The Ethics of Making Partner

The path to partnership is not for the faint of heart. The leap in your paycheck corresponds to soaring liability. Like associates, a partner must hunt for clients, rack up billable hours, find time to mentor, do pro bono work, and represent the firm to the profession and the community. As partner, those obligations expand: There is a partnership contract to honor, management and supervisory responsibilities to undertake, and fiduciary duties to the firm.