Where does my work come from?

"How much of your business is referrals from attorneys at your firm versus organic?"

This is a good question.

I'm a "service partner" (for now), just like I was a "service associate," meaning: almost all of my work comes from clients of other attorneys in my firm.

This might mean attorneys outside my practice area. This might mean attorneys within commercial litigation (my practice area).

Some folks make a career (and lots of money) being a service partner. As a commercial litigator, that will always be part of my caseload: servicing others' clients when they get sued, need to sue, or want to negotiate an out before a lawsuit happens.

At the same time: I want to be a rainmaker. Yes, I want to be that. And: I believe I have the skills to be one.

But: it is a marathon, not a sprint.

This first year as a partner, I've given myself permission to lay the foundation and learn as much as I can about business development and what it means to be a partner.

I've laid out a 3, 5, and 10-year plan--a path to equity partner.

It includes continuing to do work for other attorneys at my firm and their clients. It includes taking on the managing attorney role for some of those matters (and getting the associated credit). It includes building my own client base and book of business.

In my dreams, I am a litigator for life, with a team of other litigators and business professionals helping, allowing me to delegate but also take the key depositions, argue the important motions, and first-chair trials.

In my dreams, I also have my own clients who are served by other attorneys in other practice areas at my firm.

I work each day to make those dreams reality.

❤️✌️🔥