels untenable and I can't bear the thought of it continuing like this. I'm burned out, my relationship with DH is suffering, and I feel like I'm missing valuable time with my kids.

I'm seriously contemplating resigning rather than drafting my partnership plan.

Pros of partnership: I like my career field and value my colleagues and mentors on my team; as stressful as this life is, I seem to have found a great firm who is committed to my practice and is permissive - even encouraging - of 'part time' work; and I would (theoretically) work the same hours I do now for more money

Cons: Seems obvious from reading above. But, if I step away it will be difficult if not impossible to get back to the place where I am currently in my field. For a variety of reasons, I don't have much in the way of alternate job prospects because my family is not willing to relocate (though if we were willing to relocate, I would have many opportunities). My best alternative would be to join a boutique virtual law firm or go solo, but after 12+ years at the same firm I'm nervous and feel unprepared to handle the admin needs of solo work. The money would be nice. DH earns more than I do now, but his earnings are likely to decrease over time due to his industry so it would be great to build up our savings, finish paying student load debt and fund college accounts before giving up my big law salary.

From a professional standpoint, I shouldn't pass up a potential partnership promotion. But, from a life-balance perspective, I feel like it should be obvious to quit my job.

Have you - or anyone you know - declined to pursue partnership? If so, did you stay on as counsel or senior associate or leave Big Law all-together? Have you ever regretted either decision?

Suck it up, make partner, and then leave within a year. That happens frequently and your resume will be stronger. Partners leave law firms all the time for a variety of reasons.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe how many people are telling OP that you have to stick around for several years out of good will to your firm, if they make you partner. Do you think any men are thinking this? No, you leave when the right opportunity comes up. That means you aim for partnership and when a better opportunity comes, you take it. It may take 2 years to get a government job. The economy may crash and there may be zero jobs in another year. You'd be a fool to "opt out" of partnership this year on the expectation you'll find something better immediately thereafter.

Women need to stop being so apologetic about their careers.

PS if the economy crashed, the firm would have no apologies about firing you within the year you made partner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe how many people are telling OP that you have to stick around for several years out of good will to your firm, if they make you partner. Do you think any men are thinking this? No, you leave when the right opportunity comes up. That means you aim for partnership and when a better opportunity comes, you take it. It may take 2 years to get a government job. The economy may crash and there may be zero jobs in another year. You'd be a fool to "opt out" of partnership this year on the expectation you'll find something better immediately thereafter.

Women need to stop being so apologetic about their careers.

PS if the economy crashed, the firm would have no apologies about firing you within the year you made partner.

It would be bad for men to leave in the same window. Partners who work with you are expending considerable political capital to get you promoted because of perceived need in a practice area. Most dont leave because partnership is their ambition.

I know of only one person who left a partnership as a junior partner and they left the practice of law altogether It is a a rare occurrence. As people get more senior in partnership, they might leave for plum inhouse position( where they will be expected to feed work back to firm), a political appointee level government position, or another firm, typically as a result of a compensation disputr or a practice group leaving. But genrally, most partners stay until retirement.

OP may have more government options before she makes partner. Outside of political appointees, the feds don't hire extemely senior people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm now a in a counsel position (non-equity). The firm plans to put me up for partner at the end of the year. I'm considering turning it down. Life has been so stressful the last few years, attempting to "balance" a big law career with the needs of two pre-school/elem. kids and DH. I sleep 4-5 hours/night. I'm constantly stressed, constantly behind on client work, leading to more stress. My practice area is very strong right now and we are understaffed, so the pace is more frantic than it should be if we were better leveraged with a team of capable associates. But Big Law is always stressful and there is always a client emergency, no matter how well-staffed your practice area is. I am currently "part time" billing 1700-1900 hours (+bus dev and admin work). I've already made clear to the firm that I will not commit to 2600+ hours/year and it seems as though the powers that be are quite happy for me to create a custom partnership position with lower billable / bus dev expectations - probably in line with my current hours expectations. I realize this flexibility is not usually offered to junior partners and I should be thrilled, but I am the opposite. Life feels untenable and I can't bear the thought of it continuing like this. I'm burned out, my relationship with DH is suffering, and I feel like I'm missing valuable time with my kids.

I'm seriously contemplating resigning rather than drafting my partnership plan.

Pros of partnership: I like my career field and value my colleagues and mentors on my team; as stressful as this life is, I seem to have found a great firm who is committed to my practice and is permissive - even encouraging - of 'part time' work; and I would (theoretically) work the same hours I do now for more money

Cons: Seems obvious from reading above. But, if I step away it will be difficult if not impossible to get back to the place where I am currently in my field. For a variety of reasons, I don't have much in the way of alternate job prospects because my family is not willing to relocate (though if we were willing to relocate, I would have many opportunities). My best alternative would be to join a boutique virtual law firm or go solo, but after 12+ years at the same firm I'm nervous and feel unprepared to handle the admin needs of solo work. The money would be nice. DH earns more than I do now, but his earnings are likely to decrease over time due to his industry so it would be great to build up our savings, finish paying student load debt and fund college accounts before giving up my big law salary.

From a professional standpoint, I shouldn't pass up a potential partnership promotion. But, from a life-balance perspective, I feel like it should be obvious to quit my job.

Have you - or anyone you know - declined to pursue partnership? If so, did you stay on as counsel or senior associate or leave Big Law all-together? Have you ever regretted either decision?

Suck it up, make partner, and then leave within a year. That happens frequently and your resume will be stronger. Partners leave law firms all the time for a variety of reasons.

This happens exactly never in big law-- no one accepts a partnership,amd leaves within a year.

[Anonymous]

Stay to make partner. I know the actual work of law can be soul crushing, but lawyers are such a privleged bunch that they've really forgotten what true hard work is like. It's got to be one of the cushiest ways to make a ton of money that there is. Try to think about how fortunate you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe how many people are telling OP that you have to stick around for several years out of good will to your firm, if they make you partner. Do you think any men are thinking this? No, you leave when the right opportunity comes up. That means you aim for partnership and when a better opportunity comes, you take it. It may take 2 years to get a government job. The economy may crash and there may be zero jobs in another year. You'd be a fool to "opt out" of partnership this year on the expectation you'll find something better immediately thereafter.

Women need to stop being so apologetic about their careers.

PS if the economy crashed, the firm would have no apologies about firing you within the year you made partner.

It would be bad for men to leave in the same window. Partners who work with you are expending considerable political capital to get you promoted because of perceived need in a practice area. Most dont leave because partnership is their ambition.

I know of only one person who left a partnership as a junior partner and they left the practice of law altogether It is a a rare occurrence. As people get more senior in partnership, they might leave for plum inhouse position( where they will be expected to feed work back to firm), a political appointee level government position, or another firm, typically as a result of a compensation disputr or a practice group leaving. But genrally, most partners stay until retirement.

OP may have more government options before she makes partner. Outside of political appointees, the feds don't hire extemely senior people.

At my old firm the two bolded items seemed to happen fairly frequently. There's been quite a few articles in Law360 about this trend.

Agree that it's harder to get a fed job as a partner because there's a perception you won't want to go back to being a line attorney.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe how many people are telling OP that you have to stick around for several years out of good will to your firm, if they make you partner. Do you think any men are thinking this? No, you leave when the right opportunity comes up. That means you aim for partnership and when a better opportunity comes, you take it. It may take 2 years to get a government job. The economy may crash and there may be zero jobs in another year. You'd be a fool to "opt out" of partnership this year on the expectation you'll find something better immediately thereafter.

Women need to stop being so apologetic about their careers.

PS if the economy crashed, the firm would have no apologies about firing you within the year you made partner.

It would be bad for men to leave in the same window. Partners who work with you are expending considerable political capital to get you promoted because of perceived need in a practice area. Most dont leave because partnership is their ambition.

I know of only one person who left a partnership as a junior partner and they left the practice of law altogether It is a a rare occurrence. As people get more senior in partnership, they might leave for plum inhouse position( where they will be expected to feed work back to firm), a political appointee level government position, or another firm, typically as a result of a compensation disputr or a practice group leaving. But genrally, most partners stay until retirement.

OP may have more government options before she makes partner. Outside of political appointees, the feds don't hire extemely senior people.

At my old firm the two bolded items seemed to happen fairly frequently. There's been quite a few articles in Law360 about this trend.

Agree that it's harder to get a fed job as a partner because there's a perception you won't want to go back to being a line attorney.

Depends on the job. I agree that's true of many USAO, mostly because they would rather hire two junior lawyers at $80k rather than a senior lawyer at $160k. At my division in my agency, however, we prefer BigLaw partners to counsel and turn down plenty of both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in a similar situation but had been partner for two years and hated it with a burning passion. I love practicing law, but being a biglaw partner has little relation to law practice.

I joined a virtual law firm and it fits great with my practice (regulatory advice). I work from home and pick my kids up from school. I work 30 hours a week, and I make the same as I did in biglaw.

Of course if I work less, I make less. DH has a stable job so I was able to take that risk.

NP here. I'd love to hear more about your virtual law firm, if you can share it without outing yourself. I also have a regulatory/advice practice that would lend itself well to a virtual practice. I've been curious as to how these work. Are you all semi-autonomous and merely pooling administrative resources? Or do you operate as a more cohesive firm? Do you have to worry about being barred in multiple states or do you have a federal practice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former big law lawyer. Sadly, I dont know any female partners with kids who love their job, if you do, then stick it out. if not, move on to government or in house, where you can actually get some time with your kids.

Do not put yourself up if you arent staying at least three to five years, it will burn bridges.

You don't have to stay 3-5 years. I'd stay a couple to see if it works for you. Agree that you should get the partnership and then go from there. I know quite a few women partners with kids who make it work, including at my current Big Law firm.