Jay Harrington | Practical ways associates can show they’re ready to take the next step to partnership.
The post Want to Make Partner Someday? Start Acting Like One Now appeared first on Articles, Tips and Tech for Law Firms and Lawyers.

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.

associate at the starting line in progression for making partner

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.

focus on 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.

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Listen to Jay Harrington on Attorney at Work Today

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