Until recently, partnership in a law firm was seen as the end goal for many junior solicitors, an inevitable destination of a decades-long career.
However, research suggests that this may no longer be the case. A 2024 LexisNexis survey found that 49 per cent of firm leaders have noticed a decrease in the number of associates aspiring to partnership level, rising to 63 per cent for leaders in larger firms.
This is not, as could be assumed, purely a result of career dissatisfaction. Three quarters of associates planned to stay in private practice in the coming five years, with 58 per cent planning to stay at their current firm.
It seems it is the result of a negative perception of being a partner and what the role entails.
While we accept that increasing seniority is not going to be right for everyone, some of our most recent Directors are here to demonstrate why directorship looks different for everyone and show just how rewarding it can be.
Directors at Palmers
Supervising Directors, Donna Smy (Private Client) and Erin Cronin (Residential Property, Head of Rayleigh Branch), got together to share their thoughts on their role as Directors at Palmers Solicitors.
Donna said: “I enjoy working within a team of leaders who have the same focus and care about the business, clients and staff. It is so rewarding to create a supportive and positive environment for everyone to flourish in their career.”
“The role of being a partner or director is very different to simply being a solicitor. You are helping to maintain and grow a business which will be a lasting legacy for future generations of solicitors to come.”
Erin was particularly keen on “taking on new challenges”: “Palmers has offered plenty of opportunities to utilise my skills and supported me in progressing into the director of the department. I enjoy how the management committee always welcome new ideas and approaches to improving the firm’s strategy and culture.
“I’ve gained a real sense of achievement and an ability to enhance my skills with the support and guidance of those who have gone through the same process before me.”
Driving the decision
What made our talented Directors decide on a career in legal leadership?
Each person comes into the role with their own goals and strategies, but directorship roles are generally united by a drive to shape the direction of a firm and that of its team.
In Donna’s words: “I always felt that the wellbeing of my colleagues and peers was important and realised that this is outset of simply being a solicitor – I had a desire to manage to ensure that the working environment for all staff was positive.
“I also felt it was important for me to have a say in how things might be run so that I had more control over my own workload and career.
“With being a fee earner and manager, you have to learn at an enhanced level how to prioritise your time, work efficiently and multi-task. You polish those skills so well in juggling lots of different tasks that it naturally is then utilised in all aspects of your job – and sometimes outside of work too!
“As a Director, you also get an insight into the mechanisms of the business and why decisions are made. Understanding the reasoning for something being so important to a business really helps to focus your mind on those aspects of the fee earning role.”
Erin added: “Directorship provided me with the opportunity to take the next step in my career and accept new challenges such as managing teams, being part of the senior management team to help shape both the firms strategy and that of the department.”
Erin and Donna agreed that managing team members during periods of difficulty or sensitivity can be a challenge with a steep learning curve, but a surmountable one with the support of more experienced directors and colleagues.
Choosing the right career path
How firms choose to approach the issue of progression to partnership with junior staff members is central to encouraging ambition.
Presenting partnership or directorship as one of many viable options is crucial since there are plenty of ways to establish a rewarding career in law. We urge junior solicitors to consider directorship as something they can shape, rather than something into which they must fit.
Advising junior staff on choosing a path through the profession, Donna said: “Have the end goal in mind as you progress through your career, as you are always striving to work towards something – but be prepared to take different paths as you go along and learn more about what you enjoy and what suits your skillset.”
Erin’s approach resonated with her colleague’s thoughts: “Career progression is as much the responsibility of the individual as it is the firm’s.
“I would advise setting clear goals and identifying what you want from your career and the next steps in achieving this.
The approach to setting out your career should be a partnership or directorship and actively discussed with your management to ensure that you’re on the right path.”
Please contact us to speak to a member of our team.