Your Partnership Submission Is a Business Case, Not a Résumé (Bloomberg Law)

In his recent Bloomberg Law article, Goodwin partner David Cross states that partnership submissions often read like performance reviews: billable hours, matters handled, revenue generated, and committees served. While those metrics matter, they tell only part of the story. The most compelling submissions go beyond numbers to show leadership, impact, and alignment with the firm’s culture and strategic goals. Ultimately, they demonstrate an owner’s mindset. Acceptance into the partnership ranks is, in significant part, an investment decision by firm leadership and the broader partnership base. The firm evaluates whether individual lawyers have the judgment, cultural fit, and strategic value to help grow the business over time. Lawyers who view partnership as the professional reward for “doing good work” and “working hard” misapprehend what partnership entails and why. It typically is much more than a promotion or title change. An owner’s mindset is about responsibility.

Read the full analysis: “Your Partnership Submission Is a Business Case, Not a Résumé” (Bloomberg Law)