Just found out I made partner in biglaw

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Being elected partner is about much more than the money. It's the validation and approbation of your peers and mentors, it's the culmination of decades of hard work, and it's the achievement of a major professional goal."

That's funny!

-law firm partner

I'm sure the poster really feels this way. Unfortunately, that's just the surface image - the reality is that election to partner *IS* based on money. An associate has to be seen as a good billing machine who will continue to be one. Subject matter experts are a dime a dozen.

I'm the PP who made the "it's about much more than the money post." I want to clarify.

Of course, from the firm's perspective, it's almost entirely about the money. Or at least, the money is the singular and necessary precondition for everything else.

I was speaking from the perspective of someone being elected partner (full disclosure, I left biglaw as a 6th year associate), and specifically I was responding to a previous poster who shamed the OP for being a shameless money-grubber posting about money on Thanksgiving. I think that that specific critique was off-base. The OP didn't even mention money in his/her post, and my perspective is that being elected partner carries meaning for the individual being elected partner, beyond just the money. I never said the money wasn't important, I said that the money wasn't the only important thing.

For anyone who has run the gauntlet of trials and tests, from law school, through big law associate years, to finally being elected partner, it is my impression that the event carries great personal significance beyond just the promise of money.

But, I'm sure the money is nice too.

[Anonymous]

Im the PP who "shamed" the OP with posting (gloating) about his/her promotion to partner. Most people whom I know have chosen a legal career primarily for the big $$ compensation as a big law partner. They don't make a secret about it. The work is long hours, dry, nasty and robs you of your soul so why do it? Given all of this, I would have expected OP who labored (suffered) much to earn the promotion to at least spend Thanksgiving with loved ones, rather than go on an anonymous board seeking approval and congratulations from total strangers. Strange..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im the PP who "shamed" the OP with posting (gloating) about his/her promotion to partner. Most people whom I know have chosen a legal career primarily for the big $$ compensation as a big law partner. They don't make a secret about it. The work is long hours, dry, nasty and robs you of your soul so why do it? Given all of this, I would have expected OP who labored (suffered) much to earn the promotion to at least spend Thanksgiving with loved ones, rather than go on an anonymous board seeking approval and congratulations from total strangers. Strange..

Who is worse, the stranger who took time out of their day to share an accomplishment with others or the stranger who took time out of their day to be a bitch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im the PP who "shamed" the OP with posting (gloating) about his/her promotion to partner. Most people whom I know have chosen a legal career primarily for the big $$ compensation as a big law partner. They don't make a secret about it. The work is long hours, dry, nasty and robs you of your soul so why do it? Given all of this, I would have expected OP who labored (suffered) much to earn the promotion to at least spend Thanksgiving with loved ones, rather than go on an anonymous board seeking approval and congratulations from total strangers. Strange..

Who is worse, the stranger who took time out of their day to share an accomplishment with others or the stranger who took time out of their day to be a bitch.

NP. Well, you just took time out of your day to be a bitch, so I'm guessing you think the stranger who is a bitch is better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im the PP who "shamed" the OP with posting (gloating) about his/her promotion to partner. Most people whom I know have chosen a legal career primarily for the big $$ compensation as a big law partner. They don't make a secret about it. The work is long hours, dry, nasty and robs you of your soul so why do it? Given all of this, I would have expected OP who labored (suffered) much to earn the promotion to at least spend Thanksgiving with loved ones, rather than go on an anonymous board seeking approval and congratulations from total strangers. Strange..

Who is worse, the stranger who took time out of their day to share an accomplishment with others or the stranger who took time out of their day to be a bitch.

NP. Well, you just took time out of your day to be a bitch, so I'm guessing you think the stranger who is a bitch is better.

This is an infinite chain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im the PP who "shamed" the OP with posting (gloating) about his/her promotion to partner. Most people whom I know have chosen a legal career primarily for the big $$ compensation as a big law partner. They don't make a secret about it. The work is long hours, dry, nasty and robs you of your soul so why do it? Given all of this, I would have expected OP who labored (suffered) much to earn the promotion to at least spend Thanksgiving with loved ones, rather than go on an anonymous board seeking approval and congratulations from total strangers. Strange..

OP here. I spent Wednesday - Sunday last week with loved ones and did maybe an hour of work. I took a few minutes to make this thread. You seem to be "dry, nasty and rob[bed] of your soul," to use your words. I hope that you can find peace.

[Anonymous]

I'm torn because OP sounds like a nice person and you worked hard and it must feel great.

I Guess to each their own, though. I don't really get how someone would feel rewarded by - what, money? fame? prestige? on their death beds.

What is the impact you are having on the world?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm torn because OP sounds like a nice person and you worked hard and it must feel great.

I Guess to each their own, though. I don't really get how someone would feel rewarded by - what, money? fame? prestige? on their death beds.

What is the impact you are having on the world?

This is a true and honest question- not meant to be snarky. I get thinking " a job's a job. It pays the bills." I also get feeling like working incredibly hard to achieve impact is important. But working crazy hours to do... what?... unless you are pursuing cases that really matters, who cares? What's the charge you get?

Again, it sounds snarky but I honestly don't get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm torn because OP sounds like a nice person and you worked hard and it must feel great.

I Guess to each their own, though. I don't really get how someone would feel rewarded by - what, money? fame? prestige? on their death beds.

What is the impact you are having on the world?

What impact are you or 99.9% of people having on the world?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm torn because OP sounds like a nice person and you worked hard and it must feel great.

I Guess to each their own, though. I don't really get how someone would feel rewarded by - what, money? fame? prestige? on their death beds.

What is the impact you are having on the world?

This is a true and honest question- not meant to be snarky. I get thinking " a job's a job. It pays the bills." I also get feeling like working incredibly hard to achieve impact is important. But working crazy hours to do... what?... unless you are pursuing cases that really matters, who cares? What's the charge you get?

Again, it sounds snarky but I honestly don't get it.

(Said while exhaling pot smoke after a monster bong rip) “yeah, like, I mean what’s like the POINT man? Like really”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm torn because OP sounds like a nice person and you worked hard and it must feel great.

I Guess to each their own, though. I don't really get how someone would feel rewarded by - what, money? fame? prestige? on their death beds.

What is the impact you are having on the world?

Working hard in one's job, whatever it is, really is a good and honorable thing. This country used to understand that better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm torn because OP sounds like a nice person and you worked hard and it must feel great.

I Guess to each their own, though. I don't really get how someone would feel rewarded by - what, money? fame? prestige? on their death beds.

What is the impact you are having on the world?

Working hard in one's job, whatever it is, really is a good and honorable thing. This country used to understand that better.

This. Congratulations, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm torn because OP sounds like a nice person and you worked hard and it must feel great.

I Guess to each their own, though. I don't really get how someone would feel rewarded by - what, money? fame? prestige? on their death beds.

What is the impact you are having on the world?

Working hard in one's job, whatever it is, really is a good and honorable thing. This country used to understand that better.

True, but that's not the way it works anymore. Hard work will only get you so far. People skills will help you make the real money. You can always hire mid-level associates or Of Counsel's to work your book - and of course take credit for their work when it comes to your clients. If anyone thinks that an equity partner spends his or her time researching cases or drafting from scratch, they're delusional. That's a waste of your time and experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm torn because OP sounds like a nice person and you worked hard and it must feel great.

I Guess to each their own, though. I don't really get how someone would feel rewarded by - what, money? fame? prestige? on their death beds.

What is the impact you are having on the world?

What impact are you or 99.9% of people having on the world?

I hope and am striving to reduce global poverty. Whether or not I'm achieving impact, I don't know. But I am trying.
I get that the vast majority of people don't work for socially-oriented enterprises or nonprofits. I also get that putting food on the table is important.
But while I never would say this in real life, I don't get people who kill themselves to... what, have a nice boat? House?... I just don't see how having cold, hard cash can mean giving up what it sounds like law partners give up - and for what? To make a client richer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm torn because OP sounds like a nice person and you worked hard and it must feel great.

I Guess to each their own, though. I don't really get how someone would feel rewarded by - what, money? fame? prestige? on their death beds.

What is the impact you are having on the world?

What impact are you or 99.9% of people having on the world?

I hope and am striving to reduce global poverty. Whether or not I'm achieving impact, I don't know. But I am trying.
I get that the vast majority of people don't work for socially-oriented enterprises or nonprofits. I also get that putting food on the table is important.
But while I never would say this in real life, I don't get people who kill themselves to... what, have a nice boat? House?... I just don't see how having cold, hard cash can mean giving up what it sounds like law partners give up - and for what? To make a client richer?

You probably aren't having much impact. So in your eyes, someone who isn't (in your subjective opinion) doing "good" with their career shouldn't feel rewarded or proud by career accomplishments? Is the above just something you are telling yourself to justify having a job that doesn't pay well?