When partnership announcements are coming in thick and fast, it’s exciting for those who have made it through, but challenging if you are one of those who missed out.
If you have missed out, now is not the time to be overly focused on those who made it or pondering what could have been, but rather doubling down on what is next for you.
Do You Still Want to Be a Partner?
Not making partner can trigger an existential crisis, which is understandable as this may be the biggest setback you’ve faced in your career so far. Law firm careers tend to be linear up to this point, and the partnership process, while merit-based, relies on a dose of subjectivity.
So, if this setback has you questioning your career, that’s not a bad thing. It’s a good time to think about whether partnership is really what you want. To make this decision objectively, disentangle yourself from the recent disappointment and seek perspective away from the immediate emotion.
Why Didn’t You Make Partner?
The next best thing to getting partnership is having a clear idea of why you didn’t get there this time and a plan to overcome those obstacles.
The key is seeking both formal and informal feedback:
Formal Feedback: Look at official reviews highlighting where you fell short. Even if you disagree with it, you must address these points if you plan to re-apply at your current firm.
Informal Feedback: Tap into your supervising partner and senior connections to get a sense of the political or strategic factors at play.
What Can You Control?
It’s easy to get frustrated that feedback isn't clear or that others made partner with seemingly weaker business cases.
The art is separating what is in your control (e.g., interview preparation, business case metrics) from what is outside your control (e.g., firm practice group strategy, economic headwinds). Work on what you can change, while finding ways to strategically highlight your practice area’s prospects.
Forging Ahead
The surest way to put disappointment behind you is strategic action. Make an objective assessment of the feedback and put a plan in place. Then decide if this firm remains the best place for your ambitions or if your prospects are better elsewhere.
Many highly successful partners didn’t make it through the first time around. You could be next.
*This Thought Starter first appeared in Lawyers Weekly
Re-evaluating your partnership path or refining your business case after a setback?
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