BigLaw’s Brutal Reality Why Even Partners Get Pushed Out

Description

In this post, a lawyer reflects on leaving a big law firm for a boutique practice 20 years ago. They share how many of their friends who stayed at large firms, despite working hard to make partner, eventually faced the painful reality of being told their practices were no longer profitable and had to find new jobs. The story highlights the lack of loyalty in big firms, especially in practice areas like employment law, where sudden changes can jeopardize an attorney's position, regardless of their contributions.

Question:
Okay, I started at a big firm but left to pursue another practice at a boutique firm. Twenty years later, many of my friends who stayed at the big firm and worked hard to make partner got the dreaded visit from the management committee, telling them that their practice was no longer profitable and that they needed to find another place to work. It's incredible how little loyalty big firms have now.

Answer:
That’s true. You could be at a large law firm, bring in business, and do all the right things, but suddenly, the management committee will decide they don’t want you. This has become especially common in two practice areas. One of the riskier practice areas to join in a big firm is employment law. There are two types of employment law: defending class actions related to employment issues, which is a practice area that large law firms typically won’t discard, and employment litigation or employment advisory work, where many law firms have entire practices dedicated to it.