There are many career paths newly minted law school graduates can follow but the traditional path, for at least two-thirds of them, remains beginning their careers at a law firm. For some, following this path may be a stepping stone to alternative legal careers (e.g., in-house, trade association, government lawyer), business, finance or otherwise. For those who choose to practice in a law firm environment, long term, the goal for many is eventually to become a law firm partner. Virtually all law firms will consider highly-regarded associates for partnership after the passage of a discrete period of time. The amount of time can vary from firm to firm but generally speaking, law firms are likely to consider an associate for partnership after the passage of between six and twelve years of practicing law, with the longer timeframe typically associated with the partnership track of larger firms.
Once an associate is elevated to partnership…
