Comments on: Kirkland Rings in New Year with a Bang http://lawshucks.com/2009/01/kirkland-rings-in-new-year-with-a-bang/ A self-deprecating look at life in and after BigLaw Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:47:08 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: lawshucks http://lawshucks.com/2009/01/kirkland-rings-in-new-year-with-a-bang/#comment-32 lawshucks Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:22:38 +0000 http://lawshucks.com/?p=389#comment-32 When moving inhouse, senior associate=associate and junior partner=partner. It's a subtlety that doesn't make much of a difference at most law departments (unless the interviewer came from BigLaw). If the resume says partner - junior or otherwise - that's a huge advantage. Years 6-9 are when most large law departments have the transition from "nonexecutive" to "executive" in the corporate ranks, which means things like bigger bonus pool, more severance, etc. A 6th yr senior associate probably comes in in the most-senior non-executive rank and makes executive in a year or two, but a 6th year with a partner title probably comes right in at that level. When moving inhouse, senior associate=associate and junior partner=partner. It’s a subtlety that doesn’t make much of a difference at most law departments (unless the interviewer came from BigLaw). If the resume says partner – junior or otherwise – that’s a huge advantage.

Years 6-9 are when most large law departments have the transition from “nonexecutive” to “executive” in the corporate ranks, which means things like bigger bonus pool, more severance, etc. A 6th yr senior associate probably comes in in the most-senior non-executive rank and makes executive in a year or two, but a 6th year with a partner title probably comes right in at that level.

]]> By: BigLawSnob http://lawshucks.com/2009/01/kirkland-rings-in-new-year-with-a-bang/#comment-31 BigLawSnob Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:05:43 +0000 http://lawshucks.com/?p=389#comment-31 You are correct - K&E makes "partners" around the 6th year (some make it in 7), but it solely titular. From other BIgLaw perspectives, this is somewhat of a joke a 6th year partner is a materially different lawyer than an 8th-10th yr partner (the pace most other law firms use). As a large corporate client, wouldn't you prefer getting the 9th year partner's experience at the same billing rate as K&E's 6th year partner? Three years is a long time in the legal world and most 6th years are not ready to manage the responsibilities of partnership. Clearly, since this "layer" at K&E is first to go, K&E believes the same thing as well - most other firms are protecting their partners and laying off associates, especially the more expensive senior ones. Meanwhile, K&E's first move is to ding this "partnership" layer, which means it is treating them as de facto senior associates. Now the big question remains - is it easier to find a job as a senior associate from a big firm or as a junior partner from K&E? You are correct – K&E makes “partners” around the 6th year (some make it in 7), but it solely titular. From other BIgLaw perspectives, this is somewhat of a joke a 6th year partner is a materially different lawyer than an 8th-10th yr partner (the pace most other law firms use). As a large corporate client, wouldn’t you prefer getting the 9th year partner’s experience at the same billing rate as K&E’s 6th year partner? Three years is a long time in the legal world and most 6th years are not ready to manage the responsibilities of partnership. Clearly, since this “layer” at K&E is first to go, K&E believes the same thing as well – most other firms are protecting their partners and laying off associates, especially the more expensive senior ones. Meanwhile, K&E’s first move is to ding this “partnership” layer, which means it is treating them as de facto senior associates. Now the big question remains – is it easier to find a job as a senior associate from a big firm or as a junior partner from K&E?

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