Associates Who Aren't Aiming For Partner

Tighter budgets and employees' changing attitudes about workload have led a handful of large firms to experiment with the traditionally déclassé position of nonpartner-track associates.

Earlier this year, when California Lawyer surveyed the state's 50 largest firms, 8 reported that they offer nonpartner-track positions.

"Firms are often full of stigma ... about nontraditional attorney positions," says James G. Leipold, executive director of the National Association for Law Placement. "But firms implementing these positions are working hard to ... make sure [the hires] have an integrated and distinct role in the firm."

Though nonpartner positions are not new, they may be increasingly attractive to firms under pressure from clients to lower their billing rates. The category allows firms "to offer alternative billing arrangements without sacrificing quality," according to Natasha Innocenti, a partner at recruiter Major, Lindsay & Africa in San Francisco.

The position also helps firms meet the changing expectations of younger lawyers, many of whom want to spend more time with their families and less time logging billable hours, says Leipold.

"Other firms are waiting to see how it works out," he said. "But it's a trend I would expect will grow."

Big Firms Offering a Nonpartner Track:

- Gordon & Rees
- Littler Mendelson
- Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
- Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
- Reed Smith
- Rutan & Tucker
- Sedgwick
- Seyfarth Shaw

Forty-six of the 50 largest California firms answered our nonpartner-track question.

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