What Would Your Slides Show?
This past weekend, my husband and I attended the thirty fifth anniversary bash of the firm where I worked over a dozen years ago, the one that sent me packing and in so doing, pushed me on to my present path. I’ve stayed in touch with all the partners (never burn bridges if you can help it), and our relationship over the years has improved, from subordinate and boss to actual colleagues who enjoy each others’ company. The founding partner created a slide show with photos from the firm’s history. Looking at the slides and what the founding partner (with his partner, who is now deceased) created – municipal electric systems, law offices in Africa, mining codes for numerous countries, a legacy of top energy lawyers, many of whom work at other firms but comprise an elite group at the top of the field and a firm that despite some hard times remains intact when so many others have failed – I wondered what my legacy will be when I’ve practiced for thirty five years, what my slides will show. What about you?
So much of law practice seems motivated not by the passions of the attorneys, but by what pays the bills. Attorneys who have a portfolio of impressive projects to point to as their legacy are very lucky.
I guess solos have it better than big-firm attorneys, in that we have more control over our career direction. I’m trying to figure out how to avoid getting so caught up in the chase for what pays, that I cannot develop areas of specialty that connect with my passions.
So much of law practice seems motivated not by the passions of the attorneys, but by what pays the bills. Attorneys who have a portfolio of impressive projects to point to as their legacy are very lucky.
I guess solos have it better than big-firm attorneys, in that we have more control over our career direction. I’m trying to figure out how to avoid getting so caught up in the chase for what pays, that I cannot develop areas of specialty that connect with my passions.
I’m curious why you don’t harbor any ill will towards the firm (and specific partners) that pushed you out the door a dozen or so years ago. Most people I know who left their firms involuntarily (after not making partner) did so with a certain degree of bitterness at being treated like a fungible entity. If not being “partner material” (translation: not having clients of your own) was the reason, it’s clear you remedied that shortcoming, and thus proved the partners in your old firm to be dead wrong about you. Essentially, why maintain ties with people who were so short-sighted and poor judges of character/skills?
A piece of anecdotal evidence for you. A friend of mine involuntarily left his BIGLAW firm after 9 years as an associate, and proceeded to open up a solo practice (despite his specialty, no firm had a need for a senior associate without book of business). After three (3) years, he built a ~$700,000 book of business and got his name in the headlines on some deals. After no contact whatsoever with his old firm during that time (primarily due to the manner in which he left), his old firm asked him to join them as an equity partner. He turned the offer down flat and ultimately took away one of their clients a couple of years later.
I’m curious why you don’t harbor any ill will towards the firm (and specific partners) that pushed you out the door a dozen or so years ago. Most people I know who left their firms involuntarily (after not making partner) did so with a certain degree of bitterness at being treated like a fungible entity. If not being “partner material” (translation: not having clients of your own) was the reason, it’s clear you remedied that shortcoming, and thus proved the partners in your old firm to be dead wrong about you. Essentially, why maintain ties with people who were so short-sighted and poor judges of character/skills?
A piece of anecdotal evidence for you. A friend of mine involuntarily left his BIGLAW firm after 9 years as an associate, and proceeded to open up a solo practice (despite his specialty, no firm had a need for a senior associate without book of business). After three (3) years, he built a ~$700,000 book of business and got his name in the headlines on some deals. After no contact whatsoever with his old firm during that time (primarily due to the manner in which he left), his old firm asked him to join them as an equity partner. He turned the offer down flat and ultimately took away one of their clients a couple of years later.