Reply to Big Law: Does anyone turn down a partnership opportunity?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, you say they are putting you up at the end of the year.  Can you wait it out until after you make partner?  I say that for two reasons: First, the "partner" title will be extremely helpful in finding a new job.  If you have been at the firm for 12 years and aren't a partner, people will assume that you are leaving because you couldn't make partner.  I know that lots of great lawyers don't make partner for reasons that have nothing to do with them, but even so, you will have more options if you wait.  Having made partner will also help you down the road if you decide you want to ramp back up after your kids are older.  A secondary reason to wait is to see if you are happier in the partner role.  You probably have a good sense already whether it would be different enough from your current role to make things feel more bearable, so I wouldn't wait it out for this reason alone, but you never know.[/quote]

I don't think it is good idea to allow yourself to be put up for partner if you don't plan to make a go of it.  It would be a slap in the face of your sponsoring partners, since they will be going to bat for you to get you voted in.  If you immediately turn around and leave, it's an embarrassment for the firm but especially the partners to whom you're closest and may be in a position to help your outside career down the line.[/quote]

I should have been more clear.  I didn't mean make partner and then immediately run out of the door.  You would need to try to stick it out for awhile after making partner, but that really isn't that much time compared to the 12 years you've already put in.  Disentangling the financial aspects of of your equity contribution may be a pain, but PLEASE, OP, do not shortchange yourself because you are worried that someone might be mad at you if you leave after making partner or you might be denying someone else a chance at making partner.  As much as you like your colleagues (and I'm sure they're nice people), no Big Law firm makes anybody a partner for any reason other than that they think it will be profitable for the firm.  And if the economics ever stop working in the firm's favor, they won't worry about your feelings.

I am with C suite mom in that, if I were you, I would really try to make it work as partner before giving it up.  I understand the burn out, I really do.  But once you opt out of law firm partnership, unless you move to one of a small handful of prestigious government positions, you've given up your chance to opt back in.  I would make really sure that you don't want the partnership before giving it up.[/quote]

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