What's better for your career - biglaw question

[Anonymous]

If you had a choice between senior associate at a highly paid firm (with the possibility of maybe partner one day way in the future), or partner at a lower ranked firm where you earn significantly less $$, what would be better for your career going forward? Is the partner title worth more, even if you're paid less?

[Anonymous]

are we talking two biglaw firms? I would say partner at the lower-ranked firm for less money is the better deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:are we talking two biglaw firms? I would say partner at the lower-ranked firm for less money is the better deal.

Yes, two biglaw firms.

[Anonymous]

You can't be a super senior forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:are we talking two biglaw firms? I would say partner at the lower-ranked firm for less money is the better deal.

Not so fast. Is the "partner" role an equity or non-equity partner role? While it is harder to push out a "partner" (non-equity) than a senior associate, it is even harder to push out an equity partner. Besides, having a partner title will make it easier to bring in business, build your book and make a lateral leap in a 2-3 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are we talking two biglaw firms? I would say partner at the lower-ranked firm for less money is the better deal.

Yes, two biglaw firms.

PP here. Then I definitely would stick with my original answer - the lower ranked firm.

I am at such a firm and just made partner this year. Sometimes I lament being paid the same (roughly) as a senior associate at Skadden, but then remember had I lateraled to a vault 5, 10, 20, whatever, I likely wouldn't have made partner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:are we talking two biglaw firms? I would say partner at the lower-ranked firm for less money is the better deal.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you had a choice between senior associate at a highly paid firm (with the possibility of maybe partner one day way in the future), or partner at a lower ranked firm where you earn significantly less $$, what would be better for your career going forward? Is the partner title worth more, even if you're paid less?

You are too focused on titles. You need to ask how much you’re working at each place and whether the money justifies the work. You also need to ask what kind of work you’ll be doing at each place and whether you are going to build real skills. A lot of partners are basically glorified associates and languish under senior partners getting told what to do. You need to also ask about job security.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you had a choice between senior associate at a highly paid firm (with the possibility of maybe partner one day way in the future), or partner at a lower ranked firm where you earn significantly less $$, what would be better for your career going forward? Is the partner title worth more, even if you're paid less?

You are too focused on titles. You need to ask how much you’re working at each place and whether the money justifies the work. You also need to ask what kind of work you’ll be doing at each place and whether you are going to build real skills. A lot of partners are basically glorified associates and languish under senior partners getting told what to do. You need to also ask about job security.

I assumed I'd have no job security similar to a senior associate position... What kind of security can a partner demand? It would be a non equity partnership. The hours would be about the same. I would not be languishing under another partner.

[Anonymous]

I’m a biglaw senior associate and think you should take the Partner job at the lower ranked firm.

What are your prospects for making partner at your current firm? If there’s any shadow of a doubt and you don’t have a sponsor who has pull, then I would definitely lateral somewhere else as a partner. That’s hard to do, especially if you don’t have a book, so I would hop on that ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Whichever firm gives you the most opportunity to build your own book of business.