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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What they are actually saying is that you are a fine associate, hence the good reviews on the work you were doing, but not partner material, which is the next step. Now you are too expensive to use on the matters you are qualified to cover. Your good reviews will help you find a new position, but keep in mind they will know you were considered not partner material, so don't try to bluff that.[/quote]

NP- if her whole team is low billables do they all get the axe? Do they have to be rainmaking as senior associates?[/quote]

Not all of them, as consolidation will raise the hours of those left. And yes, in my experience, to become a partner you need to be developing business and showing rainmaking potential as a senior associate. I had 30 clients by the time I made partner as a 7th year associate. My business development hours were huge, and it took a ton of hustle. No one made partner without at least a small book. You can't survive without it under most firms' compensation models. Some firms used to have a layer of 'working partners,' but even many of those have done away with them.[/quote]

How much in collectible billings were the 30 clients bringing in as a 7th year associate?  I guess I'm curious whether it's the volume of clients that matters or if it's the amount of collectible billings.  In looking at most partners that I know, most of them seem to have 1 or 2 really big clients and then a bunch of much, much smaller clients, hence why the "30 clients" is a little surprising.[/quote]

I do not remember the volume, but in my practice area the one big client model is rare and 30+ is normal. But, the answer in any case is, it depends. One giant client with big dollar volume is great -- until they are gone, just as 30 who use you once and never again also is not great. But some combination of volume, repeat business, and a pipeline should some dry up or get conflicted out is what you ultimately are aiming for as a partner, so partners are looking to see some potential for creating that mix. And this will vary based on practice area too, but the ideal goal is to encourage the client to use other practice areas as well, so the associate who brings in a brand new client for one small matter creates potential business for her partners too.[/quote]

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