The career path to Partner is not for everyone, and many are leaning towards alternatives such as consulting, but if you have the personal desire to make Partner in the future, this blog provides some top tips for securing partnership.
Whether you have your heart set on a seat at the table to drive change, offer your mentorship to the next generation or desire the esteem, financial position, flexibility and security that being a partner can deliver, it is important to consider the steps you can be taking earlier in your career to make the leap to Partner possible.
Some proactive steps you can take in your journey to becoming a Law Firm Partner:
Understand the Process
Larger law firms are likely to have an internal process or roadmap outlining the criteria and route to becoming a Partner. But many firms will not have any formal requirements in place, so it is down to you to put yourself in the best position for when promotion opportunities and partnership discussions are presented.
It is also crucial to know what to expect as a Partner. How is the partnership structured? Are there different levels? Is it an equity partnership, salaried or both? What are the roles and responsibilities? What are the additional expectations?
Seek Advice
Knowledge is power. Speak to as many partners in the legal profession that you can to hear about their journey and take on board their advice. Follow influential legal partners on LinkedIn, read their articles in legal publications and absorb as much knowledge as you can. Speak to existing partners within your business and seek their advice on their journey and lessons learned along the way.
Grow your Network
You should be building a professional network around you. Strong relationships with your local and regional business community are an essential element of being a respected Partner at a law firm. Maintaining good relationships with your clients, colleagues, introducer network, local key businesspeople and peers is important to help you secure new business, attract new staff and raise your profile in your town or city.
Take time to carefully think about your existing network and identify any gaps or weaker areas that you can improve on. Create a relationship plan to ensure that you are dedicating time to grow and retain your working relationships. This may mean giving up some fee earning time for networking, attending key events and going for coffees and lunches.
Network Internally
Earn yourself Partner status by building exceptional relationships within your organisation. Across all levels and departments, be the senior team member that everyone knows, likes and trusts.
Think Like a Partner
How can you be more proactive now in your current role to hone your future partner skills and demonstrate your capabilities? Thinking more commercially, crunching the numbers, improving your management skills and showing your industry awareness can help you to stand out as future Partner material, whilst also developing yourself.
Develop your Skills
Be completely honest with yourself and focus your attention on some areas that you could benefit from improvement. Whether it is your managerial skills, client management, your personal marketing, financial knowledge or IT capabilities – identify the gaps in your professional skillset now and put in place a plan to address them. This could include attending courses, training, coaching or further reading which you may not have time to do once you have made Partner!
Impress and Go Beyond
Senior positions and partnership opportunities are reserved for the very best talent within the law firm. Sticking to your job spec and just hitting your target is unlikely to suffice. Ensure that you are consistently exceeding your billing targets, making improvements to your internal processes, bringing in new work, gaining a good reputation with clients, speaking at events, contributing to your firm’s marketing activities, giving back to the local community, volunteering to help with projects and taking on additional responsibilities. Position yourself as a pivotal ingredient to your law firm’s success.
Make a Plan
Without a strategic plan, your dream of becoming a Partner may stay just as a dream. Put pen to paper and devise a well-thought-out plan for your career future. This can take some time and thought, but it will be such a valuable task that gives you a roadmap to follow. Include aspects such as your personal statement, your desires, a SWOT analysis of yourself, your network, your competition and put in place some objectives and timescales. If your law firm has a career development plan, be sure to include the criteria and key performance indicators in your plan.
Remember to make use of your CLSA membership. There is a strong network of criminal law professionals at various points of their legal careers that will be able to support you in your journey. Reach out to them!
The Annual Conference is a great place to grow your network and speak to criminal lawyers from across the country that can offer valuable insight and mentorship on your career. Have you booked your place? This year’s conference is taking place on Friday 4 October 2024 at the Doubletree by Hilton, Liverpool. Find out more here.
