If you’re a law firm associate who wants to make partner someday, one of the best things you can do now is start carrying yourself like someone who’s already there.
Table of contents
- Acting and Thinking Like a Partner
- Think Beyond Standard Career Advice for Young Lawyers
- Identity Comes First
- Show People You’re Ready Before They Ask
- What This Looks Like in Practice
- Start Thinking and Acting Like a Partner Now
- Related Reading for Law Firm Associates
- Listen to Jay Harrington on Attorney at Work Today
Acting and Thinking Like a Partner
That doesn’t mean pretending to know more than you do. It means showing that you care about the work, the relationships and the results as much as a partner would. Associates who make partner often start thinking and behaving like partners long before anyone gives them the title.
- They take ownership.
- They anticipate needs.
- They think beyond the task in front of them.
Their identity changes, and their actions follow.
Think Beyond Standard Career Advice for Young Lawyers
Most career advice for young lawyers centers on tactics. How to write a great brief, how to build a niche, how to network more effectively. All useful. But if you really want to accelerate your growth, it helps to shift focus from what to work on to who you’re becoming.
There’s a progression that shows up again and again in research on professional development: Identity → Belief → Action → Outcome.
Identity Comes First
When you begin to view yourself as someone who leads, who’s dependable, who invests in relationships, your behavior starts to follow that identity. And once the behavior changes, so do the results.
This isn’t just theory. Psychologist Daryl Bem’s self-perception theory suggests that we form beliefs about ourselves by observing our own actions. Act like a leader, and you start believing you are one — and others do too.
James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” popularized this idea in a professional context:
The most effective way to change your behavior is to start believing new things about yourself. Build identity-based habits.
This is true in professions across industries. But it’s especially true in the legal industry, where initiative and ownership are key differentiators.
Show People You’re Ready Before They Ask
Partners and firm leaders are always looking for future leaders. They’re paying attention.
So what are they looking for?
- They notice when you take initiative — not because someone asked you to, but because you saw a need.
- They notice when you follow up on a matter after it closes just to see if the client needs anything else.
- They notice when you take a real interest in the client’s business, not just the legal issue in front of you.
These aren’t complicated behaviors. But they send the signal to your law firm’s partners that you’re not just “punching the clock.”
What This Looks Like in Practice
Here are a few practical ways associates can show their law firm partners that they’re ready to take the next step:
- Think ahead. Don’t just react—anticipate. What’s the next step in the matter? What will the client or partner ask next? Be prepared.
- Ask better questions. Show curiosity about the context of the work—not just what needs to be done, but why it matters to the client.
- Follow through. When you say you’ll do something, do it. On time. With care.
- Build relationships. Start treating internal colleagues and external clients like long-term partners, not just people you’re helping in the moment.
- Own the result. If something doesn’t go smoothly, take responsibility—not just for the task, but for helping to fix the issue.
Start Thinking and Acting Like a Partner Now
Too many associates assume that if they just keep their head down and do great work, things will work out. Sometimes they do. But not always.
One of the most reliable ways to make partner is to make it easy for others to envision you in that role. Start now — by aligning your mindset and behavior with the role you’re aiming for.
When confronted with a challenge, ask yourself: What would a partner I respect do in this situation?
Start thinking like a partner. Start acting like a partner. And when the time comes, you’ll have a good shot at becoming one.
Related Reading for Law Firm Associates
How to Handle a Mistake as a Young Lawyer
For a Young Associate, Practice Makes Perfect
Look in the Mirror: Associates Hold the Key to Their Own Happiness
Think Big, Act Small: The Cure for What Ails a Struggling Associate
How to Generate ROI as a Young Lawyer
The Stoic Associate: How to Deal With Feedback and Worry Less
Three Tips to Overcome Impostor Syndrome as a Young Associate
Path to a Successful Legal Career: Learn to Love the Process
17 Things I Wish I Knew as a First-Year Associate
Lawyer Time Management: Four Productivity Building Blocks of Effective Lawyers
Bullying Lawyers: You Will Be Bullied — Be Prepared!
Making the Transition from Diligent Law Firm Associate to Rainmaking Partner
How to Set Yourself Up for a Productive Day
Listen to Jay Harrington on Attorney at Work Today
One of a Kind: A Proven Path to a Profitable Law Practice
BY JAY HARRINGTON
In today’s legal market, developing a profitable and consistent book of business requires a strategic approach. If you’re open to new ideas and are interested in growing your practice, this book is a great resource to kickstart the next stage in your career.
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