The end of partnership.

• Author: Fox, Lawrence J.
• Position: Pro bono work in law firms - Professional Challenges in Large Firm Practices

Is it time to be honest? Haven't law firms gotten away for far too long with far too much fraud in the inducement to let it go unremedied? Don't we owe everyone honest disclosure of what we are doing?

Let us look at the myths, myths that once had a basis in reality, but now may only have a basis in our rose-colored memories. What are they? First, there is the myth that we perpetuate when we interview young, impressionable, newly-minted second-year law students. We go to the very best schools and seek to recruit the very best law students, to become the very best summer associates. We tell them how wonderful Caldwell & Moore (1) is, how our firm is collegial, easy-going, friendly, values pro-bono service, and gives young associates meaningful client contact and educational mentoring. We tell them how Caldwell & Moore provides outstanding career opportunities, challenging work assignments, and ever-increasing responsibility culminating in the holy grail--Caldwell & Moore partnership, with its magnificent income and great prestige, a package that should convince you, young man or woman, now that you have completed one year of law school, to join Caldwell & Moore for a twelve-week summer, for which you will be paid the amazing sum of $2,500 or more per week!

Second is the myth we perpetuate once the young law graduates sign on. Put in your 2000 or 2200 or, egad, 2400 billable hours, give up your nights, your weekends, your four-week vacations, your family, and make yourself available at all times for our big deals and our big suits. Check your Blackberry at least once every ten minutes, keep your cell phone on at all times, install a fax machine in your bedroom, reach out for ever-increasing responsibility and go from reading thousands of documents to supervising others doing the same thing. At the end of eight, nine, or ten years, you too can join the exalted group of Caldwell & Moore partners, who by virtue of our wonderful leverage can earn splendid profits on the backs of the four, five, or six overpaid associates per Caldwell & Moore partner.

Third is the myth we perpetuate when these lawyers become partners, joining the inner sanctum, learning the secret handshake, gaining entrance to the holy of holies, guaranteed financial security for life, able to put the rat-race behind them, earning prestige and tenure in the great professional partnership that is Caldwell & Moore. We tell them they will be given time to join boards and engage in...