Anonymous wrote:I don't regret making partner because I have stayed at a law firm for so long. If you stay, try and make partner.


I regret not getting out when I was a baby associate.

THIS. I didn't make partner but the more senior I got, the worse the job looks. Sure, the money is awesome, but the business development and politic side of it absolute sucks. And don't even talk about having a personal/family life. With more $$ comes higher expectations and more responsibility. Hindsight is always 20/20, but I wish I had gone to the gov or in house as a 4/5 year.

I don't regret making partner because I have stayed at a law firm for so long. If you stay, try and make partner.


I regret not getting out when I was a baby associate.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say that I regret it, but I don't like being a partner. I enjoy practicing law, but I don't enjoy being constantly focused on bringing in business, fighting my other "partners" for work, dealing with clients who don't pay or complain about their bill, spending far too much time on internal firm management, etc. But I did it for my resume, and now I'm working on my exit plan.

Did you make partner at a firm where you were an associate or join the firm as a partner?

I wouldn't say that I regret it, but I don't like being a partner. I enjoy practicing law, but I don't enjoy being constantly focused on bringing in business, fighting my other "partners" for work, dealing with clients who don't pay or complain about their bill, spending far too much time on internal firm management, etc. But I did it for my resume, and now I'm working on my exit plan.

It boils down to not having gobs of money. DH did not make partner, but is an amazing attorney and had great exit options. Because he doesn't make 300k+ per year which would have grown to 500-700k+ in partnership, we don't live in a house in Cleveland Park and can't send our kids to private... but live is good, we travel, save for retirement and my kids see their father at dinner and on the weekends.

Honestly, I have never ever heard of a partner who said that landing partner was great/helped with family life (assuming that's the premise of your question). Instead, I've heard many justifying the decision by saying that someday down the road the kids would grow to realize that daddy/mommy sacrificed a lot for the kids' future. Also, I've never heard of any government/in-house/former biglaw associates say that they regret their move (but this might be because they wouldn't have made the cut or that people tend to justify themselves) to "inferior" positions.

Everybody has their own priorities and some prioritize career/professional achievement over family. From my impression, the partners who are truly the successful ones (heads of practices with huge portables) are truly immersed in their field and personal conversations about family with them are usually an afterthought. If you are that person, go for it.

Making partner opens other options, though the buy in does limit your choices for a few years.

Wait a minute, my gorgeous AP needs to reapply her lipstick. OK, there.

I am up for partner this year at a large law firm. I think I have good odds of making it (but aware obviously that there may be factors outside of my control). I have multiple young children, so I really struggled with whether I should go for partner, or whether I should seek a counsel role. Ultimately decided that since I put in the work, I should go for it. Curious if anyone made the same decision and later regretted it? Anyone on here wish they had opted out of being a partner? What do you wish you'd done instead?