Junior non-equity partners at most firms make only slightly more than senior associates -- maybe a difference of $50-100k. The difference is greater as you go up the Vault rankings. Non-equity partners who stick around a few years can generally earn around $1m or more, depending on the firm.

Partner responsibilities vary but will probably amount to a few hundred hours, whereas senior associates can often get away with very little. Job security is marginally better than as a senior associate; you probably won't be pushed out over a few bad months, but you're still dependent on clients/rainmakers for billable hours, and if you don't bill enough you'll be pushed out eventually.

As far as whether it's worth it, that depends on whether you can tolerate the job as a senior associate. Some clients and partners are decent to work for and some are absolutely miserable. If you're unhappy as a senior associate you're probably better off finding something else to do than gunning for partner, unless you have a near-term exit strategy.

If you are really interested, you can get a lot of data points by looking at financial disclosures from Biden and Trump appointees.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH is an equity partner and he genuinely likes his job. I interact with many law firm partners and it’s quite obvious (perhaps even more so to a non-lawyer) who enjoys their work (the way they talk about it, how happy they seem) and who doesn’t.

I look at the families with a law firm partner who is overworked and miserable, and I think, man, WHY? Totally not worth the misery.

On the other hand for those who enjoy it, yes it’s worth it. More hours and stress than a government job but 15x the money, and tons of flexibility.

I feel so much second hand embarrassment whenever I see a woman respond to a career question by talking about her husband's career.

+1. Yikes!

Why is this so terrible? I'm the PP at 15:27 who posted about my DH. Like most people, I do not know the salaries of all but my very closest friends and so I thought I'd offer a data point. If my DH was on here posting and the tables were turned, I would have no issue with him posting my salary in the same way. FWIW, I also have a great, well-paying in house job, to the extent that matters.

I don't get it either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH is an equity partner and he genuinely likes his job. I interact with many law firm partners and it’s quite obvious (perhaps even more so to a non-lawyer) who enjoys their work (the way they talk about it, how happy they seem) and who doesn’t.

I look at the families with a law firm partner who is overworked and miserable, and I think, man, WHY? Totally not worth the misery.

On the other hand for those who enjoy it, yes it’s worth it. More hours and stress than a government job but 15x the money, and tons of flexibility.

I feel so much second hand embarrassment whenever I see a woman respond to a career question by talking about her husband's career.

+1. Yikes!

Why is this so terrible? I'm the PP at 15:27 who posted about my DH. Like most people, I do not know the salaries of all but my very closest friends and so I thought I'd offer a data point. If my DH was on here posting and the tables were turned, I would have no issue with him posting my salary in the same way. FWIW, I also have a great, well-paying in house job, to the extent that matters.