Becoming a partner at a successful law firm is a milestone many lawyers hope to achieve. Traditionally, the path to partnership has been well-defined, requiring hard work, dedication and incremental steps.
Although this remains true for most journeys to partner, the rapidly changing legal landscape has opened up new doors that lead to partnership.
In this blog post, we explore how to become a partner in a law firm by following the traditional path and alternative ways to stand out from the crowd.
The traditional path to partnership
Firstly, let's look at a 'traditional' path of how to become a partner in a law firm. These are generic steps you'll likely have to follow in some capacity to reach that coveted partner status, although they may differ depending on the type of firm you’re at.
1. Law school and bar exam
Your journey into law will likely begin with earning your law degree and passing the bar exam. The law bar exam is a professional qualification exam for lawyers across the UK. After passing this exam, you'll be certified to practice as an advocate and perform licensed activities done by legal professionals.
The foundational knowledge you gain throughout earning your law degree and passing the exam is essential to building a successful law career.
2. Your first foot on the legal ladder
Whether as a paralegal, associate or junior lawyer, these formative years in a law career can be pivotal. You'll gain valuable experience and work on cases, building your reputation and know-how.
If you haven't decided already, this career period can help you choose which field of law to explore. Whether it's criminal, administrative or corporate law, your time working on cases will be pivotal in building your learning.
3. Billable hours and client development
Associates are often required to meet billable hour targets and demonstrate the ability to bring in clients. These targets will increase over time, teaching you to grow a portfolio, build your reputation and improve client relationship skills.
Once again, it's important to emphasise how critical these formative years are to build a solid foundation to launch the remainder of your career. We'll explore the ways you can be successful at the beginning of your journey later in this blog post.
