Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Long term “income partner” here. You just have to make your peace with it. Only a big book of business is going to get you promoted. I tried and tried and tried and while I have by far the most technical knowledge of anyone in my group, am recognized by the industry for it, and people generally like me, I just don’t have that skill set. It’s frustrating to see folks who have no idea what they’re doing get paid multiples of what I do, but in the law firm world their abilities are just valued more than mine. Unless there is some magic event like a competitor loses a critical niche player you can replace, you just need to make your peace with it, or do something else. There are worse things in life.

This is something that's not really emphasized in law school, maybe because most law professors have never reached partner level, either. Many go in thinking it's enough to be smart and on law review. Then think it's enough to bill hours. The reality is that most of the work, even the most technical, can be figured out by someone capable of passing the Bar exam. The same is not true for the people/sales skills and connections needed.

This is 1000% untrue. For a run of the mill litigator or transaction lawyer, maybe. For someone with an intricate knowledge of a complex field that took decades to learn, and that most folks would have no hope of leaning or retaining, nope.

Lol. This sound so self-important and also untrue. Law is not rocket science. And not much has to be "retained," unless you're a trial attorney or doing a deposition or in another situation where you actually have to think on your feet. Litigators often have to learn completely new subject matter.

Nah, just valuing myself and my expertise and abilities appropriately. The idea that no one is an actual expert on something is a pretty bad cultural meme these days. Litigators think on their feet and can make a lawyerly noise sufficient go do their job, which is in itself a valuable skill. But if they’re doing it without consulting the actual experts, they’re idiots. If you don’t think much has to be “retained” then you are not in a particularly challenging practice or you’re doing it wrong.

Anonymous wrote:Can you take a continuing education class or the like? It might give you a bit of an upper edge and definitely a talking point when it comes time to promote.

On the other hand, promotions means more workload and responsibilities and stress.

You have the best of both worlds - a high pay w/o the headache of more responsibility. Be careful what you wish for.

I agree with all the above, especially the bolded. It sounds like you’re looking for a sense of pride in accomplishment and achievement. Here are some other ways you can get that (that you may enjoy more) aside from a promotion:

-Write for industry journals and become known as a SME in your field
-Be a speaker at industry conferences and events
-Attend industry conferences and events on a regular basis and develop a good network
-Be an adjunct professor
-Tutor law students and those preparing for the bar exam

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Long term “income partner” here. You just have to make your peace with it. Only a big book of business is going to get you promoted. I tried and tried and tried and while I have by far the most technical knowledge of anyone in my group, am recognized by the industry for it, and people generally like me, I just don’t have that skill set. It’s frustrating to see folks who have no idea what they’re doing get paid multiples of what I do, but in the law firm world their abilities are just valued more than mine. Unless there is some magic event like a competitor loses a critical niche player you can replace, you just need to make your peace with it, or do something else. There are worse things in life.

This is something that's not really emphasized in law school, maybe because most law professors have never reached partner level, either. Many go in thinking it's enough to be smart and on law review. Then think it's enough to bill hours. The reality is that most of the work, even the most technical, can be figured out by someone capable of passing the Bar exam. The same is not true for the people/sales skills and connections needed.

This is 1000% untrue. For a run of the mill litigator or transaction lawyer, maybe. For someone with an intricate knowledge of a complex field that took decades to learn, and that most folks would have no hope of leaning or retaining, nope.

Lol. This sound so self-important and also untrue. Law is not rocket science. And not much has to be "retained," unless you're a trial attorney or doing a deposition or in another situation where you actually have to think on your feet. Litigators often have to learn completely new subject matter.